Super Tuesday

[kedzieb]

Super Tuesday, the closest we come to a national primary with over 20 states having either a primary or caucus, is next week, Febrary 5th.

I'm voting here in New York. So far we haven't had any real campaign commercials or anything here, but jus last night I saw an Obama ad.

[sem426]

Super Tuesday, the closest we come to a national primary with over 20 states having either a primary or caucus, is next week, Febrary 5th.

I'm voting here in New York. So far we haven't had any real campaign commercials or anything here, but jus last night I saw an Obama ad.

I'm in NJ and I was thinking the same thing about the commercials. I haven't really seen any yet. I guess there will be a BIG push over the weekend...probably alot of local spots running during the Super Bowl.

[LyLMyssChaos]

probably alot of local spots running during the Super Bowl.


I heard that FOX wasn't allowing political ads during the Super Bowl, so I wonder if local affiliates will find a way around that?

[Scooter]

I'm in CA and we've had several that I've seen. 1 for Hillary, 1 for Obama (and 3 for opposing sides of an Indian gaming proposition). I was expecting that it would be a lot more by now.

[jennylou]

I hate the caucus voting - let's all just vote on the same damn day! Says the one who has to freaking wait until MARCH to vote. :(

[kedzieb]

I finally saw a Hilary spot last night.

I think the funniest ad I've seen is a Fox ad for Sunday saying "We've got your 2 favorite things - politics and sports here at Fox. Come for the Fox News (aka conservative slant) morning shows and stay for the Super Bowl"

Seriously? Do they think people will start their super bowl parties early to down some brews watching Fox News?

[mar5195]

Consider yourselves lucky. I have seen the same Clinton and Obama commericals for the past week.

And don't get me started on the Indian gaming commericials.

[JenniferEC]

I hate the caucus voting - let's all just vote on the same damn day! Says the one who has to freaking wait until MARCH to vote. :(

Me too! I hate waiting so long to vote. It feels like it won't even count by then.

[kedzieb]

Me too! I hate waiting so long to vote. It feels like it won't even count by then.

I know - I'm torn on this. I get the argument on both sides. On one hand it would be good to have it all on one day so small states like Iowa and New Hampshire don't have a disproportionate say in picking the candidate. But on the other hand, if it was everywhere at once the candidates would only focus on the biggest states since the have the largest number of delegates. Which we already have in the general election to a certain degree. I honestly don't know what I'd prefer. I've heard the current system is the only thing that allows candidates with less money to ever stand a chance.

[allyray231]

Saw a Obama add on CNN the other night. I am SO excited for Super Tuesday!

[nylons73]

Me too! I hate waiting so long to vote. It feels like it won't even count by then.

Actually, you might end up counting the MOST. If Obama can hang in there during Super Tuesday and pick up enough delegates to keep the race a tight one, then states AFTER this Tuesday will be the 'deciders' (in the words of GW Bush. heh) You might be the most courted people in the nation after next week!

[coquelicot]

I've seen both Obama and Clinton ads here, but not that many of them. Are the Republicans airing anything? I have yet to see a commercial from any of the candidates on that side.

[sparkle&shine]

I have seen and heard about a million Obama commercials. A few for Clinton but not many. Both were recently in town with Clinton doing a really small ralley and Obama doing a much larger one.

I better figure out who I am going to vote for by Tues!

[villanelle75]

I've been seeing ads for eh damn Indian Gaming propositions for months now. They are everywhere. I don't think I've yet seen a candidate spot, but Romeny was here last night and sometime soon (today?), HRC is having a town hall at a local college.

[LyLMyssChaos]

I think the funniest ad I've seen is a Fox ad for Sunday saying "We've got your 2 favorite things - politics and sports here at Fox. Come for the Fox News (aka conservative slant) morning shows and stay for the Super Bowl"

Seriously? Do they think people will start their super bowl parties early to down some brews watching Fox News?

We are....but without the brews! :p

[mrs webb]

We're getting ads for Obama and Clinton here. I live in Kansas and I'm a Republican, so we don't actually caucus until a week from tomorrow. The Democrats caucus on Super Tuesday, though. If the race is still undecided on our side it could be very exciting. But it probably won't be. :)

[kedzieb]

The voting went really smoothly today. My polling location was active without having any long waits. I was still torn between Clinton and Obama when I walked into the booth. It's so strange - it's funny that this is the first time I would be happy with either choice and that's why it was hard to choose.

[miaclear]

I have a question. I live in Texas, I believe our primary isn't till the beginning of March. Anyhow on the news last night they said it was the last day to register to vote in the primary. Is being a registered voter not enough to vote in the primary? Do you need to register with a party to vote?

[Lauren23]

I have a question. I live in Texas, I believe our primary isn't till the beginning of March. Anyhow on the news last night they said it was the last day to register to vote in the primary. Is being a registered voter not enough to vote in the primary? Do you need to register with a party to vote?

I think it depends on your state. I know in NY, at least as far as I was told, you have to be registered with a party to vote.

I went to vote this morning before work and the poll didn't open until noon! Now I have to go after work. Yuck.

[LaughAtlantis]

Me too! I hate waiting so long to vote. It feels like it won't even count by then.

This year, you might, especially if you're a Democrat. I don't think this is ending today.

[LaughAtlantis]

I have a question. I live in Texas, I believe our primary isn't till the beginning of March. Anyhow on the news last night they said it was the last day to register to vote in the primary. Is being a registered voter not enough to vote in the primary? Do you need to register with a party to vote?

If you are registered to vote in Texas, you can vote in the primary. There are no party affiliations. Here are some details for you. - http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/primary.shtml/

Happy voting!

[Delta]

Well, when you vote in the primary in Texas have to declare a party at that time, and they hand you the party ballot and they stamp your card with that party. And it shows up in the public records (although your actual vote does not, obviously.)

[Niobe]

For those who are interested - I found out that in California, unaffiliated voters can vote in the Democratic Primary, but not the Republican. So come vote for the Democrats, we care about your opinion! ;)

[Delta]

And that's advantageous for Obama and Romney.

[gardenmommy]

Has anybody seen any early results? Am I crazy that Im looking for results already?

Our primary is in May, and I hope that it's all wrapped up by then because people here are cooky and are likely to write in votes for psychos!

[Rosebud]

This year, you might, especially if you're a Democrat. I don't think this is ending today.

Agreed. It looks to be really neck and neck between Clinton and Obama, so today most likely won't decide anything.

[laura]

Last night on the train, a woman next to me was blabbing to her friend and she said "Is tomorrow "super tuesday" or something? I don't "do" politics, so I don't vote." I was like :eek: WHY would you volunteer that information, with PRIDE no less??

Anyway - this did not occur to me before, but do any Californians know, if you are registered independent, can you vote in the primary? This is my first presidential primary in this state.

[ellebelle]

Anyway - this did not occur to me before, but do any Californians know, if you are registered independent, can you vote in the primary? This is my first presidential primary in this state.

If you are registered independent in California, you can vote in the Democratic Primary but not the Republican Primary.

[Adaya]

Voting went pretty smoothly for me today too. I voted right at 7am. Wanted to get it out of the way and avoid the long lines. I just checked out the website for our local newspaper and it says the lines are pretty long with record turnouts.

[villanelle75]

Anyway - this did not occur to me before, but do any Californians know, if you are registered independent, can you vote in the primary? This is my first presidential primary in this state.

As an independent, you can vote in the democratic race or for any of the other parties (green, etc.). You can only vote for the republicans if you are a registered republican. So yes, you can vote, but only for a non-Republican.

[laura]

Thanks, that won't be a problem!

[Rosebud]

I wish voting seemed to be going smoothly here. My DH went to our polling place before work and the machines were down and workers were asking everyone to fill out provisional ballots instead. I'm just waiting until the afternoon in hopes that the machines will be working then. I'm always iffy on provisional ballots and when/if they actually get counted. And I'm so not a conspiracy theorist, but after 2000 I worry about this stuff. My neighborhood seems to be pretty heavily in support of one particular candidate and is historically of a particular ethnic makeup, so hearing that there's a glitch at our polling station makes me a little paranoid.

[ellidew]

I voted and my polling place was empty at 8:30. I was the only one voting when i got to my touch screen. 5 people did walk in behind me though. I live in a neighborhood that is mostly elderly people and young families are just starting to purchase homes because they are reasonably priced and for lack of better wording, becoming available. Most of the older people bought their house in the 50's new and they're just now moving out or being moved out. I have a feeling that particular polling place will be busier this afternoon once the younger crowd starts heading home.

Talk about cut throat: My mom told me she hoped i had car problems and couldn't make it to the polling place because she didn't like who i was voting for! :eek: She was joking, but still! Then i got a lecture on womens rights, yadda yadda. We're both voting democrat, she just doesn't like my vote! :cool:

[Jenyfer9]

I voted early, but I did take DH to vote this morning before he had to catch the train to work, and while it wasn't crowded by any means, he said that it wasn't empty... I went by it later today on my way to pick up my neighbor's girl from school and it looked like a steady stream of people going in and out. I haven't heard anything about turnout here, but they were expecting record turnout, and early voting #s had already surpassed the highest amount that they've had of that. :)

[phoenics]

Last night on the train, a woman next to me was blabbing to her friend and she said "Is tomorrow "super tuesday" or something? I don't "do" politics, so I don't vote." I was like :eek: WHY would you volunteer that information, with PRIDE no less??

Anyway - this did not occur to me before, but do any Californians know, if you are registered independent, can you vote in the primary? This is my first presidential primary in this state.

Yes you can vote in the democratic primary - just ask for the democratic ballot at your polling station.

[phoenics]

I wish voting seemed to be going smoothly here. My DH went to our polling place before work and the machines were down and workers were asking everyone to fill out provisional ballots instead. I'm just waiting until the afternoon in hopes that the machines will be working then. I'm always iffy on provisional ballots and when/if they actually get counted. And I'm so not a conspiracy theorist, but after 2000 I worry about this stuff. My neighborhood seems to be pretty heavily in support of one particular candidate and is historically of a particular ethnic makeup, so hearing that there's a glitch at our polling station makes me a little paranoid.

I hope they get that cleared up - that kind of stuff makes me nervous... and rightfully so... After 2000, this kind of uneasiness moved from paranoia into a full-fledged legitimate concern.

[PinkMartini]

I'm so bummed that we don't vote until something like March - WAY too late for our primary vote to even matter :mad:

[Delta]

CNN has an interactive election day website - http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

And it looks like we have our first results of the day - The West Virginia Republican caucus. The winner is Huck (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#WV)!

Pink - Not if you are voting in the Dem primary. Every delegate is going to count for them and their race will go on for at least another month. I'm pretty excited because that means we'll actually get some attention in Texas, which never happens.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I voted this morning. I was so pleased, because it's the first time I've voted since we moved to Illinois, and our polling place is so close to our house. And, to my train stop, so even though I forgot to get up early, I still made it to work on time. (Oh, and there was no line either. We had paper ballots that were tallied with some kind of electronic reader as we left, and I have to say- it was the fastest I've ever gotten through voting.)

[kari]

CNN has an interactive election day website - http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

And it looks like we have our first results of the day - The West Virginia Republican caucus. The winner is Huck (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#WV)!

Pink - Not if you are voting in the Dem primary. Every delegate is going to count for them and their race will go on for at least another month. I'm pretty excited because that means we'll actually get some attention in Texas, which never happens.

OMG noooooooooooo!

[kedzieb]

CNN has an interactive election day website - http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/

And it looks like we have our first results of the day - The West Virginia Republican caucus. The winner is Huck (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#WV)!

Pink - Not if you are voting in the Dem primary. Every delegate is going to count for them and their race will go on for at least another month. I'm pretty excited because that means we'll actually get some attention in Texas, which never happens.

Wooo! Go Huck!!!

[allyray231]

My husband got interviewed today by the local news channel. They asked him if he understood the delegates/super delegates process. He did :) and he was the only one who knew it. My smart DH :)

[Rosebud]

I hope they get that cleared up - that kind of stuff makes me nervous... and rightfully so... After 2000, this kind of uneasiness moved from paranoia into a full-fledged legitimate concern.


Looks like we're having some real problems in L.A. today. I just got back from voting and was given a real ballot, not a provisional one, but it was chaos in our polling place, with a long line, people who'd been sent to the wrong location, and lots of confused seniors wandering around and no one to help them. The volunteers seemed really unable to answer questions of any sort. I asked the person checking me in if I'd be able to cast a real ballot, not a provisional ballot and she looked at me blankly and said "what do you mean?"

Drudge just posted this headline on his site (http://www.drudgereport.com/):

The board of elections failed to deliver voting equipment to polling places ALL OVER LOS ANGELES... Developing...

And the L.A. Times is reporting this:

But early voter Kristen Bell, 37, of Los Angeles said she was angry she had to cast a provisional ballot at her Beverly Hills polling place because of inaccurate information on her sample ballot. Bell, her husband and several other people showed up to vote at a "yellow table" that did not exist at the La Cienega Tennis Center polling station and were given provisional ballots, the small-business owner said. When she called the county registrar's office to complain, officials did not seem to be aware of the problem, Bell said.

"People who are working there have absolutely no clue what's going on that we got printed material that was incorrect," Bell said. "There're so many things wrong with the scenario this morning on so many levels." Bell, a registered Democrat who said she voted for Sen. Barack Obama, said she was upset because provisional ballots are counted last. "When you see the little percentage bars on the TV, that's not our vote; it's not in there," Bell said. "There's so much frustration in this country, so to feel like I'm a disenfranchised voter in Beverly Hills is ridiculous."

Chavez, the spokeswoman for the registrar, said that "provisional votes are there so we don't disenfranchise the voter." "We know life happens, difficulties and emergencies arise," she said, adding that she was not aware of other complaints from voters in similar situations. "If everything pans out, those provisionals will be processed and those ballots counted."

If everything pans out..... great. :rolleyes:

[bookworm]

I got to my polling place around 7:15 this morning. It was pouring, but there was still a line, mostly b/c there was only one volunteer looking people up--there were tons of "stations" (we use forms like the SATs) but they were all empty! Also, the scanner was broken. They insisted another one was being delivered (we put ballots into the box unscanned), but who knows if they'll be counted.

[karlatta]

Pink - Not if you are voting in the Dem primary. Every delegate is going to count for them and their race will go on for at least another month. I'm pretty excited because that means we'll actually get some attention in Texas, which never happens.
I'm in Texas, and I'm paying close attention to this. If my vote isn't going to count for choosing the Republican candidate (and it's someone I won't vote for in the general election), then I'll be voting Democratic in the primaries.

[phoenics]

Looks like we're having some real problems in L.A. today. I just got back from voting and was given a real ballot, not a provisional one, but it was chaos in our polling place, with a long line, people who'd been sent to the wrong location, and lots of confused seniors wandering around and no one to help them. The volunteers seemed really unable to answer questions of any sort. I asked the person checking me in if I'd be able to cast a real ballot, not a provisional ballot and she looked at me blankly and said "what do you mean?"

Drudge just posted this headline on his site (http://www.drudgereport.com/):



And the L.A. Times is reporting this:



If everything pans out..... great. :rolleyes:

I just got this in the mail - maybe it will help others having issues with voting as a DTS:

Californians have reported problems voting as "Decline to State" voters, commonly referred to as "unaffiliated," "independent" or "non-partisan" voters.

DTS voters have the right to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary.

DTS voters must identify themselves as DTS or non-partisan voters and ask to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary when they arrive at their polling location. They will get instructions from a poll worker on how to vote in the Democratic Primary. If a voter gets into the voting booth and finds that he or she does not have an option to vote for [Democratic Candidate of choice], the voter should not cast his or her ballot. Instead, he or she should return the partially filled-out or unmarked ballot to the poll worker, and ask the poll worker to seek clarification from the supervisor at the polling location or from the County Registrar of Voters.

In Los Angeles County, DTS voters will be given a non-partisan ballot which they must take into a "Democratic" booth. They must mark both the "Democratic" bubble and the bubble for [their democratic candidate of choice].

If you or anyone you know has any problems voting today, please contact the local County Registrar of Voters or one of our election protection hotlines at:

Los Angeles:
310-801-9546
310-779-0816

San Francisco/Bay Area:
415-606-6043

Oakland/East Bay Area:
510-520-5025

San Diego:
619-770-7105

[magrat]

OMG, I just got back from our caucus and it was a madhouse. This is the first time I have voted in the primaries, and I think that's same for a lot of people (it has never really mattered before because by now we usually know who will be the chosen candidate). It started at 6:30pm and goes until 8 and I have *no* idea if what I did there was actually voting. I waited in a long line to find out my precinct (wish I had known I needed to know that going in, but like I said there was probably never a crowd like this before) and then followed another line into the school cafeteria. I signed in (which seemed optional, had to fight through the crowd to do that) and then a guy gave me a torn off scrap of paper (he was just tearing a piece of copy paper into pieces) and I wrote my candidate name down and stuffed it in an envelope someone was holding. Lots of people were sitting down holding a meeting so they kept shushing people and it was hard to ask what we were supposed to be doing. I was going to vote for my senate choice but no one could tell me how. Like I said, absolute madness. Our precinct is really small and the cafeteria was packed so the whole neighborhood must have showed up. Anyway, at least I went and even if what I did didn't actually count for voting, I tried!!

[coquelicot]

I voted yesterday around 4:45. I think I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Considering how crummy I felt, that was definitely a bonus! There was a little bit of a line, but it moved quickly. No big deal.

DH got there around 5:30 or so, I think. Even at that time, when a lot of people are stopping on the way home from work, he didn't have much of a wait. A far cry from last year's Senate election, where the line was so long out the door that he didn't bother waiting. And we live in a semi-rural area.

In Tennessee, we don't designate a party affiliation until we show up the day of the primary. That took some getting used to after living in KY for so long, where you're registered one way or the other. I like the TN system better because I'm not staunchly for one party or another.