04 April 2008
Presidential candidates honor Martin Luther
King
On the 40th anniversary of the assassination of
Martin Luther King Jr., the presidential
candidates spoke about the reverend's work and
legacy.
"The quality of his character is only more
apparent," John McCain said of King. "His good
name will be honored as long as the creed of
America is honored." McCain spoke in front of the
motel balcony where King was shot in 1968 in
Memphis, Tennessee. The motel is now a civil
rights museum.
Hillary Clinton also spent the day in Memphis and
talked about Martin Luther King's legacy. "Dr.
King saw the darkness of a nation torn apart by
petty human differences, but he imagined one knit
back together by our shared humanity," said
Clinton.
Barack Obama, campaigning in Indiana, North
Dakota and Montana, honored the day as well. "Dr.
King understood that the struggle for economic
justice and the struggle for racial justice were
really one, that each was part of a larger
struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for
humanity,” Obama said.
To learn more about Martin Luther King, see Martin
Luther King’s Dream Lives on 40 Years After His
Death.
03 April 2008
International observers invited to watch
democracy in action
The Organization for Security and Cooperation
(OSCE) in Europe have sent their monitors across
the continent to observe elections including
Spain, Montenegro, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Croatia,
Poland and Switzerland.
The United States might be the next stop for some
of these monitors. Although it is the world's
oldest democracy, the United States continues to
check that its elections are conducted in a free
and fair manner. Which is why Julie Finley,
ambassador to the OSCE, invited the organization
to assess the state of the American electoral
system.
In a statement April 3, Finley said that the
United States has invited the OSCE Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to
conduct a needs assessment mission in the United
States. Such a mission is carried out in
preparation for a possible election-monitoring
mission. The OSCE has monitored every U.S.
congressional and presidential election since
1996.
"The United States fully supports the OSCE's
important work, in particular its election
observation efforts," Finley said. "We consider
this invitation an opportunity to demonstrate,
once again, the United States' dedication to
fulfilling its OSCE commitments."
02 April 2008
John McCain embarks on "biography"
tour
Now the presumed Republican nominee, John McCain
wants voters in both parties to know more about
him. The Arizona senator wants American voters to
learn not just about his political viewpoints, but
about his personal background. This week McCain is
telling these personal stories across the country
as part of his "biography tour."
Monday McCain launched his tour in Meridian,
Mississippi, where he attended an air show at
McCain air field. The matching names are no
coincidence – McCain air field is named for the
senator's grandfather, who the senator said "had
an illustrious career in the Navy, and who
remained proud of his Mississippi roots until the
end of his life." The McCain family first settled
in the state in 1848.
Tuesday McCain visited his old secondary school
in Arlington, Virginia. While sharing tales of
his high school days, McCain said that every
child should have the opportunity "to learn at
institutions with high academic standards and
codes of conduct that reinforce the values their
parents try to impart to them."
Next stops on McCain's tour include the U.S.
Naval academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and a
flight school in Pensacola, Florida, where McCain
trained before entering the navy. McCain also will
be spending a day in Jacksonville, Florida, at the
base where he was stationed before deploying to
Vietnam. McCain will spend the final day of his
tour in his hometown of Prescott, Arizona.
You don't need to be on the campaign trail to
learn about McCain's background. Learn about him
on the America.gov's Candidates
Web page.
31 March 2008
America.gov Web Chat: Your Questions
Answered
Wondering about how delegates are counted or how
the Electoral College works? Curious where the
presidential candidates stand on issues that
affect your country? Join America.gov's elections
experts Michelle Austein and George Burkes on the
first Tuesday of every month to discuss the
people, processes and issues that shape the U.S.
presidential race. They will answer your
questions and talk about the latest events on the
2008 campaign trail.
Like or don't like what you see on America.gov's
2008 Elections Web page? Readers' questions and
comments will shape America.gov's elections
coverage, so now it is your turn to tell the
experts what elections topics you care
about.
The next Web Chat will be April 1 at 9 a.m. EDT
(1300 GMT.) Ask your questions now by joining
the Web Chat.
28 March 2008
Democratic leaders speak out on prolonged
race
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey
recently reported that 16 percent of Hillary
Clinton supporters said they would not vote in
the general election if Barack Obama is the
nominee. The same percentage of Obama supporters
said they would not vote in the general election
if Clinton is the nominee. This is an example of
why some Democrats are becoming increasingly
nervous that a prolonged nomination battle could
hurt the party's candidate in the campaign
against presumed Republican nominee John
McCain.
It is not just Americans who are concerned. Some
overseas are watching the race closely as well. A
Campaign Trail Talk reader in the
Philippines says:
While Sen. John McCain may have
clinched the GOP nod, people around the world are
excited about the outcome of the Democratic
Party's Presidential nomination race. The most
popular democracy has come of age, with the
possibility of having either a woman, or an
Afro-American as its next President, either way a
first for US. We just hope that all the hoopla
regarding Senators Obama and Rodham-Clinton
wouldn't sow that much division in the party's
ranks. I am looking forward to a very interesting
race. Good luck to good ole US of A.
Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic
Party, spoke about the party's desire to
determine a nominee soon. "I think it would be
nice to have this all done by July 1," Dean said.
"If we can do it sooner than that, that's all the
better.
"We don't want this to degenerate into a big
fight at the convention," Dean said. The
Democratic Convention will be in Denver at the
end of August. The last primaries and caucuses
will be held during the first week of June.
It is possible that neither candidate has the
majority of delegates needed to secure the
nomination in June, but Dean said he would like
superdelegates to speak about for whom they plan
to vote at the convention, a step that could help
the party realize who their nominee will be before
the convention. For more on superdelegates, see
Superdelegates May Decide Democratic Nominee.
27 March 2008
John McCain outlines foreign policy
plan
Campaigning in California March 26, presumed
Republican nominee John McCain gave one of his
most detailed foreign policy speeches to date,
outlining how he would interact with the world if
he were president. Most Americans know McCain has
been supportive of President Bush's policies on
Iraq and Afghanistan, but this speech showed that
McCain would handle some international issues
differently.
Discussing the importance of working with allies,
McCain said, "We need to listen to the views and
respect the collective will of our democratic
allies.
"Our great power does not mean we can do whatever
we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we
have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to
succeed," he said. "When we believe international
action is necessary, whether military, economic or
diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends
that we are right. But we, in return, must be
willing to be persuaded by them."
McCain's speech comes after an overseas visit in
which he met with European and Middle Eastern
leaders and made a surprise visit to Iraq.
25 March 2008
Your Delegate questions answered
Campaign Trail Talk readers have been asking lots
of questions about the unusual system of
appointing party representatives, or delegates,
to cast votes for presidential nominees. Who can
be a delegate? How are the delegates picked? Must
they cast their vote for a certain
candidate?
The answer to these questions and more are
available in
“Delegate System Aims to Give Nominating Power
to the People.”
Delegates are pledged to vote for the candidate
their states' voters selected them to vote for.
However, there are some unpledged delegates,
typically important party leaders, who can cast
their vote for any candidate they choose. Both
parties have these unpledged delegates, but the
Democrats have a greater number. The Democrats
usually refer to these people as
"superdelegates." For more on superdelegates,
read ”Superdelegates
May Decide Democratic Nominee.”
In a tight race, as is the case now between
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, superdelegates
hold a lot of power. Some argue that it is unfair
that superdelegates could nominate a candidate
that did not win the most primary votes. Others
say that as superdelegates, they know the
candidates well and are better informed to make a
good decision. What do you think? Weigh in on the
debate by taking our U.S.
Elections Poll.
24 March 2008
Proposals for Michigan, Florida re-votes
fail
Over the past few weeks, Democratic leaders in
Michigan and Florida have been trying to find a
way for their delegates to participate in the
national convention.
With the race so close between Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton, voters in these states want to
have a say in the race. In the fall of 2007, the
Democratic National Committee (DNC) said it would
not count the states' delegates because the states
violated party rules by scheduling their primaries
prior to February 5. The presidential candidates
agreed not to campaign in those states, and
Barack Obama and most other Democratic candidates
removed their names from the Michigan
ballot.
Leaders in Michigan and Florida were eager to
come up with a solution – fearing that angry
Democrats might vote in the general election for
presumed Republican nominee John McCain.
Florida considered conducting an election by
mail, while Michigan looked at holding a new
election in June. Both options ultimately failed
to make it through the states' legislatures.
These failures do not necessarily prohibit the
states' delegations from being seated at the
national convention. Proposals are being
considered that would enable the delegates to
participate, either by allowing half their
delegates to count or by splitting their votes
between Obama and Clinton equally.
For more on delegates, see
Delegate System Aims to Give Nominating Power to
the People.
20 March 2008
“Pro-life” candidate seeks Idaho Senate
seat
Marvin Richardson, an independent candidate for
the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Idaho’s
Larry Craig, wanted voters to know that he is
against abortion. He has come up with a clever
way to make it clear – by legally changing his
name to "Pro-life." His new legal name is the
name that will appear on the ballot.
Pro-life has admitted that he is not a viable
candidate – he says he expects to earn about 5
percent of the vote – but he hopes by changing
his name, he will draw more attention to his
cause. He also told a local newspaper he will
seek office every election season – with his
new name.
There is potential for such a name to cause
confusion for voters who may think Pro-life is a
viewpoint and not a candidate. If a voter selects
both Pro-life and another candidate, his or her
ballot will be nullified.
Clever or famous names might have helped
candidates in the past, such as Texas' Democratic
Senate candidate Gene Kelly – who is not the
famous (and deceased) actor/dancer of Hollywood
movie musicals. To learn more about the Texas and
other interesting local-level races, see
America.gov's
State and Local Web page.
19 March 2008
Obama speaks about U.S. race relations
Democrat Barack Obama, who could become the first
African-American president, took on the topic of
race in a speech in Philadelphia March 18. In the
first such speech in the 2008 campaign, Obama
acknowledged that there are still racial tensions
in the United States.
"The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply
wish it away, to condemn it without understanding
its roots only serves to widen the chasm of
misunderstanding that exists between the races,"
Obama said.
In the speech, Obama encouraged Americans to
discuss these racial issues. Obama also talked
about his background with a mother who is a white
woman from Kansas, and a father who is a black man
from Kenya.
The speech came after a week where racially
charged comments were made by supporters of both
Hillary Clinton and Obama. Obama discussed
statements made by the minister who officiated
his wedding.
While addressing the reverend's comments, Obama
said, "I can no more disown him than I can disown
the black community. I can no more disown him than
I can my white grandmother."
For more about Obama's candidacy, see
Obama's Presidential Bid Bridges Racial
Divide.
18 March 2008
Tiger Woods, Albert Einstein are big "winners"
in Oregon contest
Here is a note from America.gov's
special correspondent Steve Holgate. As part
of America.gov's U.S. elections coverage,
Steve is reporting on the local political
happenings in Oregon's 1st Congressional
District:
The votes have all been counted in Yamhill County
Oregon’s special election and the winners are
… well, mostly long dead.
Albert Einstein bested a strong field to gain the
nod as the new university president. Screen legend
John Wayne was a candidate for director of
recreation, but, in a morale-boosting win for the
living, the world’s Number 1 golfer, Tiger
Woods, won that race.
Confused?
This primarily agricultural county, nestled in
Oregon’s Willamette Valley, recently purchased
a new vote-by-mail system and was required by law
to inform local voters. The best way to do that,
the county decided, was to hold a mock election,
with most of the candidates historical figures. A
remarkable 21 percent of the electorate, about
10,000 voters, made their choices and sent their
ballots in.
“It was a real success,” laughed County Clerk
Jan Coleman, who oversaw the vote. “A very good
turnout, in my opinion.” More seriously, she
said the chance to test the new system with a
full-fledged, if nonbinding election, “was
really important for us.”
And very few of the losers are in a position to
ask for a recount.
For more on Oregon's political races, see
America.gov's State
and Local Elections web page.
17 March 2008
John McCain visits Iraq
Presumed Republican nominee John McCain left the campaign
trail – and the country – this week to head
overseas. On March 18 he made an unannounced trip
to Iraq with other Congressional leaders for what
he called a "fact-finding trip." Although McCain
said this trip had nothing to do with his
campaign, some political pundits suggest McCain
may have planned the trip as an opportunity to
highlight his foreign policy experience.
Few details were released about McCain's visit,
his eighth to the country. He met with Deputy
Prime Minister Barham Saleh and with American
officials working in Iraq. McCain has been
supportive of President Bush's surge and other
efforts to improve the security situation in that
country.
McCain is expected to spend the next few days
visiting political leaders in London and Paris.
14 March 2008
The candidates take a break from the campaign
trail – to go back to work
The presidential campaign trail was quiet March
13 – a rare occurrence in this busy election
season. Senators John McCain, Barack Obama and
Hillary Clinton headed back to Washington to
participate in what they viewed as important
votes on tax cuts and spending. It was the first
time in more than a month that all three were in
the Senate chamber.
Taxes is one of the issues often debated on the
campaign trail, where Obama and Clinton have
advocated reversing tax cuts passed by President
Bush that they say overly benefit the
wealthy.
The visit to Washington was a good opportunity
for the Democratic candidates to network with
their fellow party leaders - including several
uncommitted superdelegates. Learn more about the
Role
of Superdelegates.
12 March 2008
Speculation over potential vice-presidential
nominees
Now that John McCain is presumed to be the
Republican nominee for president, Americans are
wondering who he will pick to be his running
mate.
Some have asked if former candidate Mitt Romney
could be selected. Responding to these comments
March 11, Romney said he would take the job if
asked.
"I think any Republican leader in this country
would be honored to be asked to serve as the vice
presidential nominee, myself included," he
said.
Meanwhile, in a speech March 10 Democrat Barack
Obama made it clear he was seeking the top
political office in the country – not the vice
presidency. A few days before, Hillary Clinton
implied she would consider asking Obama to be her
running mate if she became the party's
nominee.
"With all due respect, I've won twice as many
states as Senator Clinton. … I have more
delegates," he said. "So, I don't know how
somebody who is in second place is offering the
vice presidency to the person who is in first
place."
"I don't want anybody here thinking that somehow,
'Well, you know, maybe I can get both,'" Obama
said. "Don't think that way. You have to make a
choice in this election."
10 March 2008
Who really won the Texas Democratic primary and
caucuses?
Texas Democrats voted March 4 in a unique
two-part presidential nomination process in which
they can participate in both a primary and a
caucus. After a record number of voters
participated, Hillary Clinton narrowly earned the
most votes in the primary. This was viewed as a
victory by Clinton's campaign and much of the
media.
However, only two-thirds of Democratic delegates
are awarded based on the primary results. Nearly
a week later, as the caucus results continue to
be tallied, it appears that Barack Obama will
pick up more pledged Texas delegates than
Clinton. This means that even though Clinton won
the most votes in the primary, Obama is expected
to earn the most delegates from Texas due to his
gains from the caucuses. The Green Papers, an
organization that tracks the awarding of
delegates, Obama likely will earn five more
delegates than Clinton in Texas.
For more on the delegates race, see
The Path to the Presidential
Nomination.
06 March 2008
Could there be a Democratic “dream
ticket?”
Campaign Trail Talk readers have been
asking whether a Democratic “dream ticket” is
a possibility. Some Democrats, eager to avoid a
lengthy nomination process, are supporting the
idea that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could
run together, forming a “dream ticket.” The
problem lies in determining who should serve as
the presidential nominee and who should be
running for vice president.
In a media interview March 5, Clinton suggested
she might consider such an option. “That may
be… where this is headed,” the New York
senator said. “But of course we have to decide
who’s on the top of the ticket.”
Obama also addressed the topic March 5, saying,
“we are just concentrating on winning this
nomination ... it is very premature to talk about
a joint ticket.”
Many political pundits are skeptical that such a
match up could occur. What do you think? Should
Clinton and Obama run together? And who should be
on top of the ticket? Share your thoughts
and comments.
06 March 2008
Could Michigan and Florida hold new Democratic
primaries?
In the fall of 2007, the Democratic National
Committee (DNC) punished Michigan and Florida for
scheduling their primaries prior to February 5. At
that time, the DNC said it would not count
Michigan and Florida’s delegates. The
presidential candidates agreed not to campaign in
those states, and Barack Obama and most other
Democratic candidates removed their names from
the Michigan ballot.
When this punishment was imposed, the DNC
probably did not expect the race for the
presidential nomination to be so close. But now,
as both Obama and Hillary Clinton strive to earn
the majority of delegates needed to receive the
nomination, there have been calls to include the
Michigan and Florida delegates as voting
participants in the national convention.
Not surprisingly, Clinton, who received the most
votes in these states, says these delegates
should be counted, while Obama believes the
punishment should stand because the votes were
not conducted fairly.
On March 5, both of the states’ governors,
Democrat Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and
Republican Charlie Crist of Florida, issued a
joint statement calling on the DNC to find a way
to let their voters’ voices be heard.
Crist said the votes already cast should be
counted. Granholm, a Clinton supporter, suggested
it might be possible to hold a “re-vote” by
having a caucus in Michigan, if both candidates
agreed to participate.
One big challenge to holding new elections is the
cost – it costs millions of dollars to hold a
primary election. Typically the national party
helps pay for it, but the DNC has said it will
not fund new elections in these states.
05 March 2008
President Bush endorses McCain
President Bush has stayed fairly quiet about the
presidential race, but now that John McCain has
earned enough delegates to be the presumed
Republican nominee, the president is ready to
support the Arizona senator. At the White House
March 5, Bush officially offered his endorsement
of McCain.
"John showed incredible courage and strength of
character and perseverance in order to get to
this moment, and that's exactly what we need in a
president, somebody who can handle the tough
decisions, somebody who won't flinch in the face
of danger," President Bush said.
Bush and McCain fought each other for the
nomination in 2000, but since then McCain has
helped Bush campaign for office. McCain says he
looks forward to campaigning with the president
during the 2008 general election.
For more on McCain's recent wins, see John
McCain Wins Enough Delegates To Become Republican
Nominee.
05 March 2008
Obama thanks supporters … in Japan
Barack Obama has hundreds of supporters in a
rather unusual place – a small fishing town in
Japan that shares his name. Residents in the town
of Obama have been watching the U.S. presidential
race closely, hoping that if he is victorious,
the Illinois senator will visit their town.
Residents, many donned in shirts with images of
Obama (the candidate) on them, watched the
results come in from the March 4 primaries and
cheered him on.
Even though their candidate did not win as many
states as Hillary Clinton did, they still had
reason to celebrate: Obama's mayor announced that
he received a letter from the senator.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express
my appreciation to the city of Obama for your
support," Obama wrote. "We share more than a
common name. We share a common planet and common
responsibility. I look forward to a future marked
by the continued friendship of our two great
nations."
04 March 2008
Canada caught in the middle of campaign battle
over NAFTA
Both Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton
have spoken critically of the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) while campaigning in Ohio
ahead of today's primary in that state. The
debate over free trade with Canada and Mexico
took a rather unusual turn this week and has
brought the Canadian government into the fray.
A memo sent from one of Obama's economic advisers
to a Canadian official said that Obama's
statements on NAFTA in Ohio were "political
posturing" and not reflective of his real views
on NAFTA, which are less negative. Clinton
obtained a copy of the memo, and used it at a
campaign event to argue that Obama's public words
do not match his private views.
Obama's campaign has said the memo was
misinterpreted, and that their candidate means
what he says on NAFTA. The Canadian embassy in
Washington also issued a statement trying to
clear things up. "There was no intention to
convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his
campaign team were taking a different position in
public from views expressed in private, including
about NAFTA," the embassy statement said. "We
deeply regret any inference that may have been
drawn to that effect."
The memo also sparked controversy in Canada where
in a session of parliament, Prime Minister Stephen
Harper was accused of interfering with the
American presidential race, a fact he quickly
denied.
"The American people will make the decision as to
their next president," Harper said. "I am
confident that whoever that person is ... [he or
she] will continue the strong alliance,
friendship and partnership that we enjoy with the
United States."
Read this article for more on NAFTA
and The Presidential Campaign.
04 March 2008
Journalists covering Clinton campaign report from
the men's bathroom
In recent days, some members of Democrat Hillary
Clinton's campaign staff have suggested that she
has not received media coverage as positive as
that given Barack Obama.
So when reporters were covering a Clinton town
hall event in Austin, Texas, March 3, Clinton
spokesman Dough Hattaway had to explain, "these
accommodations should in no way be taken as a
comment on the quality of our media coverage."
Hattaway had to explain this because the
accommodations were a men's bathroom, where
journalists filed stories at tables set up
alongside urinals and sinks. A campaign staff
member said that when they chose the room as a
press area, they thought the facility was more
like a traditional locker room, not a large
bathroom.
Clinton was in Texas making her final pitch to
undecided Texan voters, who participate in
primaries and caucuses today. Clinton is seeking
wins in Texas and Ohio in hopes of narrowing the
delegate gap between herself and Obama.
For more, see Texas
Democrats Encouraged to Vote Twice.
03 March 2008
President Bush speaks about the presidential
race
So far, President Bush has said little about the
2008 presidential race, and he is trying to keep
it that way. The media, however, are eager to
hear what Bush thinks about the candidates. At a
press conference February 28 to discuss his
recent trip to Africa and the status of the war
on terrorism, Bush faced a number of questions
about the 2008 contest.
"You're trying to get me to be the pundit again,"
Bush said when asked if he thought the current
economic downturn would hurt Republican John
McCain's chances to win the election. "Look, you
all figure that out."
Although Bush avoided referring to the Democratic
candidates by name when discussing issues, the
president was critical of some of their recent
comments on Iraq, the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) and engaging with foreign
leaders.
When asked specifically about Democratic
candidate Barack Obama's recent statements on the
situation in Iraq, Bush answered, "I believe
Senator Obama better stay focused on his campaign
with Senator Clinton, neither of whom has secured
their party's nominee yet -- nomination yet. And
my party's nomination hasn't been decided yet
either."
"There will be ample time to discuss the
positions of whoever their candidate is," Bush
said. And during that time, it is likely that
journalists will continue to ask for the current
president's views on the people who potentially
could follow him.
28 February 2008
Democrats debate for the twentieth
time
Back in April 2007, eight Democratic candidates
for president gathered on a stage in South
Carolina to debate. Ten months and nineteen
debates later, the final two viable candidates,
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, met in
Cleveland, Ohio, for a fairly contentious debate
over a number of issues.
Among the topics addressed, the candidates
discussed their differing views on health care,
Iraq and the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA.)
NAFTA is an issue of particular interest to Ohio
voters, as many Ohio jobs have been lost to
positions moving overseas. And while they have
differing opinions on the agreement, both
candidates said the agreement needs to be
renegotiated with Canada and Mexico to better
protect American workers and the
environment.
This is the candidates' last scheduled debate,
though others could possibly be added later.
Voters in Ohio, as well as in Texas, Vermont and
Rhode Island head to the polls March 4. Ohio and
Texas, states with large populations and
therefore a large number of delegates, are seen
as important races for Clinton to win, as Obama
has won the past eleven contests in a row.
26 February 2008
Huckabee pokes fun at his own campaign
Many Americans have been wondering why former
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is still
campaigning to be the Republican nominee when it
seems impossible that he can win the nomination.
Arizona Senator John McCain is about 300
delegates short of the 1,191 needed to earn the
nomination. Meanwhile, Huckabee has just 227
delegates and political experts say it is
mathematically impossible that he could catch
up.
Huckabee, who has been known for cracking jokes
on the campaign trail, discussed February 23 why
he is still in the race during a fake news
segment on the well-known comedy show Saturday
Night Live.
Huckabee said that while it may be mathematically
impossible to win enough delegates, he could catch
up by winning superdelegates. It was then pointed
out to him that only the Democrats have
superdelegates. (Read more about superdelegates
here.)
“Uh oh, that’s not good news,” Huckabee
said.
“Mike Huckabee does not overstay his
welcome,” he said. “When it’s time to go,
I’ll know. And I’ll exit out with class and
grace.” Then, despite obvious cues from the
host and the audience encouraging him to leave
the stage, he stayed put.
Huckabee is not the only presidential candidate
to appear on Saturday Night Live. Barack Obama
made a brief appearance in a Halloween sketch
last October and McCain hosted an episode of the
show in 2002.
25 February 2008
Ralph Nader to try again
Third-party candidate Ralph Nader announced
February 24 that he will once again make a run at
the presidency. Nader has tried many times before,
most notably in 2000 when he received 2.7 percent
of the extremely close national vote in the race
between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Nader has not
yet announced if he will run on a party ticket,
such as the Green Party, or as an
independent.
Some Democrats still resent Nader's 2000 bid,
arguing that he cost Al Gore the election. Just
537 votes separated Bush and Gore in Florida.
Nader received 97,000 votes in Florida, and exit
polls indicated that these voters favored Gore
over Bush. These Democrats have said that had
Nader not entered the race, Gore would have
received enough votes to win Florida, giving him
enough electoral votes to win the
presidency.
The top Democratic candidates have commented on
Nader's potential run. “Ralph Nader deserves
enormous credit for the work he did as a consumer
advocate,” Barack Obama said. “But his
function as a perennial candidate is not putting
food on the table of workers.”
"Well, you know [Nader's] being on the Green
Party prevented Al Gore from being the greenest
president we’ve ever had,” Hillary Clinton
said. “And I think that’s really
unfortunate.”
Why do third-party candidates struggle in U.S.
politics? Read Political
Parties in the United States.
21 February 2008
Obama or Clinton? International readers weigh
in
Just as Americans are torn on whom their
Democratic nominee should be, America.gov
readers have their own opinions about Barack
Obama and Hillary Clinton. Here is what some
readers have to say:
From B. Lau in Singapore:
My friends and I in Singapore prefer
Senator Clinton to Senator Obama as we believe she
is far more qualified and experienced than he is.
America needs a tried and tested person like
Senator Clinton who understands local and
international issues to lead America and
especially at this time when America is facing an
economic crisis.
Our vote is definitely for Hillary
Clinton.
From Jessica Nakibuule in Uganda:
I would like Obama to know that we
are praying for him he is such a good speaker and
I think he deserves to be a leader.
From Wisdom Chasaya in Zambia:
I want to encourage you in your
democratic maturity you are showing to the world
these days when you take the primary polls to
decide who should run for the US top job. I
myself want cheer you for the manner you have
advocated for change; and your openmindess to
bring a man like Obama to the road towards the
White House.
A group of high school students from Russia,
Ukraine and Georgia had plenty to tell
America.gov about their opinions on the
candidates after spending a day watching
American democracy in action. Learn about their
story by reading
Exchange Students Get Close-up View of American
Primary Politics.
20 February 2008
Recent wins make it ten in a row for
Obama
Democrat Barack Obama won two more nominating
contests February 19 – the Midwestern state of
Wisconsin and the pacific island state of Hawaii.
Obama has won all ten of the Democratic primaries
and caucuses held since Super Tuesday on February
5.
"In Wisconsin, when you go to vote, it's five
degrees [Fahrenheit] outside. But that has not
deterred people from Milwaukee to Green Bay to
Eau Claire, all across that state, from casting
their ballot and exercising their civic duty,"
Obama said.
All eyes in the Democratic race are on March 4
contests in the delegate-rich states of Ohio and
Texas, where polls show Hillary Clinton with a
slight lead.
Republican John McCain also won the Wisconsin
primary February 19, but he does not yet have
enough delegates to secure the
nomination.
For more primaries news, see The
Path to the Presidential Nomination.
20 February 2008
Presidential candidates speak out on Castro
resignation
Hours after Cuban President Fidel Castro
announced he would be resigning from the office
he has held for nearly 50 years, the U.S.
presidential candidates spoke on what this means
for the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. The top
candidates – Republican John McCain and
Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama –
all issued statements noting their interest in
seeing Cuba transition to a democracy.
Presumed Republican nominee John McCain, calling
Castro's resignation "nearly half a century
overdue," said "we must press the Cuban regime to
release all political prisoners unconditionally,
to legalize all political parties, labor unions
and free media, and to schedule internationally
monitored elections."
New York Senator Clinton said, "the people of
Cuba want to seize this opportunity for real
change and so must we….I would say to the new
leadership, the people of the United States are
ready to meet you if you move forward towards the
path of democracy, with real, substantial
reforms."
Illinois Senator Barack Obama said, “Today
should mark the end of a dark era in Cuba’s
history… If the Cuban leadership begins opening
Cuba to meaningful democratic change, the United
States must be prepared to begin taking steps to
normalize relations and to ease the embargo of
the last five decades."
The candidates' views on Cuba matter to many
Americans, especially many of the more than
650,000 Cuban Americans living in Florida, which
is commonly a swing state.
15 February 2008
Romney endorses McCain
On February 14, Arizona Senator and presumed
Republican nominee John McCain received the
endorsement of his former chief-rival, Mitt
Romney.
McCain and Romney had many negative things to say
about one another on the campaign trail, but "even
when the contest was close and our disagreements
were debated, the caliber of [John McCain] was
apparent," Romney said.
Romney released his pledged delegates and is
encouraging them to vote for McCain at the
Republican convention. However, he cannot bind
them to a McCain vote. Even if all of the Romney
delegates select McCain, the Arizona Senator is
still short of a majority of delegates needed to
officially be the nominee at this time.
Democrat Barack Obama received an interesting
endorsement this week as well – from former
Rhode Island Congressman Lincoln Chafee. Chafee
– who is a Republican – said, "I believe
Senator Obama is the best candidate to restore
American credibility."
For more about endorsements, see Experts
Weigh Value of Endorsements.
14 February 2008
Political parties “celebrate” Valentine’s
Day
Even though it’s Valentine’s Day, the
American political parties are not showing their
love for each other. In fact, both are using the
holiday to highlight their political
messages.
In honor of the holiday, the Republican National
Committee has created electronic greeting cards
that people can send to their friends via the
Internet. The cards feature fake Valentine’s
messages from the top Democratic presidential
candidates. For example, a user can send his
friend a “Valentine’s greeting” from
Hillary Clinton that plays off of a famous
nursery rhyme: “Roses are red, Violets are
blue, I’ll raise your taxes and there’s
nothing you can do.”
Each card clearly states that no candidate
authorized the making of these cards.
The Democratic National Committee has a
Valentine’s gift for Americans too – it has
made a video highlighting the friendship between
presumed Republican nominee John McCain and
President Bush. With romantic music playing in
the background, images of the two are shown
together and hearts float across the screen. At
the end, a message asks “Next Valentine’s
Day, do you really want to give your loved ones
John McCain, a third Bush term?
The video also notes that no candidate authorized
the making of this video. But because President
Bush has had a low approval rating for more than
a year, it is likely that similar images of the
two together will appear in Democratic campaign
ads during the general election season.
12 February 2008
Proposed Electoral College ballot measure
fails
Since the 2000 presidential election, when Al
Gore won the popular vote but lost the Electoral
College vote to George W. Bush, there have been a
number of proposals to change the Electoral
College.
States have looked at different ways to allocate
their electoral votes. For example, Maryland
passed a law giving its Electoral College votes
to the candidate who wins the popular vote
nationwide. However, the law does not go into
effect until a majority of states agree to do the
same, which seems unlikely in the near future.
A group in California tried to get a new
Electoral College proposal on the state's ballot
this election season. If passed, voters would
decide whether the state's 55 electoral votes
should be allocated per congressional district.
The Democratic candidate has won California in
every election since 1992. However, if this
measure passed, Republicans, who have strong
majorities in almost half the congressional
districts, easily would pick up about 20
Electoral College votes.
The controversial measure ultimately did not have
enough supporters to give it a place on the
ballot. At least 400,000 petition signatures were
needed by February 4, and that failed to
happen.
To learn more about the Electoral College debate,
read Has
the Electoral College Outlived Its Usefulness?
Or tell Campaign Trail Talk What you think
about the Electoral College – send your
comments
here.
11 February 2008
Can Edwards still influence the Democratic
race?
Andreas in Copenhagen, Denmark asks Campaign
Trail Talk:
Even though not able obviously to
vote in the 2008 election - I'm following
intensively. A quick question:
How is it possible that Edwards gained votes on
Tuesday Feb 5th?
E.g. according to CNN these results came out of
the voting:
Clinton 2,132,166
Obama 1,735,105
Edwards 170,013
Same happened in other states - e.g New Mexico
where the race is very close between Hillary and
Obama. Edwards seems to have gotten votes here as
well. But he's out of there race. So how is this
possible?
Even though numerous candidates have dropped out
of the presidential race, most of them are still
named on state ballots. Most of the ballots are
printed long in advance and cannot be changed
when a candidate withdraws from the race.
Therefore, Americans still have the option to
vote for candidates no longer campaigning. They
might receive the votes of those who are
unwilling to support one of the remaining
candidates. Voters may not agree with the
remaining candidates' views and hope that a show
of support for a withdrawn candidate will allow
that candidate to play an influential role in
shaping the party platform.
However, John Edwards' Super Tuesday votes will
not influence the Democratic race. Party rules
state that in order for a candidate to receive
any delegates, he or she must pick up 15 percent
of a district's vote. So while many Americans
voted for Edwards, he did not receive 15 percent
of the vote in any district, and therefore earned
no delegates.
Before dropping out, Edwards had earned 26
delegates. Some U.S. media outlets are reporting
that Edwards quietly met with Hillary Clinton
last week and will meet with Barack Obama this
week, sparking rumors that he soon will endorse a
candidate. In doing so, Edwards can encourage his
delegates to vote for the person he endorses.
However, the 26 delegates are not "pledged" to
the candidate Edwards selects, and can choose to
vote for a different person instead.
11 February 2008
Candidates court Potomac Valley voters
Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia
will hold nominating contests tomorrow in what is
being called, "the Potomac Primaries" for the
river that all three border.
With John McCain the presumed Republican nominee,
most of the attention has been on Democrats Barack
Obama and Hillary Clinton. The two have spent the
past few days talking with voters in churches,
schools and convention centers.
Just as Democrats nationwide are splitting their
support among the two candidates, so are the
Chesapeake Bay area’s Democratic leaders. All
three jurisdictions are led by Democrats:
Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and Virginia
Governor Tim Kaine support Obama, while Maryland
Governor Martin O'Malley has endorsed Clinton.
The governors have been campaigning for their
candidates this week. And while they disagree on
whom to support, they agree on one thing: that
Democrats will support whoever eventually becomes
their party’s nominee.
For more on the close Democratic race, see Democratic
Race Could Continue for Weeks or Months, Experts
Say.
07 February 2008
Republicans one step closer to picking a
nominee
Going into Super Tuesday, political pundits said
it was a two-person race for the Republication
nomination between Arizona Senator John McCain
and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
As it turned out, former Arkansas Governor Mike
Huckabee picked up several big wins on February 5
while Romney’s campaign faltered. Huckabee noted
this in a Tuesday evening speech: “You know,
over the past few days a lot of people have been
trying to say that this is a two-man race. Well,
you know what? It is. And we're in
it!”
Now Huckabee’s comments ring true – Today
Romney announced his withdrawal from the
presidential race.
“I entered this race because I love America,”
Romney told his supporters. “And because I love
America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our
party and for our country.” He said that bring
Republicans together as a unified party was more
important than continuing the nomination
fight.
With a large lead in pledged delegates and the
withdrawal of his biggest competitor, McCain is
poised to become the Republican presidential
nominee. For the latest information about the
campaigns, see America.gov’s U.S.
Elections Web page.
07 February 2008
In one New York city, the race really is a
tie
Super Tuesday results across the country show the
Democratic race remains close. Barack Obama won
more states February 5, but Hillary Clinton won
the states with more delegates. Clinton also won
the most votes nationwide, but barely. She
received 50.2 percent of the vote compared to
Obama’s 49.8 percent. The final delegate count
still is being tallied, but the candidates likely
will each receive about the same number of
delegates as a result of Tuesday’s
contests.
U.S. media consider this race so close that most
are reporting the Democrats’ Super Tuesday race
as a virtual tie. In the city of Syracuse, New
York, it was actually a tie.
Clinton did well across her home state of New
York, but Obama picked up a large number of votes
in college towns. Results show both candidates did
well in Syracuse, home of Syracuse University:
Clinton received 6,001 votes. Obama received
6,001 votes as well. A university mathematics
professor told the local newspaper that the odds
of that happening were less than one in a
million.
06 February 2008
Following tradition, New Mexico race too close
to call
New Mexico voters are used to close general
elections. The congresswoman who represents the
largest city of Albuquerque won her last election
by only 800 votes. The 2004 presidential race was
a close one, as was the 2000 contest, which
Democrat Al Gore won by a mere 300
votes.
But voters in the Southwestern state might not
have expected their 2008 Democratic caucus to be
nearly tied. They showed up in unexpected record
numbers to vote, resulting in waits as long as
two hours at some polling sites.
Within an hour of the last polls closing, Super
Tuesday winners were projected for nearly every
race. Yet 15 hours after their polls closed, New
Mexico Democrats are still counting votes and
still unsure which candidate ultimately will win.
With 98 percent of the votes counted, Clinton
currently has a 100-vote lead.
In reality, because of the Democrats' system of
awarding delegates by proportional representation,
it does not matter much who wins New Mexico
because the candidates likely will gain an almost
equal number of delegates.
As part of its State and Local project,
America.gov is following this and other events
that will influence how New Mexico citizens vote
in November. Check the State
and Local Web page out for more about how
national issues are playing out on local stages.
06 February 2008
Voters head to the polls in Virginia … on the
wrong day
Record voter turnouts were reported across the
country on February 5, when voters in 24 states
headed to the polls for Super Tuesday. With all
the discussion of primaries and caucuses lately,
hundreds of voters in Virginia also headed to the
polls to cast their ballots. But when they got
there they found no polling sites set up –
Virginia does not hold its primaries until next
Tuesday, February 12.
There are still a few more days until Louisiana
voters cast ballots on February 9, but voters
still found a way to celebrate Super Tuesday.
February 5 was the date of New Orleans's famous
Mardi Gras celebrations. As parades moved across
the city, some revelers dressed up in traditional
Mardi Gras gear but others donned costumes as
their favorite candidates.
Much to the surprise of political experts who
expected Super Tuesday to be the day that
candidates would secure the nominations, voters
in Louisiana and Virginia will get a chance to
have a meaningful say on who will represent their
party’s ballot in the November presidential
election. For the latest on Super Tuesday
results, see
No Nominees After Super Tuesday.
05 February 2008
Obama, McCain split California's first family's
endorsements
Days after California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger endorsed Arizona Senator John
McCain for Republican race, his wife Maria
Shriver made an announcement: she was supporting
Democrat Barack Obama.
Shriver comes from a well-known Democratic family
– she is the niece of former President John F.
Kennedy and current Senator Edward Kennedy. Even
though Schwarzenegger and Shriver make up one of
the best known politically split families in the
United States, political experts were surprised
when she attended an Obama rally to voice support
for the Illinois senator.
Schwarzenegger and Shriver do not have to worry
about drawing voters away from each other.
California, which votes today, has a closed
primary, meaning that only registered party
members can participate in each party's
nominating contest.
04 February 2008
Mitt Romney wins Maine caucus
With all the candidates gearing up for Super
Tuesday, few Americans noticed that former
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the
Republican Maine Caucuses February 2 with 52
percent of the vote. Arizona Senator John McCain
finished second with about 21 percent. Democrats
in Maine will caucus February 10.
"All across the state, men and women gathered to
help chart the future course of our country,"
Romney said in a press statement following his
win.
Although many of the candidates took breaks from
the campaign trail the evening of February 3 to
watch the Super Bowl, they are all now back at
work trying to reach as many voters as possible
before 24 states head to the polls for tomorrow's
Super Tuesday.
To learn more about Super Tuesday, read
Presidential Candidates Gear Up for Toughest
Challenge Yet.
Witness democracy in action! America.gov will be
webcasting a Super Tuesday event featuring
political experts who will analyze the races as
the winners are announced. See Join
Us For Super Tuesday for more information.
01 February 2008
A week of super events around the
corner
One of the biggest days on some Americans'
calendars is this weekend – the Super Bowl. On
February 3 Americans will gather to watch the New
York Giants play the New England Patriots in the
American football championship game. But this
year there is another "super" day that Americans
are excited about – "Super Tuesday," February
5, when 24 states vote for their presidential
nominees.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll asked people
which event they are more excited about – the
Super Bowl or Super Tuesday. Perhaps
surprisingly, Super Tuesday narrowly won with 40
percent of the vote.
Fox, the television network that will air the
Super Bowl, is well aware of Americans' political
interests. The network has planned hours of
pre-Super Bowl coverage that not only includes
sportscasters' game analyses but reports on the
upcoming primaries and caucuses.
Excited about Super Tuesday? Join America.gov's
live
webcast and watch democracy in action.
01 February 2008
Giuliani’s loss may be McCain’s gain
Campaign Trail Talk reader Nick asks:
If Giuliani drops out after FLA, whom
will it help the most of the remaining
candidates?
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani dropped
out of the race after the Florida primary on
January 30. Political experts believe Arizona
Senator John McCain, the winner of the Florida
contest, stands the best chance of picking up
Giuliani’s former supporters.
Upon withdrawing from the race, Giuliani endorsed
McCain, calling him “the most qualified to be
the next commander in chief of the United
States.”
On January 31, Giuliani stood by McCain’s side
as the senator received another high profile
endorsement from California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger. The governor said McCain had a
proven record of working with both parties to get
things done.
To learn more about McCain’s recent Florida
victory, read Primaries
Narrow Field of Candidates.
31 January 2008
Clinton wins the most delegates…at a mock
convention
The Democratic National Convention is months
away, but Clinton already has won the most
delegates at a mock convention with a
surprisingly accurate record.
Since 1908, every four years the students at
Washington and Lee University in Lexington,
Virginia, gather to hold their own unofficial
convention. About 95 percent of the study body
participated in the January 26 event, serving as
"delegates" for the Democratic candidates. Based
on of their years of research on the campaigns
and political issues, the delegates selected the
candidate they thought most likely would win the
state they were assigned to represent. The
students nominated Clinton with 2,117 delegates
followed by 1,642 for Obama and 288 for John
Edwards.
Washington and Lee students have a good record of
selecting the nominee for the party aiming to take
back the White House. Since 1948, the school has
only been wrong once – in 1972 when they picked
Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy instead of
George McGovern.
For the latest in the real delegates race, see
Path to the Presidential Nomination.
29 January 2008
Another big endorsement for Obama
The 2008 campaign has seen a number of surprising
endorsements. Evangelical leader Pat Robertson's
endorsement of Rudy Giuliani surprised those who
thought Giuliani didn't share many of Robertson's
religious views. Many Americans also were
surprised when the 2000 Democratic vice
presidential candidate Joe Lieberman endorsed
Republican John McCain.
Yesterday, many older Americans were surprised by
another big endorsement: The Kennedy family’s
support of Democrat Barack Obama. The relatives
of former president John F. Kennedy – nephew
and Rhode Island Representative Patrick Kennedy,
daughter Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and brother
and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy – gathered
in Washington January 28 to voice their support
for Obama.
"Over the years, I've been deeply moved by the
people who've told me that they wish they could
feel inspired and hopeful about America, the way
they did when my father was president,"
Schlossberg said. "Fortunately, there is one
candidate who offers that same sense of hope and
inspiration."
Political experts often say endorsements do not
matter much, but some of those same experts are
wondering whether the Kennedy endorsement can
swing the outcome of a close race. Voters who
have fond memories of John F. Kennedy as
president tend to be older, which could
supplement Obama’s broad base of young
supporters. Obama's campaign is hoping that older
voters will see Obama as a Kennedy-like leader.
For more about endorsements, read
Experts Weigh Value of Endorsements of
Presidential Candidates.
28 January 2008
Obama wins big in South Carolina
Most of the Democratic primaries and caucuses had
been close races between Illinois Senator Barack
Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton –
until South Carolina's primary January 26. Obama
won the record-turnout primary with more than 55
percent of the vote.
Some political experts credit Obama's victory to
his support among African Americans who make up
more than half of Democratic South Carolina
voters. About 80 percent of African Americans
voted for Obama.
Obama's victory helped his lead over Clinton in
pledged delegates grow, but with more than 1,700
delegates at stake among the 22 Democratic
primaries and caucuses being held February 5 –
the current delegate count does not mean
much.
For a schedule of upcoming primaries and
caucuses, see
Voting and the Elections Process.
24 January 2008
What happens when the election is a
tie?
Occasionally in American politics, a race ends
with each candidate getting the same number of
votes. U.S. election authorities have developed a
number of creative ways to resolve such ties. Ties
are most likely in contests with few voters;
sometimes the outcome of a small-town mayor’s
race can be determined by the flip of a coin.
The results in the January 19 Nevada caucuses
were another indicator of how close the
Democratic race is between New York Senator
Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack
Obama: at least two of the precincts recorded
ties.
The Tahoe Daily Tribune reported that two
Douglas County caucuses resulted in ties: one had
26 votes each for Obama and Clinton, the other
reported 24 votes per candidate. Each precinct
was required to select three pledged delegates
for their state convention, where the delegates
to the national convention would be selected.
Each precinct awarded one delegate each to
Clinton and Obama, but then had to figure out who
would receive the third delegate.
The answer was in the cards, literally. In order
to break the tie, a Clinton supporter and Obama
supporter drew a card. The person with the
highest card won the delegate. In both cases, the
winner was Obama.
Learn more about the Nevada caucuses here.
23 January 2008
The candidates roll out their economic stimulus
plans
After a tough week for the financial markets,
Americans are increasingly paying attention to
the current state of the economy and the
president's and Congress' plans to improve it.
Since economic matters top voters concerns, the
presidential candidates are also proposing
economic stimulus plans. Many hope that their
plans will demonstrate their ability to lead in
an economic recession – which polls indicate
most Americans believe is on the way.
While campaigning in South Carolina, Democratic
candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama outlined
plans that would benefit voters in that state. In
a press statement, Edwards said his economic plan
would create new jobs that would bring $1.5
billion to South Carolina. Obama said his plan
calls for a $500 tax cut for families and a $250
supplement to senior citizen's social security
checks. He criticized his opponent Hillary
Clinton for not being as forthcoming with tax
benefits.
Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain are also
calling for tax breaks in their economic stimulus
plans. Romney's plan would lower taxes for
individuals and businesses. For businesses, he
would reduce the corporate tax rate in order "to
attract capital, stimulate investment, and
increase American competitiveness." McCain also
proposes lowering the corporate tax rate and
providing tax credits for research and
development.
Learn more about the economic matters on voters'
minds
here.
22 January 2008
Obama and Clinton clash in South Carolina
debate
After a close race in Nevada, the Democratic
candidates are focused on winning the January 26
primary in South Carolina, the first southern
state to hold a nominating contest and the first
with a sizable African-American population. More
than half of Democratic South Carolina voters are
African-American.
Trying to reach these South Carolina voters, the
Congressional Black Caucus Institute and CNN
hosted a debate with Hillary Clinton, Barack
Obama and John Edwards. In a sign that the race
is becoming more competitive than ever, Clinton
and Obama traded many fierce attacks.
Both candidates strongly criticized the other's
past experience and campaign methods. Obama said
that while he was fighting for workers' rights,
Clinton was sitting on the board of Wal-Mart.
Clinton fired back saying that Obama once worked
on behalf of a slum landlord in Chicago.
When attacking each other on their campaign
tactics, Clinton told Obama "it is very difficult
having a straight-up debate with you, because you
never take responsibility for any vote." Obama
criticized not only Hillary Clinton's campaign
tactics, but her husband Bill Clinton's
campaigning as well. "It is hard to tell who I am
running against sometimes," Obama said.
Do you think political debates are helpful? Let
Campaign Trail Talk know
what you think about debates.
16 January 2008
A big win for Romney in Michigan
Shortly after the polls closed in Michigan
Tuesday night, the Michigan Republican Party sent
e-mails to several media outlets congratulating
Arizona Senator John McCain on his victory. The
only problem was that former Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney actually won the Michigan
primary.
Uncertain who would win, the party had written a
press release for both candidates, and
accidentally sent out the wrong one. The mistake
was fixed quickly.
Romney defeated McCain by nine percentage points.
"Only a week ago, a win looked like it was
impossible," Romney told his supporters, "but
then you got out and told America what they
needed to hear …. Michigan heard and Michigan
voted tonight. Congratulations." With his
Michigan victory, Romney continues to hold the lead
in the number of pledged delegates.
The Democratic result was not surprising with
Hillary Clinton winning more than half the votes.
What was unusual was the 40 percent of voters who
selected "uncommitted," or no candidate. Because
Michigan violated party rules by holding its
primary before February 5, Clinton's biggest
competitors, Barack Obama and John Edwards,
decided to take their names off the ballot. As
part of its punishment, the Democratic National
Committee stripped Michigan of its delegates,
meaning Clinton's Michigan victory does not bring
her any closer to winning the nomination.
16 January 2008
Hillary Clinton wins the media coverage
Not surprisingly, Democrat Hillary Clinton's
unexpected New Hampshire victory helped her
receive more media coverage than any presidential
candidate last week. The Project for Excellence in
Journalism tracked the media coverage of the
candidates from January 6-11 and found that 37
percent of campaign stories were primarily about
Clinton, followed by Obama with 32 percent. John
McCain, winner of the New Hampshire Republican
primary, was primarily covered in 24 percent of
the campaign stories.
Republicans Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee
received significantly more national news
coverage than Democrat John Edwards. The Project
for Excellence in Journalism suggests this may be
because Edwards is seen as having little chance of
defeating Clinton and Obama, while the Republican
race is viewed as wide open. Obama's coverage was
likely so high because his New Hampshire loss was
a surprise.
The study also found that nearly half of all news
coverage last week was about the presidential
campaign. This is another indication that
Americans are paying attention to the race. For
the latest on the presidential elections, see the
new America.gov U.S.
Elections Web page.
14 January 2008
What is the point of a primary or
caucus?
Campaign Trail Talk readers are interested
in knowing why Americans hold primaries and
caucuses and how they operate. For example, David
Jones in Ontario, Canada, asks:
Can you either give me a
comprehensive rundown of the American Primaries
system or tell me where I can go to find a source
to help me understand the system. As a Canadian, I
fully realize that what happens in the U.S. will
inevitably affect me -- without question. Hence
my interest in learning more about the American
system. Thanks very much.
The U.S. presidential nomination system is
complex. Each party holds a national convention
in the summer of 2008, at which delegates from
each state will vote for candidates to select the
party’s nominee. To become a party's nominee for
president, a candidate must win the support of a
majority of these delegates. Delegates cast their
votes based on the outcomes of state caucuses and
primaries. Convention delegates are divided among
states proportionally.
Each party in each state has its own guidelines for committing (or "pledging") delegates. Some states award all the delegate votes to the candidate
who wins the state's primary or caucus, while other state delegations allocate votes proportionally based on the votes cast in the primary for each
candidate. Some states' party leaders also select a few "unpledged" delegates who can vote for any candidate. If no candidate
receives a majority of the delegates' votes on
the first round of voting -- something that has
not occurred in recent election cycles -- most
states allow delegates to change their votes, and
additional rounds of voting will occur until a
majority is reached.
With three states having held primaries and
caucuses, Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat
Barack Obama have the most delegates. But this
could change as more states hold races in the
coming weeks.
To learn more about how delegates are awarded,
read
The Path to the 2008 Presidential Nomination.
Keep checking this page, as it will be updated as
more delegates are awarded.
11 January 2008
Obama collects endorsements
Despite his loss in New Hampshire, Illinois
Senator Barack Obama won some major endorsements
this week. One came from a person who knows what
it is like to run for president – 2004
Democratic nominee John Kerry.
Kerry said January 10 that "I have the confidence
that Barack Obama can be, will be and should be
the next president." Some say Kerry's endorsement
snubbed candidate John Edwards, who was Kerry's
running mate in 2004.
Another potentially important endorsement for
Obama came from the 60,000 member Culinary
Workers Union. Union members – many of whom
work in restaurants and hotels near Nevada's
famous casinos – are well-known for their
political organizing skills. Nevada holds the
next meaningful Democratic contest on January
19.
Obama did not get the endorsement of Bill
Richardson, a Democratic candidate who dropped
out of the race yesterday. But neither did anyone
else. "All I ask is you make your own careful
choice," Richardson said.
Do endorsements matter? Let Campaign Trail Talk
know
what you think about endorsements.
10 January 2008
Oops ... What happened in New
Hampshire?
The outcome in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary
reminded Americans that sometimes polls and
political experts are wrong.
Every poll said Democrat Barack Obama would win
his party's primary. Political experts pondered
whether Hillary Clinton's campaign was finished.
Newspapers ran headlines January 8 saying
"Clintons in Crisis" and "Democrats Hunger For
Obama."
And yet that evening, the New York senator defied
expectations and won the primary by a narrow
margin. Today's headlines include "Clinton Defies
Polls."
How did she defy the polls? Clinton says her
performance in a January 5 debate helped people
understand her experience and future goals. But
many in the media are asking if it was something
else: her emotions. When asked at a campaign stop
how she kept so upbeat during a tough campaign,
Clinton answered, with tears welling in her eyes
“It’s not easy, and I could not do it if I
just didn’t passionately believe it was the
right thing to do ... This is very personal for
me." Some say voters might have felt better able
to connect with Clinton after she showed this
more personal side.
Even though most recent polls indicated
Republican John McCain would win New
Hampshire, the Arizona senator had been counted
out by most political experts a few months ago
when his numbers, and his campaign budget, sank
over the summer.
Learn more about the New Hampshire primary by
reading this article.
08 January 2008
New Hampshire voters head to the polls
Today New Hampshire residents cast their votes in
the first 2008 presidential primary. Since the
Iowa caucuses January 3, most of the candidates
have been in New Hampshire campaigning – you
can read about their campaigns here.
Voting booths are open until 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time, but the 17 residents of the very
tiny town of Dixville-Notch already have cast
their ballots. In what is a nearly 50-year
tradition, the town voted at midnight. Voting
only lasted a few minutes. John McCain won the
Republican primary with four votes and Democrat
Barack Obama won with seven votes.
Those living in Dixville-Notch and other New
Hampshire towns have plenty of options on who to
vote for – including a number of candidates
most have never heard of. Each state sets its own
rules for getting on the ballot. In New Hampshire
one must meet the Constitutional requirements for
running for president and pay a $1,000 filing fee.
Twenty-one Republicans and 21 Democrats did just
that.
Another unusual thing about the New Hampshire
ballot is that it asks citizens to vote for vice
president. This is a non-binding vote and,
because no well-known politician is campaigning
for the office of vice president at this time, a
write-in candidate often wins. In reality, the
presidential nominee selects his or her own
running mate.
Will Dixville-Notch accurately predict the New
Hampshire winner? The latest information on the
primaries throughout the electoral season will be
found on USINFO's Elections
Web page.
07 January 2008
Romney wins Wyoming
While the candidates and the media focus on the
upcoming New Hampshire primary, Republican Mitt
Romney won a little-noticed Wyoming
caucus.
Wyoming Republicans hoped that by moving their
nominating event earlier in the year they would
bring attention to the state. But in fact, the
opposite happened. Because the Wyoming caucus
ended up sandwiched between the traditional first
in the nation voting states of Iowa and New
Hampshire, most candidates skipped campaigning in
the state. Wyoming also lost half its delegates as
punishment for violating party rules by holding
their caucus before February 5.
Romney called the results of the Wyoming race
"evidence that Americans want change, and our
message of strengthening America through
strengthening our economy, our military and our
families is resonating with voters."
For a full schedule of the upcoming primaries and
caucuses, see USINFO's Voting
and the Election Process Web page.
04 January 2008
Iowans vote in record numbers
Along with Republican Mike Huckabee’s and Democrat Barack Obama's wins at the Iowa caucuses last night, another big story came out of the first
nominating event of the 2008 campaign. Turnout was high – much higher than anyone had predicted.
This was especially the case for the Democrats, with more than 239,000 participating in caucuses – nearly twice as many as in 2004. Democratic Party
leaders are hoping this record-high turnout will be repeated in the general election. Iowa often is considered a swing state, and Democrats hope
that if these same voters show up in high numbers in November, the state will swing blue.
Many of the candidates mentioned the turnout in their congratulatory and conciliatory speeches. Democrat Hillary Clinton opened her speech by
saying, "We have seen an unprecedented turnout here in Iowa and that is good news because, today, we're sending a clear message that we are going to
have change and that change will be a Democratic president in the White House in 2009."
For all the latest happenings in the primaries and caucuses check out USINFO's Elections Web
Page.
03 January 2008
Candidates make final push in Iowa
Most of the presidential candidates are spending
the day in Iowa, making their final appeals to
voters before tonight's caucuses. The
caucuses mark the beginning of the 2008 election
voting season, and candidates hope that a win
here will propel them to victory in other states.
And with the New Hampshire primary five days
later, momentum might matter more than ever
before. (Read more about momentum here.)
The candidates are doing everything they can to
make sure their supporters show up to vote.
Unlike other elections, voters cannot vote
absentee in a caucus, and must arrive at their
assigned precinct by a designated time. Late
arrivals will not be admitted. Hillary Clinton's
campaign has arranged for more than 5,000 drivers
to help get candidates to the polls. Barack
Obama's campaign will provide babysitters for
parents heading to caucuses. Mike Huckabee told
his supporters, "Don't go alone. Take people with
you. Fill up your car. Rent a van. Hijack your
church's bus, whatever you've got to do to get
people to the caucus who are going to vote for
me."
The campaigns have kept a close eye on the
weather forecast, fearing that inclement weather
will keep potential caucus-goers at home. But
there is some good news – although it's going
to be cold in the capital city of Des Moines,
there is no snow in the forecast. Just in case,
campaigns are arming volunteers with snow shovels
to help Iowans get out of their houses and into
caucuses.
How raucous is a caucus? Learn all about how the Iowa caucuses work.
03 January 2008
2008 is finally here!
Although it seems like the 2008 campaign has been
ongoing since early 2007, early and absentee votes
now are finally being cast. And tonight, the
primaries and caucuses officially begin with the
famous Iowa caucuses.
Because it’s a new year, we’re beginning a
new Campaign Trail Talk. To check out anything
you missed in 2007, read the Campaign Trail Talk Archives.
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