Texas voting rules
WASHINGTON DC: As we await news of the latest primaries, Democrats with strong stomachs might want to look ahead to March, and these thoughts from the Houston Chronicle on the Texas voting rules; rules that, according to the paper, might make things tricky for Mrs Clinton, because votes count for more in areas with a history of strong support for Democratic candidates:
"In the heavily urban, African-American districts of state Sens. Rodney Ellis of Houston and Royce West of Dallas, a good voter turnout in the past two elections means a combined total of 13 delegates are at stake in the two districts on Election Day.
Obama nationally has been winning eight out of 10 black voters, according to network exit polls.
But in the heavily Hispanic districts of state Sens. Juan Hinojosa of McAllen and Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville, election turnout was low, and a combined total of seven delegates are at stake.
Clinton has been taking six of 10 Hispanic votes nationally.
So, a big South Texas win might not mean as much for Clinton as a big win for Obama in the two black districts."
Here is the full article from the Houston Chronicle.
UPDATE: For an inside look at the angst and joy of decision making among the suburban moms of Washington DC and Maryland - I bring you this news just in...
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People in classical Europe used to joke about the complicated voting systems the Athenians employed but I think we need to amend to joke... ; )
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All it does is allocate votes based on how many voters voted in the area in the previous election which prevents the finagling you see in other states.
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Someone on Fox News (we report and decide) said that a lot of hispanics will now turn away from Clinton because she sacked her campaign manager (who was, presumably, hispanic).
This is why I love watching Fox News. The idea that a particular group of people would base their vote on who Hillary Clinton's campaign manager is shows a unique desperation in journalism. It is tabloid to the core. And it is hilarious.
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It is problematic for her, indeed, that everyone in Texas is not Latino but what can you do, huh?
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I live in Houston. Early primary voting, in person, starts in Texas next week on Feb 19. I usually vote "early", but this year I have not yet decided which primary to vote in. I consider myself to be a moderate independent.
I am extremely disappointed that the candidates are avoiding Houston (the 4th most populous city in the USA) and Texas itself(Dallas and San Antonio are also in the top 10). Hillary, Obama, Huckabee, and McCain - WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!! Voting starts next week in Texas!
And why are the Democrats debating only in Austin, a college town that is primarily white and is the most liberal city in Texas? If the Democrats are truly serious about winning the presidency, then they should start getting serious about Texas.
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Dear Justin,
Sorry for the Off Topic. Can you please explain what happens with the delegates who have been pledged to a candidate who has withdrawn?
I just took a look at the BBC scoreboard, which shows that John McCain has over three times more delegates than Huckabee. But if Huckabee could claim all of Romney's delegates for himself, that would give him 529 delegates - not so far behind McCain's 729. So maybe it's not lost for Huckabee yet?
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In answer to pauls inane question which could have been answered with a quick trip to wikipedia,or googling the word primary. Anyway those delegates will not go to Huckabee they are officially uncommitted and if the convention is brokered they may be assigned but the Repugs will never get there McCain will win the Chesepeake states and then Texas and that will be that.
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Photos are circulating online of the Obama campaign office in Houston. They do not fly the American flag in the office. However, they do have the Cuban flag displayed with a photo of Che on it!
If people want change...there you go.
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#6
Certainly Paul. They become free agents. And please, don't apologise. I seem to get questions on Mr. Webb's blog all the time.
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Surely 'suburban mums' ?
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Justin #3, why are you writing responses to your own blog entry?! Seriously, someone should have told that 'punditmom' you're supposed to vote for someone to change the Washington way, not for someone who knows how to cope with it. Duh!
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If punditmom can rationalise her thought as she did, then why, as she says, can't Hillary provide a story to aid others?
Yet why should she have a 'story', if she is capable to take the job why should a 'life story' matter? Is pathos and bathos still affecting voters? If so, it is clear that money matters, to get the 'story' across.
On that score Obama has scored big recently with internet funding.
Is obama going to be the real deal when he is in office and the US and indeed the whole world breath a collective sigh of relief, or, as punditmom eludes too, it could be a real disaster as his lack of experince in politics is exposed through the message of change and hope.
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Don't campaign here, it's your loss. The Democrates must not really want the Texas vote. Granted, it's JUST the primaries but they have to start campaigning for their presidency at some point. If neither care enough to spend any time and money in one of the largest states in the country, we Texans don't care. San Antonio and Houston ARE only two of the ten largest cities in America, but they're obviouly not concerned. Just don't come crawling to us around election time, shaking our hands, taking photographs with our children, and wanting our 34, winner-takes-all electoral votes. Texas is historically a Republican state so unless they are serious, they need to start campagning hard. Then again, they have probably already figured they haven't a chance here come November anyway so why bother.
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I have no doubt that all groups involved are fully aware of the oddities of each state's voting rules, protocols, and procedures. You can't win a game if you don't know how it's played, and all the remaining players want to win.
That said, for the Democrats, it's a popularity contest at this point between Obama and Clinton. For the Republicans, it's the grudging acceptance of McCain.
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You haven't posted a blog about Obama's string of victories? Yet you have enough time to waste talking about black and white votes. Very typical of you!
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My Friend, Will you give the system it's due. Anything can happen in Texas and the two other states. I hate how all of you pounce on the one who is down. This is not a Damn Boxing match, this is selecting the leader of the world. Obama will not win and my party will be ruined for it. Thanks to the NYT pundints who have vilified Hillary as they did Gore! How sad for the discourse of our Nation! I so have believed in the press until now!
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Don't get the "Democrats with strong stomachs" bit at the start of the article. Isn't Mr Obama a Democrat too?
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Loving the attitude from no. 12 Stephanie V-
What possible reason could anyone have for voting for a candidate who hadn't visited their state?
Other than maybe their policies I guess...
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Who is better-Hillary or Obama?
What is the difference? I do not know. All this hue and cry is only because of upsetting Hillary. Winning the presidentship is one thing but a bigger achievement seems to be is to defeat Hillary.
America will not change whether Hillary or Obama. The only thing that will change is a nameboard.
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As a Texas voter, I find it telling that Clinton chose to start her campaign in El Paso (nothing against El Paso; I used to live there). Not only is El Paso one of the two most heavily Hispanic cities in Texas (the other being San Antonio). It is well-removed from the big population centers in Texas (about 800 kilometers from both San Antonio and the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and well over a thousand kilometers from the largest city in the state: Houston). It shows that Clinton is banking heavily on the Hispanic vote. The problem for her may be crossover votes (Texas is an open primary) in cities like Austin, Dallas (where I live), and Houston, and the fact that 25% of the Democratic delegates are actually chosen by caucus. I have to like Obama's chances to at least "hang in" with Hillary in this state, which in and of itself may be the death knell for her campaign, thanks to the proportional system.
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