February 3, 2004
IF EDWARDS PULLS OUT OK THIS COULD TAKE AWHILE:
Kerry Projected Arizona Winner (CBS News, Feb. 3, 2004
CBS News projects Sen. John Kerry is the winner of Democratic primaries in three states: Arizona, Missouri and Delaware. Sen. John Edwards was projected as a solid winner over Kerry in South Carolina, a victory that keeps his campaign's hopes alive.Kerry, Edwards and retired Gen. Wesley Clark were fighting it out in Oklahoma, a pivotal race that's still too close to call. [...]
Among the other hopefuls, CBS News confirms Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who had been hoping for a win in Delaware, was quitting the race. [...]
CBS News exit polls showed Democratic primary voters in five states were leaving the polls with one thing on their minds – the economy. Around one-third of voters in Missouri, Oklahoma, Delaware and Arizona rated the current state of the economy and the job situation the top issue in the election. In South Carolina, 46 percent rated it the top issue.
Three-quarters or more of voters in each state dub the economy "not good" or "poor" and many have felt the effects in their own pocketbooks, saying they are financially worse off today than they were four years ago.
The CBS News exit polls were conducted for the National Election Pool by Edison / Mitofsky among 1,554 voters in Arizona, 777 in Delaware, 891 in Missouri, 955 in Oklahoma, and 1,284 in South Carolina. The margin of sampling error for Arizona, Oklahoma and South Carolina is + 4 percentage points, and + 5 percentage points for the remaining states. [...]
The race turns next to Michigan and Washington state, with a combined delegate total of 204. Maine, Tennessee, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Idaho and Utah hold primaries or caucuses before a mega-state showdown March 2.
That's when delegate-rich California, Georgia, New York and Ohio join six other states for primaries or caucuses. Party leaders expect the nomination to be wrapped up by March 9, when Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas vote.
Three quarters dub the economy poor? We really do need a Depression just to teach people a lesson. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 3, 2004 9:14 PM
That's three quarters of Democrat partisans who have only been listening to Democrats talk about "two Americas." Once Bush gets on a national podium and starts talking these things up, even that number will change.
Posted by: Timothy at February 3, 2004 9:57 PMAt the moment (10:09pm ET) Clark has overtaken Edwards in OK. It's still a nail biter though. It looks like only 700 or so votes separates them.
Posted by: MC at February 3, 2004 10:11 PMIt has been amusing to watch all the talking heads blather over states that will almost certainly be in the Bush column on Nov. 2 (except possibly for DE). And it was equally as amusing to watch Alan Colmes dismiss Zell Miller as a know-nothing when he pointed out Kerry's weaknesses in a national race. On DOMA alone, Kerry will probably lose 4% of the vote.
Posted by: jim hamlen at February 3, 2004 10:18 PMIt appears that Clark will take OK which allows him to meet McAuliffe's "win or out" rule. Clark won't get the nomination but at least he has shown some interest in going after Kerry which Edwards has not (so far). If Clark can draw some blood before bowing out (probably in a week) then ok.
Posted by: AWW at February 3, 2004 11:21 PMAnd Dean will get his state win with WA, which may even perk him up enough to fight for the other states he can win: Wisconsin, California, New York, maybe a couple others. If he picks up either NY or CA, it's a brand new ballgame.
Posted by: Timothy at February 4, 2004 2:10 AMIsn't politics grand?
Posted by: Chris at February 4, 2004 7:17 AMI was hoping there were enough yoga instructors in Taos to give Kucinich a win in New Mexico.
OJ - Your comment points to why I am so happy I was a reader as a kid.
Posted by: Jason Johnson at February 4, 2004 11:02 AMToday's economic releases (ISM Non-Manufacturing Index, January Factory orders, Loan Officer Survey) came in well above even raised expectations. Good employment numbers are anticipated on Friday. Got to wonder what these people think a good economy would be.
Posted by: AWW at February 4, 2004 11:14 AMSince Dem and Rep caucuses are on different days here in the other Washington, maybe I should to go to BOTH. My personal version of 'vote early, vote often.' Anybody know a good source of patchouli oil? Gotta blend in.
Posted by: TimF at February 4, 2004 12:02 PMIt's the Big Lie all over again... if enough liberal news reporters keep repeating over and over again that the economy is poor, eventually people believe it.
I'm in the middle of Bernie Goldberg's second book, so pardon me if I'm a little ornery.
Posted by: MarkD at February 4, 2004 7:51 PMMark D - true but the rise of bloggers (to refute the major media) and the increase in people who own stock (and therefore follow the markets to get a real gauge of what is going on) should help offset the media's efforts.
Posted by: AWW at February 4, 2004 8:10 PM