New York Times
"Obama Gets Convincing Wins in 3 States" Senator Barack Obama won decisive victories over Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington, Louisiana and Nebraska on Saturday, giving him an impressive sweep going into a month when the Democratic nominating contests are expected to favor him.The successes come just as Mr. Obama is building a strong advantage over Mrs. Clinton in raising money, providing important fuel for the nominating contests ahead. Still, the results were expected to do little to settle the muddle in the delegate race that resulted after the wave of contests last Tuesday in which the two candidates split up states from coast to coast....the margin of victories were surprising, particularly in Nebraska and Washington, which offered the day’s biggest trove of delegates. In both states, he captured 68 percent of the vote in caucuses, compared with Mrs. Clinton’s roughly 32 percent. “We won in Louisiana, we won in Nebraska, we won in Washington state,” Mr. Obama said at the Virginia Democrats’ Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond, Va. “We won North, we won South, we won in between. And I believe that we can win in Virginia on Tuesday if you’re ready to stand for change.”...In Nebraska, The Omaha World-Herald reported that organizers at two caucus sites had been so overrun by crowds that they abandoned traditional caucusing and asked voters to drop makeshift scrap-paper ballots into a box instead. In Sarpy County, in suburban Omaha, traffic backed up on Highway 370 when thousands of voters showed up at a precinct where organizers had planned for hundreds.In Washington, the Democratic party reported record-breaking numbers of caucusgoers, with early totals suggesting turnout would be nearly be nearly double what it was in 2004 — itself a record year — when 100,000 Democrats caucused.
"Obama Gets Convincing Wins in 3 States"
Senator Barack Obama won decisive victories over Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington, Louisiana and Nebraska on Saturday, giving him an impressive sweep going into a month when the Democratic nominating contests are expected to favor him.
The successes come just as Mr. Obama is building a strong advantage over Mrs. Clinton in raising money, providing important fuel for the nominating contests ahead. Still, the results were expected to do little to settle the muddle in the delegate race that resulted after the wave of contests last Tuesday in which the two candidates split up states from coast to coast.
...the margin of victories were surprising, particularly in Nebraska and Washington, which offered the day’s biggest trove of delegates. In both states, he captured 68 percent of the vote in caucuses, compared with Mrs. Clinton’s roughly 32 percent.
“We won in Louisiana, we won in Nebraska, we won in Washington state,” Mr. Obama said at the Virginia Democrats’ Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond, Va. “We won North, we won South, we won in between. And I believe that we can win in Virginia on Tuesday if you’re ready to stand for change.”
...In Nebraska, The Omaha World-Herald reported that organizers at two caucus sites had been so overrun by crowds that they abandoned traditional caucusing and asked voters to drop makeshift scrap-paper ballots into a box instead. In Sarpy County, in suburban Omaha, traffic backed up on Highway 370 when thousands of voters showed up at a precinct where organizers had planned for hundreds.
In Washington, the Democratic party reported record-breaking numbers of caucusgoers, with early totals suggesting turnout would be nearly be nearly double what it was in 2004 — itself a record year — when 100,000 Democrats caucused.
Associated Press
"Obama Sweeps Three States..." Sen. Barack Obama swept the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska and Washington state Saturday night, slicing into Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's slender delegate lead in their historic race for the Democratic presidential nomination.The Illinois senator also won caucuses in the Virgin Islands, completing his best night of the campaign....''Today, voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America stood up to say 'yes we can''' Obama told a cheering audience of Democrats at a party dinner in Richmond, Va.[He said] the election was a choice between debating the Republican nominee-in-waiting ''about who has the most experience in Washington, or debating him about who's most likely to change Washington. Because that's a debate we can win.''...Obama's winning margins ranged from substantial to crushing.He won roughly two-thirds of the vote in Washington state and Nebraska, and almost 90 percent in the Virgin Islands.
"Obama Sweeps Three States..."
Sen. Barack Obama swept the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska and Washington state Saturday night, slicing into Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's slender delegate lead in their historic race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The Illinois senator also won caucuses in the Virgin Islands, completing his best night of the campaign.
...''Today, voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America stood up to say 'yes we can''' Obama told a cheering audience of Democrats at a party dinner in Richmond, Va.
[He said] the election was a choice between debating the Republican nominee-in-waiting ''about who has the most experience in Washington, or debating him about who's most likely to change Washington. Because that's a debate we can win.''
...Obama's winning margins ranged from substantial to crushing.
He won roughly two-thirds of the vote in Washington state and Nebraska, and almost 90 percent in the Virgin Islands.
Reuters
"Obama Sweeps 3 States..."Barack Obama easily swept Democratic presidential contests in three states on Saturday, striking the latest blows in a bruising back-and-forth battle with Hillary Clinton for the party's nomination....Obama scored decisive wins in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington to gain a small dose of momentum in a deadlocked, state-by-state fight with Clinton for Democratic convention delegates who will choose the party's presidential nominee in the November election....Obama cruised to easy wins in Nebraska and Washington, doubling Clinton's tally by capturing more than 60 percent of the vote.
"Obama Sweeps 3 States..."
Barack Obama easily swept Democratic presidential contests in three states on Saturday, striking the latest blows in a bruising back-and-forth battle with Hillary Clinton for the party's nomination.
...Obama scored decisive wins in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington to gain a small dose of momentum in a deadlocked, state-by-state fight with Clinton for Democratic convention delegates who will choose the party's presidential nominee in the November election.
...Obama cruised to easy wins in Nebraska and Washington, doubling Clinton's tally by capturing more than 60 percent of the vote.
"Obama Narrows Delegate Gap with Clinton"WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama narrowed the delegate gap with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday, picking up delegates in four contests....Obama won at least 72 delegates Saturday night, with 49 still to be awarded. Obama won most of the delegates in Nebraska and all the delegates in the Virgin Islands. He had the delegate lead in the Washington state caucuses and the Louisiana primary....Washington was the biggest prize of the day, with 78 delegates at stake, and Obama won the state handily...
"Obama Narrows Delegate Gap with Clinton"
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama narrowed the delegate gap with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday, picking up delegates in four contests.
...Obama won at least 72 delegates Saturday night, with 49 still to be awarded. Obama won most of the delegates in Nebraska and all the delegates in the Virgin Islands. He had the delegate lead in the Washington state caucuses and the Louisiana primary.
...Washington was the biggest prize of the day, with 78 delegates at stake, and Obama won the state handily...
Democrat Barack Obama said he is better positioned to change Washington and to end the Iraq war if elected president in an unusually spirited critique of rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain on SaturdayBefore 7,000 people in Bangor, Me., Obama said McCain -- the likely Republican nominee -- ''wants to fight a 100-year war'' in Iraq. It was a reference to the Arizona senator's remarks that some U.S. troops may be in Iraq a century from now.He also criticized McCain for initially voting against President Bush's major tax cuts and later embracing them. And he mocked McCain's attacks on pork barrel spending, saying, ''it was his party'' under the Bush administration ''that passed the biggest increase in pork barrel spending'' in history....Anti-war sentiments run high in Maine, and the Illinois senator drew some of the loudest applause when he noted that he opposed the Iraq invasion from the start, and vowed to bring U.S. troops home promptly if elected.''It's going to be a lot easier for me to have that debate with John McCain than Senator Clinton, because she supported the war,'' he said, alluding to Clinton's 2002 Senate vote....the Bangor crowd encouraged him with loud cheers and standing ovations.
Democrat Barack Obama said he is better positioned to change Washington and to end the Iraq war if elected president in an unusually spirited critique of rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain on Saturday
Before 7,000 people in Bangor, Me., Obama said McCain -- the likely Republican nominee -- ''wants to fight a 100-year war'' in Iraq. It was a reference to the Arizona senator's remarks that some U.S. troops may be in Iraq a century from now.
He also criticized McCain for initially voting against President Bush's major tax cuts and later embracing them. And he mocked McCain's attacks on pork barrel spending, saying, ''it was his party'' under the Bush administration ''that passed the biggest increase in pork barrel spending'' in history.
...Anti-war sentiments run high in Maine, and the Illinois senator drew some of the loudest applause when he noted that he opposed the Iraq invasion from the start, and vowed to bring U.S. troops home promptly if elected.
''It's going to be a lot easier for me to have that debate with John McCain than Senator Clinton, because she supported the war,'' he said, alluding to Clinton's 2002 Senate vote.
...the Bangor crowd encouraged him with loud cheers and standing ovations.
Washington Post
"Obama Sweeps Clinton in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington" Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) swept to solid victories over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y) in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state yesterday, an impressive showing that left the two Democrats in a virtual tie for national delegates but with Obama gaining momentum...
"Obama Sweeps Clinton in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington"
Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) swept to solid victories over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y) in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state yesterday, an impressive showing that left the two Democrats in a virtual tie for national delegates but with Obama gaining momentum...
"Obama Handily Wins in 3 States"Sen. Barack Obama dominated Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in presidential balloting in Nebraska, Louisiana and Washington state last night, besting her by huge margins in those contests and further narrowing her slender advantage in delegates needed to claim the Democratic presidential nomination....Among Democrats, Obama (Ill.) won more than two-thirds of the vote in both Nebraska and Washington, and his lopsided victories gave a boost to his state-by-state strategy of methodically picking up delegates, while highlighting Clinton's struggles in caucuses...
"Obama Handily Wins in 3 States"
Sen. Barack Obama dominated Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in presidential balloting in Nebraska, Louisiana and Washington state last night, besting her by huge margins in those contests and further narrowing her slender advantage in delegates needed to claim the Democratic presidential nomination.
...Among Democrats, Obama (Ill.) won more than two-thirds of the vote in both Nebraska and Washington, and his lopsided victories gave a boost to his state-by-state strategy of methodically picking up delegates, while highlighting Clinton's struggles in caucuses...
New York Post
"O's Surge May Swing Delegates His Way"February 10, 2008 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton faces losing previously committed superdelegates if Barack Obama's upward momentum carries him to victory in three looming primaries. A Texas lawmaker who'd pledged his superdelegate vote to Clinton told The Post he'd have to "weigh" his decision if she doesn't win his district on March 4, when his state and Ohio hold elections. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a staunch Clinton backer who expects her to win his state's April 22 contest, acknowledged that voting results matter.
"O's Surge May Swing Delegates His Way"
February 10, 2008 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton faces losing previously committed superdelegates if Barack Obama's upward momentum carries him to victory in three looming primaries.
A Texas lawmaker who'd pledged his superdelegate vote to Clinton told The Post he'd have to "weigh" his decision if she doesn't win his district on March 4, when his state and Ohio hold elections.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a staunch Clinton backer who expects her to win his state's April 22 contest, acknowledged that voting results matter.
Boston Globe
"Obama Sweeps..." Senator Barack Obama scored a clean sweep last night in Democratic nominating contests from the West Coast to the Caribbean, giving him a burst of momentum in a Democratic campaign where every delegate has become crucial to capturing the nomination......Heading into yesterday's contests, Clinton held a small lead over Obama in the delegate count, 1,055 to 998, according to an Associated Press tally, which includes the results of primaries and caucuses, plus a survey of unpledged superdelegates. But Obama's campaign said last night that after his wins, he leads Clinton by about 70 delegates among those awarded in actual contests. Obama can also claim wins in the popular vote in 18 states to 10 states for Clinton...
"Obama Sweeps..."
Senator Barack Obama scored a clean sweep last night in Democratic nominating contests from the West Coast to the Caribbean, giving him a burst of momentum in a Democratic campaign where every delegate has become crucial to capturing the nomination...
...Heading into yesterday's contests, Clinton held a small lead over Obama in the delegate count, 1,055 to 998, according to an Associated Press tally, which includes the results of primaries and caucuses, plus a survey of unpledged superdelegates. But Obama's campaign said last night that after his wins, he leads Clinton by about 70 delegates among those awarded in actual contests.
"Switching Sides: In Virginia, a Longtime Republican Votes for Change"GLEN ALLEN, Va. -- Laura Barchi DeBusk threw on her boots and sunglasses as the school bus rounded the corner. Clutching her preschooler's hand, she crossed the street along with half a dozen other stay-at-home moms. DeBusk and her neighbors -- Republicans all -- rarely discuss politics, but days before a primary election here she decided to send a little shock through her subdivision...."You'll be surprised to know I'm voting for Barack Obama," DeBusk, 37, announced as the school bus pulled up. "Really?" her friend Sherry Tierney, 36, said as their first-graders hopped off the bus. "Why?" "I feel like we need to get out of the Bush black-and-white way of thinking," DeBusk said. "I feel like McCain would also say, 'It's my way or the highway.' . . . Obama's message of inclusion and working together is what we need." "But he's so young," Tierney replied. "I like McCain." "He's soooo old," DeBusk fired back. "What will he be, 80, when he finishes his term?"...DeBusk likes a lot about Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), too, but it's not enough to overcome her disenchantment with a Republican Party she thinks is adrift and uninspired, both in Virginia and nationally. She voted for President Bush twice and regrets where he has taken the country and what she thinks he has done to the good name of the United States of America. She's tired of what she sees as a lackluster string of Republicans that have run and, lately, lost in a Virginia that seems more liberal by the day. And she watched with particular dismay as Republican Sen. George Allen's 2006 reelection campaign went up in flames after he uttered a remark perceived by many as racist. "You get so disappointed, like, these are the people we are putting up?" DeBusk said. "Like, are you kidding me? This is who we have to choose from?" The Laura DeBusks of the country are just the kind of voters that Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) has courted -- sick of what they've been offered, tired of where things are headed and willing to try something, anything, new. Exit polls from elections across the country last week showed that Obama won the majority of independent voters. DeBusk, like many voters, worries about Obama's lack of experience, and she disagrees with him on a handful of issues, particularly his tax policies. But her desire for change is so great, she's willing to take the chance. "Even if he doesn't do everything the way I'd like, I really feel like he can move us forward," she said. DeBusk was raised in a conservative military family where discipline, love of country and voting Republican were shared values. She respects McCain's military service, but she'll consider him only if Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democratic nominee. She thinks Clinton is smart and capable but fears that Republicans so dislike the New York senator that the country will be polarized. "If it's between McCain and Clinton in the general election, then I'm voting for McCain," DeBusk said......DeBusk, a petite white woman whose mother stayed home for several years to raise her and whose father was a Navy officer, said her background and social circle is probably more similar to McCain's and Romney's than to that of Obama, the son of a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, and who was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia. "I haven't had the most diverse life experience," said DeBusk, who grew up mostly in Annandale and went to William and Mary, where she met her husband. "I just think we need people in the presidency whose paths haven't been as greased. I think it does bring a different perspective. It makes you more empathetic."...She was first intrigued when he said he would meet with world leaders, even unfriendly ones. "I know we don't like Syria, and I'm sure that they are doing some things that are not nice, but we should talk to them," she said. It was after Obama won Iowa that DeBusk started searching out his policies online... Obama really won her over after his decisive victory in South Carolina, when he said, "It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old, and it is not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future." Right on, she thought. Her mother and stepfather, also Republicans, became supporters of Obama in Delaware for many of the same reasons and mailed her an Obama bumper sticker. There are no yard signs on the manicured lawns of Twin Hickory and no campaign placards in the windows of homes, but DeBusk was feeling bold the other day, inspired by a politician for the first time in who knows how long. She took the bumper sticker outside, walked to the back of her 2004 white GMC Yukon and slapped it on. "Obama '08," it said.
"Switching Sides: In Virginia, a Longtime Republican Votes for Change"
GLEN ALLEN, Va. -- Laura Barchi DeBusk threw on her boots and sunglasses as the school bus rounded the corner. Clutching her preschooler's hand, she crossed the street along with half a dozen other stay-at-home moms. DeBusk and her neighbors -- Republicans all -- rarely discuss politics, but days before a primary election here she decided to send a little shock through her subdivision.
..."You'll be surprised to know I'm voting for Barack Obama," DeBusk, 37, announced as the school bus pulled up.
"Really?" her friend Sherry Tierney, 36, said as their first-graders hopped off the bus. "Why?"
"I feel like we need to get out of the Bush black-and-white way of thinking," DeBusk said. "I feel like McCain would also say, 'It's my way or the highway.' . . . Obama's message of inclusion and working together is what we need."
"But he's so young," Tierney replied. "I like McCain."
"He's soooo old," DeBusk fired back. "What will he be, 80, when he finishes his term?"
...DeBusk likes a lot about Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), too, but it's not enough to overcome her disenchantment with a Republican Party she thinks is adrift and uninspired, both in Virginia and nationally. She voted for President Bush twice and regrets where he has taken the country and what she thinks he has done to the good name of the United States of America. She's tired of what she sees as a lackluster string of Republicans that have run and, lately, lost in a Virginia that seems more liberal by the day. And she watched with particular dismay as Republican Sen. George Allen's 2006 reelection campaign went up in flames after he uttered a remark perceived by many as racist.
"You get so disappointed, like, these are the people we are putting up?" DeBusk said. "Like, are you kidding me? This is who we have to choose from?"
The Laura DeBusks of the country are just the kind of voters that Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) has courted -- sick of what they've been offered, tired of where things are headed and willing to try something, anything, new. Exit polls from elections across the country last week showed that Obama won the majority of independent voters. DeBusk, like many voters, worries about Obama's lack of experience, and she disagrees with him on a handful of issues, particularly his tax policies. But her desire for change is so great, she's willing to take the chance.
"Even if he doesn't do everything the way I'd like, I really feel like he can move us forward," she said.
DeBusk was raised in a conservative military family where discipline, love of country and voting Republican were shared values. She respects McCain's military service, but she'll consider him only if Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democratic nominee. She thinks Clinton is smart and capable but fears that Republicans so dislike the New York senator that the country will be polarized.
"If it's between McCain and Clinton in the general election, then I'm voting for McCain," DeBusk said...
...DeBusk, a petite white woman whose mother stayed home for several years to raise her and whose father was a Navy officer, said her background and social circle is probably more similar to McCain's and Romney's than to that of Obama, the son of a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, and who was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia.
"I haven't had the most diverse life experience," said DeBusk, who grew up mostly in Annandale and went to William and Mary, where she met her husband. "I just think we need people in the presidency whose paths haven't been as greased. I think it does bring a different perspective. It makes you more empathetic."
...She was first intrigued when he said he would meet with world leaders, even unfriendly ones. "I know we don't like Syria, and I'm sure that they are doing some things that are not nice, but we should talk to them," she said.
It was after Obama won Iowa that DeBusk started searching out his policies online...
Obama really won her over after his decisive victory in South Carolina, when he said, "It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old, and it is not about black versus white. It's about the past versus the future."
Right on, she thought.
Her mother and stepfather, also Republicans, became supporters of Obama in Delaware for many of the same reasons and mailed her an Obama bumper sticker.
There are no yard signs on the manicured lawns of Twin Hickory and no campaign placards in the windows of homes, but DeBusk was feeling bold the other day, inspired by a politician for the first time in who knows how long. She took the bumper sticker outside, walked to the back of her 2004 white GMC Yukon and slapped it on.
"Obama '08," it said.
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