Always room for more solid analysis.
The Timesand MSNBC are joining forces for a new cable show. Tuesday was the debut of The New York Times Special Primary Edition, a new political show hosted by John Harwood where Times-journos will handicap the election. From a Timesmemo, it appears these shows will appear as specials–that is, they won’t run every week, but whenever MSNBC and the paper choose to do it.
Technorati Tags: MSNBC, NewYorkTimes, Elections, Election08
Here come the early exit polls results.
WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMY
The economy was on voters’ minds in Democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. Two-thirds of Democratic primary voters in Indiana and nearly as many in North Carolina said the economy is the most important issue facing the nation. That’s more than have said so in 28 previous competitive Democratic primaries with exit polls this year.
Only about one in five in each state said Iraq was the top issue, and even fewer picked health care from a list of three issues.
Four in 10 Indiana Democratic voters said the current recession or economic slowdown has affected their family a great deal. Nearly as many said that in North Carolina.
CROSSOVER VOTING
Indiana’s Democratic primary was open to all voters. About one in five said they were independents and one in 10 identified themselves as Republican. North Carolina’s Democratic primary was open only to voters registered Democratic or unaffiliated; nearly one in five voters in that contest called themselves independents.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
The exit poll estimated blacks made up about a third of voters in the North Carolina Democratic primary, about one in seven in Indiana. More than half of voters in both states were women, which is typical for Democratic primaries. About one in seven voters in Indiana and slightly fewer in North Carolina were under age 30; about a quarter in North Carolina and somewhat fewer in Indiana were over age 65.
Voting so heavy in Marion County, Indiana that is resembles a general election. Republicans turning out for Hillary Clinton!
Turnout already is looking less like a primary than a general election. Based on reports from precincts, she said turnout may surpass the November 2006 election, when one-third of Marion County voters showed up, but might not be as large as the 2004 election, when nearly 54 percent of registered voters took part in the contest pitting President George W. Bush against John Kerry.
Four years ago, less than one in five Marion County registered voters showed up for the primary.
Everyone who loves the political drama that is unfolding today has been waiting for the early exit polling data. The news is always leaked at about 4:00 P.M. (CT) and is usually a good (not perfect) barometer of where we are headed as the polls close, and votes are counted.
Earlier today there was news that internal numbers for Hillary Clinton show that she may face up to a 15% defeat in North Carolina. Barack Obama will do very well there according to most polling data.
Other polling shows a tighter race in Indiana, but with Clinton leading.
Hillary Clinton’s inner circle now fears a stinging defeat is likely in North Carolina.
The campaign now believes a 15 point loss, or more, would not be surprising. Her team will work hard throughout the day to lower all expectations in North Carolina.
Technorati Tags: HillaryClinton, BarackObama, Election08, Democrats, IndianaPrimary, NorthCarolinaPrimary, DrudgeReport
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 