Category: The Dish

The early Obama margin is really impressive – holding at 54 – 45, especially since these first votes are probably early votes, and the exit polls show a very close race. That’s after almost a million votes. CNN still has it at 1 percent reporting. I don’t think there are 100 million votes in Texas, big though it is.

There are apparently traffic jams to get to the caucuses in Texas.

Check them out:

Harris County: Obama 62.1 percent, Clinton 37.4 percent.

Dallas County: Obama 65.9 percent, Clinton 33.5 percent.

Travis County: Obama 65 percent, Clinton 34.4 percent.

Tarrant County: Obama 58.9 percent, Clinton 40.6 percent.

These may not last, but the margin in urban areas is impressive.

In Ohio, Obama is winning those with at least one college degree by 55 – 44. The Clintons win those without college degrees by the same margin. Education seems more important than income. If you believe the exit polls, Clinton will win Ohio narrowly, largely on the female vote.

Some hope in the Obama camp. It’s beginning to look as if the Texas and Ohio results will be extremely close. If that pans out, it’s not good enough for the Clintons. Some hope for Clinton: women are turning out in big numbers:

Turnout among women looks to be up in both states in these preliminary results — they account for about six in 10 voters in Ohio, and not quite as many in Texas, compared with 52 percent in Ohio and 53 percent in Texas in 2004.

From Fox’s exit polls in Ohio and Texas:

More than half say they would be dissatisfied if their candidate does not win the nomination.

Uh-oh. Meanwhile, Independents are still flexing their electoral muscle:

In the Democratic primaries, independents were about one in five voters in Ohio, one in four in Texas, a third in Rhode Island and four in 10 in Vermont.

If it means the Clintons tear apart their own party, they will:

A minute ago former DNC chair and professional Clinton-friend Terry Mcauliffe indicated to reporters that Clinton intends to stay in the race until all the states (and Puerto Rico) have voted.

A good night for McCain.

Ambers:

After the euphoria of potential Clinton popular vote victories in Ohio and Texas fades after 48 hours, the only number that will endure … will be Obama’s delegate margin in Vermont.

Heavy Republican cross-over votes reported in Ohio. Until we get exit polls, we won’t know the precise reasons. But it’s very hard to see how many Republicans would vote for the Clintons for positive reasons. The Ohio exits show that Obama still wins a majority of Republican votes.

Former Family Ties writer Gary David Goldberg wonders what kind of politics his character would have today. Almost certainly no longer a Republican:

So what about Barack Obama? I honestly don’t know. I think Alex is an independent now, and as deeply engaged in politics as ever. He would be intrigued by Obama — impressed with his eloquence and intelligence. He would be unhappy with his plan to tax the wealthy at a higher rate, but keenly aware that eight years of neglect and corruption and no-bid contracts have to somehow be overturned. And, I think Obama’s slogan is very similar to Alex’s own personal mantra: “Of Course I Can.”

I think that Alex might just be ready to take a chance.

Why does he remind me of me? (Commenter #9 got there first.)