Maine Puts Topper On Obama Sweep
Illinois senator Barack Obama finished a series of weekend primary and caucus contests undefeated as he bested Hillary Clinton in Maine today, according to CBS News estimates.
Obama's victory in the Maine caucuses follow on the heels of his Saturday sweep in which he won Louisiana's primary contest as well as caucuses in the states of Washington and Nebraska.
His winning margins ranged from substantial to crushing. In Maine, he led 59 percent to 40 percent with 99 percent of the precints reporting. In Louisiana, Obama defeated Clinton, 57 percent to 36 percent. He won in Nebraska by a 68 percent to 32 percent margin and in Washington 68 percent to 31 percent.
Obama's victory in Maine -- and the ease with which it came -- actually exceeded expectations, even though he swept the caucuses held on Super Tuesday. Clinton had the backing of the state's governor, John Baldacci, and its proximity to New Hamsphire and Massachusetts, both of which Clinton has already won this year, led some analysts to expect a close race.
Even Obama's own campaign said they didn't expect to win Maine, according to a document the campaign said was accidentally leaked earlier in the week.
In the delegate chase, Obama has pulled ahead of Clinton, even when the support of uncommitted super delegates is figured in. According to CBS News estimates as of Sunday night, Obama holds a razor-thin lead with 1,134 delegates overall to 1,131 for Clinton. Click here for the latest state-by-state delegate count.
The results in Maine came in the wake of a shake-up on the Clinton campaign. Sunday afternoon, Clinton campaign manager Patti Patti Solis announced she was stepping down from that post. She will be replaced by senior advisor and longtime Clinton confidant Maggie Williams.
Campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee said Solis Doyle was "not asked to step down," reports CBS News' Fernando Suarez. Elleithee said the change in leadership was not due to this weekend's losses.
In a letter to campaign staff, Solis Doyle wrote, "I have been proud to manage this campaign, and prouder still to call Hillary my friend for more than sixteen years. I know that she will make a great President."
"This has already been the longest Presidential campaign in the history of our nation, and one that has required enormous sacrifices from all of us and our families," she continued.
Democrats in 420 Maine towns and cities were deciding Sunday how the state's 24 delegates will be allotted at the party's national convention in August. Despite the weather, turnout was "incredible," party executive director Arden Manning said.
Organizers had expected heavy participation at the caucuses, but up to 8 inches of snow and Arctic cold were expected when many of the gatherings were scheduled. Even so, Democrats started Sunday with more than 4,000 absentee ballots in hand.
Manning said the weather would not hurt turnout. In Bangor, the caucus started late because so many people showed up that they were lined up outside the door, he said.
In Portland, waterlogged Democrats carrying "Obama" and "Hillary" signs waited to get into the citywide caucus at Portland High School in separate lines that snaked nearly three city blocks in opposite directions.
Colin Johnson, an Obama supporter, said the Illinois senator is not a typical politician. "I'm convinced he's a once-in-a-generation leader," he said.
"He's young and energetic and Washington and the White House could benefit from some fresh air," said Joe Lewis, another Obama supporter.
But Tony Donovan said Obama can use some more seasoning. Donavan was supporting Clinton because she, like him, was a baby boomer who shared similar values and because she has the experience and the team to lead in Washington.
"Obama's a great guy. He'll be great in eight years," Donovan said. "He doesn't have the experience in the Senate. He doesn't have the experience in Washington. He's not ready."
Both campaigns hit Maine heavily with radio and TV advertising, and voters' homes were being called with pre-taped messages in support of both candidates.
On Sunday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, were scheduled to visit Maine caucuses on Obama's behalf.
On Clinton's side, Baldacci, Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern and New York Rep. Gregory Meeks were to campaign.
AP/CBS Obama's victory in the Maine caucuses follow on the heels of his Saturday sweep in which he won Louisiana's primary contest as well as caucuses in the states of Washington and Nebraska.
His winning margins ranged from substantial to crushing. In Maine, he led 59 percent to 40 percent with 99 percent of the precints reporting. In Louisiana, Obama defeated Clinton, 57 percent to 36 percent. He won in Nebraska by a 68 percent to 32 percent margin and in Washington 68 percent to 31 percent.
Obama's victory in Maine -- and the ease with which it came -- actually exceeded expectations, even though he swept the caucuses held on Super Tuesday. Clinton had the backing of the state's governor, John Baldacci, and its proximity to New Hamsphire and Massachusetts, both of which Clinton has already won this year, led some analysts to expect a close race.
Even Obama's own campaign said they didn't expect to win Maine, according to a document the campaign said was accidentally leaked earlier in the week.
In the delegate chase, Obama has pulled ahead of Clinton, even when the support of uncommitted super delegates is figured in. According to CBS News estimates as of Sunday night, Obama holds a razor-thin lead with 1,134 delegates overall to 1,131 for Clinton. Click here for the latest state-by-state delegate count.
The results in Maine came in the wake of a shake-up on the Clinton campaign. Sunday afternoon, Clinton campaign manager Patti Patti Solis announced she was stepping down from that post. She will be replaced by senior advisor and longtime Clinton confidant Maggie Williams.
Campaign spokesman Mo Elleithee said Solis Doyle was "not asked to step down," reports CBS News' Fernando Suarez. Elleithee said the change in leadership was not due to this weekend's losses.
In a letter to campaign staff, Solis Doyle wrote, "I have been proud to manage this campaign, and prouder still to call Hillary my friend for more than sixteen years. I know that she will make a great President."
"This has already been the longest Presidential campaign in the history of our nation, and one that has required enormous sacrifices from all of us and our families," she continued.
Democrats in 420 Maine towns and cities were deciding Sunday how the state's 24 delegates will be allotted at the party's national convention in August. Despite the weather, turnout was "incredible," party executive director Arden Manning said.
Organizers had expected heavy participation at the caucuses, but up to 8 inches of snow and Arctic cold were expected when many of the gatherings were scheduled. Even so, Democrats started Sunday with more than 4,000 absentee ballots in hand.
Maine Results
Louisiana Results
Nebraska Results
Washington Results
Kansas Results
State-By-State Delegate Count
Manning said the weather would not hurt turnout. In Bangor, the caucus started late because so many people showed up that they were lined up outside the door, he said.
In Portland, waterlogged Democrats carrying "Obama" and "Hillary" signs waited to get into the citywide caucus at Portland High School in separate lines that snaked nearly three city blocks in opposite directions.
Colin Johnson, an Obama supporter, said the Illinois senator is not a typical politician. "I'm convinced he's a once-in-a-generation leader," he said.
"He's young and energetic and Washington and the White House could benefit from some fresh air," said Joe Lewis, another Obama supporter.
But Tony Donovan said Obama can use some more seasoning. Donavan was supporting Clinton because she, like him, was a baby boomer who shared similar values and because she has the experience and the team to lead in Washington.
"Obama's a great guy. He'll be great in eight years," Donovan said. "He doesn't have the experience in the Senate. He doesn't have the experience in Washington. He's not ready."
Both campaigns hit Maine heavily with radio and TV advertising, and voters' homes were being called with pre-taped messages in support of both candidates.
On Sunday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, were scheduled to visit Maine caucuses on Obama's behalf.
On Clinton's side, Baldacci, Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern and New York Rep. Gregory Meeks were to campaign.
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Obama, you are now more or less like JFK. You have wooed America and now basking in an avalanche of love and admiration from all over the country. You are the man that America had been expecting, the political messiah who has given America hope and the zeal to go for a change for a better America. You are the man who has promised to unify the country and re-empower it. This is your brightest shining moment. A moment in the life of America that your millions of fans would cherish for a long time because you have ran a very organized, disciplined and positive campaign and have won. You have performed magic and a miracle by doing that which millions of people (including me) thought will never be possible: beating Billary!!! Congratulations buddy. May your luck continue to shine and take you to the White House. And may you become a very good President with a very good leadership, who would be a good role model for future presidents after you. forexmillionaire.com
Obama, you are now more or less like JFK. You have wooed America and now basking in an avalanche of love and admiration from all over the country. You are the man that America had been expecting, the political messiah who has given America hope and the zeal to go for a change for a better America. You are the man who has promised to unify the country and re-empower it. This is your brightest shining moment. A moment in the life of America that your millions of fans would cherish for a long time because you have ran a very organized, disciplined and positive campaign and have won. You have performed magic and a miracle by doing that which millions of people (including me) thought will never be possible: beating Billary!!! Congratulations buddy. May your luck continue to shine and take you to the White House. And may you become a very good President with a very good leadership, who would be a good role model for future presidents after you. forexmillionaire.com
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Add your comments. I am going to print every comment out and walk it to the DNC headquarters. Our voices should be heard!
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If you think this is an issue please add a comment to the protest page of the website. I will print out all the comments and give them to the Democratic party.
Stop spreading lies!!!! Obama is winning the democratic caucuses because his campaign invested heavily in those smaller states as well as the large ones. Hillary campaign has focused on the large states, as if the smaller states are irrelevent. Which begs the question, if Hillary is elected will she still behave as if the smaller states are irrelevent???
America wants TRUTH -
WISDOM, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE
America wants OBAMA
So be it that our YOUTH sees HOPE in TRUTH...
"LIVE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed."
"A nation''s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people."
GO! OBAMA, TRUTH IS THE NATION, THE WORLD, THE HOPE!
Ding-dong, the witch is dead...
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Okay talk about racist, Why was necessary to point John McCain was white. does that make him less of a man. Note Obama is just as much black as white. HMM. Maybe we should just vote for the best candidate who will do the best job.
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Posted by alanrobisch2 at 03:47 PM : Feb 11, 2008
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I agree 100pct. We need to get race and gender out of this campaign. I am a 61 year old white woman and I am a big Obama supporter. I would love to see a woman in the Whitehouse, IF it is the right woman. I would never vote for a candidate just because they are black, just because they are a woman, or just because they are white and a man. It is amazing that we have a woman, the first in history, and a black, the first in history, running for the presidency at the same time, but it still comes down to who is the best candidate. The Republicans basically had nothing to offer, so it comes down to these two Democrats. I like Obama better and I think he is the more electable of the two. Incidentally, I am an independent that "swings both ways!" :o)