Obama Wins Democrats Abroad Global Primary

Illinois Senator Got 65 Percent Of 22K Ballots By Internet, Mail And In Person From 165 Countries

(AP)  Barack Obama won the Democrats Abroad global primary in results announced Thursday, giving him 11 straight victories in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The Illinois senator won the primary in which Democrats living in other countries voted by Internet, mail and in person, according to results released by the Democrats Abroad, an organization sanctioned by the national party.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has not won a nominating contest since Super Tuesday, more than two weeks ago.

More than 20,000 U.S. citizens living abroad voted in the primary, which ran from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12. Obama won about 65 percent of the vote, according to the results released Thursday.

Voters living in 164 countries cast votes online, while expatriates voted in person in more than 30 countries, at hotels in Australia and Costa Rica, at a pub in Ireland and at a Starbucks in Thailand. The results took about a week to tabulate as local committees around the globe gathered ballots.

"This really gives Americans an opportunity to participate," said Christine Schon Marques, the international chair of Democrats Abroad.

There is no comparable primary among Republicans, though the GOP has several contests this weekend in U.S. territories, including party caucuses in Puerto Rico Sunday.

The Democrats Abroad controls seven pledged delegates at the party's national convention this summer. However, the group's system of dividing the delegates is unique, and could create an anomaly in which Obama and Clinton end up with fractions of delegates.

The party will send 14 pledged delegates to the convention, each with a half vote. The primary was used to determine nine people, or the equivalent of 4.5 delegates. Obama won 2.5 and Clinton won two, according to Schon Marques.

The Democrats Abroad will hold a global convention in Vancouver, Canada, in April to select the other five people who will attend the convention. They will represent the remaining 2.5 votes.

The system creates the possibility that Obama and Clinton could each end up with an extra half vote at the convention, Schon Marques said.

Democratic parties in U.S. territories use similar systems, in which they send twice the number of delegates, giving them each a half vote. But their systems are designed to ensure that that candidates do not end up with fractions of delegates.

Heading into the Democrats Abroad primary, Obama led with 1,351 delegates, and Clinton had 1,262.

[therealpook-2009]

So Vancouver Dems weren''t the only ones voting in a pub! Voters had a beer in one hand, a ballot in the other. The big screen TVs offered a choice of either the election returns or the hockey game.
Starbucks would have also worked..

[whitepicks2]

Down-to-Earth? Try head-in-sand.

[bizzzz-2009]

I have a new phrase- "Obama-bots"
Unlike "Bushbots", Obamabots have a bias liberal news outlet to protect him from any self inflicted damage. In fact, you don''t even need a platform to be an Obama-bot. All you need to do is repeat the phrase:
"Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope, Change & Hope"

[remco82]

Hillary can bake pies and do the laundry.

[xlib]

Where did the michelle obama story go?? Must have been something we said. Perhaps we were liberal enough. I for one was enjoying sparing with a lib over the whole issue. Funny how cbs picks and chooses stories and how long they remain on the site.
As for this story, I understand at an international meeting of heavy muslims obama was endorsed.
Personally I don''t give a rat''s behind what the "international community" thinks.

[vmcneal2]

Hillarys campaign is dead. Obama has 11 straight wins. And Bill thought Obama was a fairy tale!!!!!! Well the title fairy tale is..The guy with the funny name who kicked my ***.

[norcalruss]

Hillary can bake pies and do the laundry.

Posted by remco82 at 01:07 PM : Feb 21, 2008

She might as well do something useful since she can''t win a primary (11 straight loses now) and is a sore loser about it. Maybe she should go back to ironing Bill''s shirts or give him a BJ so he doesn''t need to find another Monica to take care of that for him.

[overseasvote]

To all who believe that perhaps overseas voters are out-of-touch with what''s going on in America, should think twice before they speak. Being outside people have a better view of "planet America" as it really is. Let''s put the truth on the table. Hillary MAY be the best candidate BECAUSE of her experience and dedication BUT America needs a whole NEW beginning. That beginning IF it will ever come about can only be done by a beginner. Obama, I''m quite confident will have ALL the right people in his circle (vice pres...) as well as the people in the country working all together. Let me say that this is a TALL order but giving him 8 years to get the ball rolling in the right direction IS what this country needs cause Lord knows and so do overseas voters that American is ONE BIG BIG MESS! GO OBAMA!

[pacific_c]

Odd that the "will of the people" includes Independents and Republicans voting in the Democratic primary. Once nominated the Republicans will have a field day with the liberal Senator from Illinois. Republicans are really smart and they will win a presidential election they are supposed to lose.

IS THIS THE CHANGE YOU WANT?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_obama_delusion.html

[xlib]

pacific_c-so you libs are hollering fowl already?? So, just explain your post. You say independents and Republicans can vote in a democratic primary. I guess I''m just an ignorant New Yorker but that isn''t the case here. Also, if what you say is true, is this new, just in the past oh, say, 7 years?? Why is it that members of a party known for voter fraud are so quick to scream fowl. And don''t bother bringing up the election of 2000 and Florida because it was your party that would not count the military vote. The same military you profess to support.

[xlib]

bizzzz-and don''t forget "I''m for the future". Gosh he sure can read speechs good, and just think, the Europeans love him. Boy, makes me all fuzzy....oh no....I''m fainting.....................................................

[overseasvote]

You must be JOKING. Republicans don''t have a chance. Granted they are "clever" but come on do you really think we can afford another Republican president and McCain of all people. I''m not going to get in to all the reasons why cause that would go on and on, just don''t forget one thing our country has enormous problems at this moment. We need a Democrate to rebuild the infrastructure, our neighborhoods, schools, just about our everything. And our biggest problem is how do we deal and get the H-ll out of Iraq. Trust me the whole world is watching and counting on us. Please vote for a Dem and please get everyone you can to do the same.

[samthetvcat]

Wow, so Barack''s won eleven in a row? Awesome!

[realpatriot1]

hopetrumps,

It''s not about qualifications oe experience because there are no qualifications or experiences that have proven to lead to Presidential success.

What has set great Presidents throughout history apart from the also rans has been intelligent judgement and problem-solving, the ability to lead and manage others, and the ethics and character to lead people in the right direction.

Obama has demonstrated ability in all these areas while Clinton, & McCain have all made disastrous judgements, have terribly mismanaged their own campaign operations( and in Hilary''s case the healthcare task force), and have been drawn by their ethics to lead the public in the wrong direction on more than one occasion.

The oratory and ability to inspire that Obama possesses is the icing on the cake that will allow him to rally the public and to rebuild America''s image in the world.

[realpatriot1]

Xlib is so dumb he doesn''t realize pacific_c is agreeing with his drivel.

If the Republicans are as smart as you claim they are they won''t run a swift boat campaign like Hillary did, they''ll tell the voters what they intend to do without all the sound bites and platitudes.

It''s funny how you initially cast Obama as an empty suit with no specific plans and now you cast him as wanting to turn the country into socialism central. By the time you make up your mind why you don''t like him(which we already know why) it will be too late to make your own case to the voters.

Talk is cheap and your name calling and boasting is not particularly impressive. Forgive me us if were not shaking in our boots.

[penelope777]

if you look at the numbers for the dems they are really close.
the reality is that about half of us want hillary and half want barack.
we all want what is best for the country, right?
we all want change from the bush presidency, but also stability in a time of war. hillary is the best choice for the middle of the road. mccain is too right, barack too left. we need balance, not extremism.

[whitepicks2]

The last 11 contests have shown that Hillary is not electable, nor will she ever be.

[flreason]

hopetrumps:

I seem to recall another Illinois legislator whose lack of legislative experience and failed businesses made Obama look polished. Abraham Lincoln became one of the great American Presidents, despite his shortcomings and his previous failures. But he was also a great orator, and a statesman who could bring people together. It was he who insisted that the South should not be harshly punished after their loss. Obama may not be another Lincoln...but if your standards had been applied then, we wouldn''t have had the first one. Experience isn''t everything. And sometimes it''s a barrier to needed change. When 75% of Americans feel that our country is headed in the wrong direction, candidates that represent the status quo can''t inspire the hope and confidence we seek. Obama can.

[denise083]

"BAMPOT"

A PERSON WHO TALK''S ROT.

.EIRE

[pilgrimsway-2009]

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE? Would He CHANGE the way to make it easy for terrorists to get into this country to over through this country? Would He CHANGE the laws for any of His kind? Would He hang out with those who supported tyranny? Would He impose martial law? Could there be a nuclear strike? Could He start unjust wars for His hidden ideology? Could His decisions CHANGE the course for America? Believe me when I say there are no one with hidden agenda%u2019s in this world! If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE?

[ponco seno]

McCain, Clintons, Bushes are full of $*it


We need a fresh and bold approach to America and the World.

If OBAMA becomes a cracker jack like The Clinton and The Bushes we will vote his A$$ out too.

For now I will vote for OBAMA

[ponco seno]

Will Billary divorce Bill if she looses? will she blame him?

[user168-2009]

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don''t necessarily want to go, but ought to be."

"The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive."

"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision."

"A great leader''s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position."

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

"A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves."

"I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together."

"There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands."


"I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?"

[obamasmama]

What this tells us is that Obama is more concerned about the rest of the world than he is about the Red, White & Blue - A vote for Obama is a vote for global socialism.

Here''s why: http://www.trueobamafacts.com/

[obamasmama]

What this tells us is that Obama is more concerned about the rest of the world than he is about the Red, White & Blue - A vote for Obama is a vote for global socialism.

Here''s why: http://www.trueobamafacts.com/

[georgew1956]

can we just start over? I don''t like any of these canadates.

[vet_sk]

George Will wrote this today. Pretty apt.

"The president who came to office with the most glittering array of experiences had served 10 years in the House of Representatives, then became minister to Russia, then served 10 years in the Senate, then four years as secretary of state (during a war that enlarged the nation by 33 percent), then was minister to Britain. Then, in 1856, James Buchanan was elected president and in just one term secured a strong claim to being ranked as America''''''''s worst president. Abraham Lincoln, the inexperienced former one-term congressman, had an easy act to follow. "

[vet_sk]

Hillary voted for the war which she knew was bogus. Then just last September she voted for an Iran Resolution.

Not a chance can I morally support Hillary. I might have been able to get over her disgusting vote on Iraq but she didn''t learn and then voted for the Iran Resolution. To think that they are a threat to us is so incredibly rediculous it makes me sick. I am tired of fighting bogus wars.

[tibu987]

Of course.
Who else offers the opportunity for change?
More of the same from the Clinton Twins and McCain, I don''t think so.

Vote against politics as usual.
Vote against the status quo.
Vote against divisive partisan politics.
Vote against arrogance, ineptness, and corruption.
Vote against members of Washington''s "good ole boys"
club.

Vote for change.
Vote for Obama.

I am.
72 year old white male, veteran, who has seen it all, and am tired of it.

[grazinggoat]

Have any of you seen the YouTube Larry Sinclair accusations about drugs and *** with Obama in 1999? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdS
YY He was not only married at the time, he already had a daughter I believe, AND he was an Illinois State Representative! ...
Posted by longfella1 at 05:40 PM : Feb 21, 2008

-We saw the whole silly smelly smearing attempt... it was disgusting this slimy thing Sinclair, uttering things that looked like he was under sedation... he''s a sub-human. And you want us to believe such a slimy creature? Yuk Yuk Yuk!

[rowdytexan2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d91jxghTnE

Hahahaha! Obama''s experience...go watch it!

[jack3213]

Complete & Utter BS. Both of these Dem candidates are only experianced at one thing: ACTING. They will lie to you to get the power they desperately crave and are not qualified. They will destroy this country even more than it is. You want change, you need patience. If you rush to change parties it is very foolish. It is a scary time and the best you can is allow the more experianced candidate to get things under control for atleast 4 years. McCain is the most experianced.