Pennsylvania Democrats Crowd Polls

Poll Workers Report High Turnout Across The State For Potentially Pivotal Primary

(AP)  Despite weeks of furious campaigning by Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, some Pennsylvania Democrats were still scrambling to pick a side Tuesday as they streamed to the polls for the high-stakes presidential primary.

The choice nagged at Kermita Williams until nearly the moment she pulled the lever for Obama in suburban Philadelphia. Williams said she supported Clinton early, but tired of her negative attacks late in the campaign.

"She lost a lot of credibility with me, with all her bickering back and forth," said Williams, a retiree from Malvern. "I was in her corner, but she showed me some weakness."

The crisp spring morning found enthusiastic voters queuing up at local schools and firehouses to cast their ballots. Election judges in Susquehanna Township, near Harrisburg, had checked in 10 percent of the ward's voters by 9 a.m.

Cindy Wiedl, 50, a full-time student at Harrisburg Area Community College, stood in front of the voting machine for several minutes before pushing the button for Obama, based in part on his pledge in a Tuesday morning television interview to help working people.

Her husband, Anthony Wiedl, a 55-year-old supermarket cashier, voted for Clinton, but said he had "kept listening to what Barack was saying and the wheels were turning."

Poll workers reported high turnout across the state. A line of voters snaked out the door at Allentown's First Presbyterian Church, jammed the two-bay firehouse in the small Philadelphia suburb of Roslyn and filled a fire company in Bellevue, a working-class suburb north of Pittsburgh.

Many voters said they reached decisions only after watching the debates, studying the candidates' Web sites or attending a campaign event. But psychotherapist Kathleen Gavin said the former first lady earned her vote "10 years ago."

"I think she's done tremendous work in the country and in the world," said Gavin, 44, of Allentown. "I don't think he (Obama) has the experience, the wisdom or the presence that Hillary has."

The primary is the first test of the candidates' strength in six weeks, and will decide the allocation of 158 delegates to this summer's national nominating convention - the largest bloc of delegates still up for grabs.

By plane, train, bus and car, the two candidates and their surrogates have been relentless in courting Pennsylvania voters. They spent millions of dollars on TV advertising and squared off in Philadelphia for the 21st debate of their campaign.

Election workers in the University City section of West Philadelphia - whose voters include University of Pennsylvania employees, Drexel University students and residents of the lower-income Powelton Village neighborhood - reported strong registration in the typically transient district.

"I have never seen a polling book this thick," poll worker Sheryl Simons said. "The debates and the candidates coming to campus has really heightened interest."

Voter excitement over the Democratic presidential nomination contest pushed the party's Pennsylvania registration to record levels. Clinton and Obama hoped that same fervor would translate into votes on Tuesday. Obama, an Illinois senator, has trailed Clinton in the polls by a small margin in recent weeks.

Statewide turnout would set a modern record for Democratic presidential primaries in Pennsylvania if more than 2.3 million of the 4.2 million registered party members show up.

The current record - just under 55 percent - was set in 1980, when Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy narrowly defeated then-President Carter in Pennsylvania.

Democratic enrollment began to soar earlier this year when it became apparent that neither candidate would clinch the nomination before Pennsylvania's primary, making it a factor in a presidential nomination for the first time in more than three decades. Voters must be registered Democrats to vote in the Clinton-Obama race. The Republican primary is also being held Tuesday, but Sen. John McCain of Arizona is already the presumptive nominee.

Since last fall's election, largely due to the aggressive efforts of the two presidential campaigns, the number of Democrats increased by nearly 317,000 as of March 24, the deadline for switching or joining parties.

Nearly 150 people had voted in Roslyn by 9 a.m., which election workers called a brisk turnout.

"I never dreamed there would be a woman running, but I think it would be a great change for the United States of America," said Bill Stabilito, 83, a retired machinist and World War II veteran who voted for Clinton.

The Democratic presidential race is not the only one being decided Tuesday - there are nomination contests for state treasurer, Congress and the state Legislature - but it is unquestionably the biggest draw for voters.

Dave Price, 65, a Republican in western Pennsylvania, cast a vote early Tuesday for McCain. But he said that's not necessarily the way he will go in the November general election.

"If Obama runs, I'll be very interested in taking a look," said Price, a retiree voting in Bellevue. "The change theme gets me."

[pepperwood2]

It should come as little surprise that the Old Guard Rendell, Clinton polictics dominate the rather inflexible population of Penna. The Status Quo prejudice polictics is dominant.

I''ve grown up with here in Penna. and sad to say that there is a rather intolerant side to the Demo Party to real change & acceptance that is needed. To the Rendell, Clinton crowd, they thrive on this common knowledge, and is little wonder that Hillary came into Pa. with a 30 point lead and expected to win by at least 25 points.

Senator Obama refused to give up on the People. With the mocking, cackling old show Clintons in the background he gave his message of Hope, Change and the need for this Country to get past the negative polictics and get back to doing the work of the People. Yes, He Cares!

AS for Hillary, Wheeeeeee this is fun! I''m just warming up. I make 110,000,000 year. Show me your money. CACKLE CACKLE CACKLE Sooooo SAD!

Smiling Bill Clinton in line for a cubicle at the White House!

[liberty4you]

Wow, the "Hildabeast" won by a total of 9, count ''em
NINE delegates...

She failed.

[obamasgranny]

Ouch!! Pow!! Zonk!! Kadoosh!! Bazoom!! Ta daaaa!! 10 points?
OUCH!! Obama and the bots,...can''''t get it done? 3 times the money? Ouch!!

Bad Obama-bots!!
No Kool-Aid for you!!

[jgunther7]

Very disappointed in the people of Pennsylvania. I find it hard to believe they could vote for somebody who is a pathological liar, outsources their jobs right out from under them, commits them to a war they should not be in and campaigns like a bunch of low lifes. I guess this explains how they could vote for George Bush. The same people that are puzzled by the price of gas and why they haven''t got a decent job and why their house is being foreclosed. I hope this doesn''t speak for the rest of the people in the rust belt.

[phillysage]

IrishWench, right on! Go get ''em
Obama and many of his followers are nothing but snobby individuals who think they''re better than the rest of us and we all need them to save us! (very much like the Christian right wing) Pay no attention to them--Hillary is winning tonight and will go on to win the nomination. And we will have a black man for President, but not Obama, someone with experience please.

[phillysage]

Obama is weird--Reports this morning that he was "shocked" at Bill Clinton''s remark to the effect that he shouldn''t have to put up with this "sh*t" from anyone--(regarding the absurd insinuations from the Obamites that he''s been playing race cards--in other words, he''s a racist)--really show another wacky side of the personality of this not-so-ordinary guy. Most people have uttered that four-letter word at some time in their lives, especially when they have to put up with the kind of nonsense (yes, sh*t) that the Obama campaign throws at you!
America does not a Puritanical, holier-than.-thou preachy Harvard philosopher as President.

[starleo146]

Thank you for your support. I hope we also have a Commander in Chief who supports us by next year. Bush''''s idea of "supporting the troops" is giving another no-bid contract to KBR.

Posted by rf35 at 05:33 PM : Apr 22, 2008

welcome, we are glad to have you,if we agree or not it is good to hear a new voice for this post I agree

[starleo146]

At least I don''''t make $hit up to defend a point.

Posted by taddles at 05:13 PM : Apr 22, 2008
+ report a

Really

[taddles-2009]

"Think about it America? Is this what you want. Better hillary if you don''''t like McCain!!

Posted by cmp271 at 05:18 PM : Apr 22, 2008"




Well that''s an exceptionally uninformed and narrow minded view. I''d add bigoted but that''s a given.

[rf35]

I do not support this war and want it done. I do support our troops and their families every step of the way now and when its done.

Posted by IrishWench at 05:24 PM : Apr 22, 2008

Thank you for your support. I hope we also have a Commander in Chief who supports us by next year. Bush''s idea of "supporting the troops" is giving another no-bid contract to KBR.

[dreamseeker9]

JACK3213, - keep dreaming! he''s the best candidate! and believe me, they know more than anyone abt being bitter.

[cmp271]

Let''s hope PA makes the right choice. Obama has shown his true colors.
What do we think his Presidency would be like:
*Black Panthers on every corner.
*Al Sharpton on mass media every day!
*Jesse Jackson as national anti white preacher- after another two or three b-a-s-t-a-r-d children!
*Rev. Wright in charge of the anti-white cross burning on whites lawns by the black kkk/bbb!!!

Think about it America? Is this what you want. Better hillary if you don''t like McCain!!

Vote McCain!!

[rf35]

You''''re new here aren''''t you.

Posted by taddles at 05:11 PM : Apr 22, 2008

Only to the Political section...I usually argue with Creationists over on the SciTech pages, but there hasn''t been much new over there.

[taddles-2009]

"Well, wasn''''t that mature? If your an example of Republicans today, I''''m glad I switched to Democrat when I did.

Posted by rf35 at 05:09 PM : Apr 22, 2008"


At least I don''t make $hit up to defend a point.

[taddles-2009]

"Well, wasn''''t that mature? If your an example of Republicans today, I''''m glad I switched to Democrat when I did.

Posted by rf35 at 05:09 PM : Apr 22, 2008"


You''re new here aren''t you.

[taddles-2009]

"Obama has a vague plan that only addresses the Army and, if you read far enough, states that he intends to maintain an American presence indefinitely.

Posted by rf35 at 05:00 PM : Apr 22, 2008"


You didn''t read far enough into Hillary''s site if you think that she will remove all troops from Iraq. The only thing she has set a timetable for is to begin troop reduction, she has no set deadline to get out of Iraq. Here is Barak''s plan as lifted from his official website:

"Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats."

Looks like you need to do a bit more reading since you got prety much all your "facts" wrong.

[rf35]

Since the Dems haven''''t even started to campaign against McCain you are very premature to make any claims about anything. I''''m sure you''''re premature on a lot of things.

Posted by taddles at 05:06 PM : Apr 22, 2008

Well, wasn''t that mature? If your an example of Republicans today, I''m glad I switched to Democrat when I did.

[taddles-2009]

"Barakh Obama will lose Pennsylvania--has lot New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, California--and also lost Florida and Michigan--though Obama a "new" Democrat for "change" does not want those votes to count---anyway--no Democrat can possibly win if he can''''t win a big state.

Posted by phillysage at 04:39 PM : Apr 22, 2008"


Obama has won ore states, more overall votes and more delegates. He won Texas if you''d bother to check your facts and all those big blue states will vote for either Hillary or Obama in November.

Since the Dems haven''t even started to campaign against McCain you are very premature to make any claims about anything. I''m sure you''re premature on a lot of things.

[taddles-2009]

"Obama only won little Republican states who want to make sure McCain faces a loser.

Posted by phillysage at 04:42 PM : Apr 22, 2008"


That means Obama is getting more support from Red states than Hillary and since all the blue states will vote for whatever dem makes it onto the ballot and all the red states will most likely vote for the Rep candidate it all comes down to those purple states where Obama has been doing very well.

Stick with your theory though, it might be of some comfort to you during the Obama inauguration.

[rf35]

Iraq is my primary concern (since I keep getting sent there). If you look at their official sites, Clinton has already planned what needs to be done to get American forces out of Iraq. Obama has a vague plan that only addresses the Army and, if you read far enough, states that he intends to maintain an American presence indefinitely.