Obama Sweeps All Weekend's Races: Maine, Nebraska, Washington, Louisiana and the Virgin Islands

Posted by GottaLaff , Cliff Schecter's Blog at 5:36 PM on February 9, 2008.

With 59% of precincts reporting, MSNBC says Obama beats Clinton in Maine 57% to 42%

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He was just endorsed by Virginia's governor.

"I look forward to being on the ticket with Mark Warner?" Oh, he didn't mean THAT ticket...right?

He's calling himself the underdog in Washington ...until ..."something started to happen." We're tired of "being disappointed, let down, hearing promises but have nothing change. Because lobbyists write another check. Or who's up or who's down instead of who matters."

Poetically speaking about unemployment, deployment, unauthorized war... wow he's good. How can that sound poetic? Well, he makes it sound poetic.

No more "same old Washington games". Turn the page.

The west coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America said "yes we can". We won in La., Washington, Nebraska, north, south, in between...and we can win in Virginia. The crowd's going nuts, doing the "yes we can" chant...loudly.

Whatever else happens, when you vote next November, the name "George Bush" won't be on the ballot. ..cheers... The name of my cousin Dick Cheney won't be on the ballot...that was embarrassing when that news came out... You want to be related to somebody cool! ...

End the disasters of Bush, no more Rove, no more Libby...

Hillary and I both have detailed plans and ideas. We were friends before, we will be after ... we will be unified. We will end the failed policies of Bush.

But to make this time different, we need to bring Dems, I's, and R's who are disillusioned together... and that's how we'll win, and that's how we'll change this country when I'm president.

McCain is presumptive nominee. He's an American hero... applause.... But, in this campaign, he's embraced Bush's policies. .. 100 year war in Iraq and another war in Iran... Tax cuts ... He now supports the same cuts he voted against.

No more business as usual. The Democratic party must stand for change, not as a slogan, but what we believe in. CHEERS, CHANTS.

Experience vs Change. That's a debate we can win. (re: McCain) Lobbyists contribute to him, not us. We're funded by you, the American people.

Unite all parties around a common purpose. I can beat McCain, I do better with I's, red states, swing states.

More loud cheers/chants. The Rs are already running on the politics as yesterday...we're running on the politics of tomorrow.

I don't demonize those who disagree (re: health insurance). We'll pass universal health care by the end of my first term. Don't take my word for it, Ted Kennedy wouldn't have endorsed me if he didn't think I'd do that. And he knows something about health care. Sen. Clinton likes to point out the difference in our health care plans, and there is a difference. (goes into his plan)

Time to bring the cost of living down. End the Bush/McCain tax cuts, and cut taxes for the families who need them: Working families and the working poor. Discusses his tax plan. Will raise minimum wage, keep up with inflation every year.

Education: Every child, from birth to college. Reward teachers with higher salaries and more support. Cheers. No more teaching to the test: Bring art, music, science, poetry back. Discusses college plan: National service for tuition.

MORE cheers/chants. Addiction to oil won't hold us hostage. Discusses fuel, standards, 80% reduction in carbon emissions by2050.

Foreign policy: Wants to debate McCain on this. Cheers. Hits his usual points, including negotiating with other countries. End the war, and the mindset that got us there: Fear.

This is our moment. Our time for change. The Democratic party is at its best when we lead by principle.

People say I'm a hope monger. I'm peddling false hopes, I need a reality check. But with a life story like mine you have to have hope. (paraphrased) Hope is not blind optimism. It's not ignorance of challenges. I get it. (paraphrased) Goes into more policy statements. I've fought as a civil rights attorney, etc. I've seen how we've been divided, made to be afraid of each other, gays, etc. But I know there's nothing worthwhile unless someone, somewhere was willing to hope. That's how this country was founded. Lists various examples. Women's vote, sit-ins, freedom...that's what hope is.

This is our moment, this is our chance. There's one in the life of every generation where we have to cast aside cynicism, reach for something higher... remake this country, arm in arm, this is our moment, Virginia. Vote for me on Tuesday, and we'll win the nomination and the general election...and we'll transform the country, transform the world.

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Barack won the Virgin Islands

Only a few delegates, but a win is a win, right?

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Why did Obama win Louisiana?

49% black, 46% white voters there.

82% of black voters voted for Obama. And 26% of the white voters.

Clinton got 70% of the white vote, which is less than the % of black voters for Obama.

74% didn't think race was important.

54% thought he could unite the country. 44% for Hillary as a uniter.

Kerry got 83% of the black vote last time.

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Barack Obama wins Louisiana

3 for 3.

UPDATE: Chants of "Obama" could be heard at the end of Hillary's speech, it's being reported.

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Per CNN:

Sen. Barack Obama will win Nebraska's Democratic caucuses, CNN projects.

The Illinois senator has also taken an early lead over Hillary Clinton in the Washington state caucuses.

With 30 percent of precincts reporting, Obama led Clinton 67-32 percent.

Obama has done well in caucus states like Iowa because he has been able to generate enthusiastic crowds and volunteers. He also picked up the endorsement of Washington's governor, Christine Gregoire, on Friday.

Earlier, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee scored a resounding win over rival John McCain in the Kansas Republican caucuses.

Huckabee has also done well in caucuses like Iowa, where his grass-roots efforts and conservative activists are more likely to have greater influence.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Huckabee had 60 percent of the vote, compared with 24 percent for McCain and 11 percent for Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Huckabee won all 36 of the delegates at stake.

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Ruh-roh:

The Obama campaign submitted an urgent request for assistance to the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections today, after receiving widespread reports from Democrats across Louisiana who reported that they were not allowed to vote because their party affiliation had been switched. Hundreds of Louisiana democrats went to the polls to vote in today’s presidential primary and found that they were now on registration lists as Independent or Unaffiliated voters.

Imagine a world in which everyone's vote counted. You can't? That's how outrageous this is.

Tagged as: louisiana, washington, nebraska, clinton, huckabee, obama

GottaLaff is a regular blogger for Cliff Schecter's Blog