TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 9/14/10

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Independent Voters In N.C. Hold The Power (Written by Bruce Ferrell, North Carolina News Network)
• Crist appeals to Democrats, independents in new ads (From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby) For Crist to win in November, he must win something close to a majority of independent voters while also peeling off substantial portions of Democratic votes from Rep. Kendrick Meek and GOP votes from former House Speaker Marco Rubio.

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Delaware politics: State's elections can get quirky - From late primaries to arcane laws, Del.'s process is unique (By J.L. MILLER, The News Journal) Delaware's closed primary system gives a boost to motivated voters. Democrats vote in Democratic primaries, Republicans vote in Republican primaries, and the 146,212 voters who aren't Democrats or Republicans -- 23.5 percent of the electorate -- are shut out of the primary process. That might seem odd to people from Texas, South Carolina and the 22 other states with open primaries, where all voters have a say in who winds up on the ballot in November. Delaware State University political science professor Sam Hoff said the closed primary "may seem strange to some," but that it shows Delaware has "a pretty strong, durable party system."

TUESDAY PRIMARIES

• Delaware not the only Tea Party vs. GOP battle Tuesday (By Paul Steinhauser, CNN Deputy Political Director) Palin's endorsement earlier this summer and Ayotte's support by many national Republicans may have backfired in fiercely independent New Hampshire. The moves have drawn repeated criticism by the Union Leader.
• Bill Clinton in Minneapolis For Dayton Fundraiser (by Tom Halden / FOX 9 News) While it’s possible another Independent could win the race outright, at least one analyst doesn’t see this as a repeat of 1992, when Independent Ross Perot took votes from President George H.W. Bush, launching then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton into the White House. "More of the Democrats, the moderate Democrats, they're going to tilt more toward Horner,” University of Minnesota Prof. Larry Jacobs said. “And if Horner was not in the race, they'd be voting for Dayton.”
•  http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/politics/bill-clinton-dayton-fundraiser-minneapolis-sept-14-2010
• * Granite Status: Polls show Republican U.S. Senate primary race dead heat (By JOHN DISTASO, Senior Political Reporter, Union Leader) Lamontagne's show of strength among independents counters conventional wisdom that in New Hampshire, such voters are generally more moderate than traditional Republican voters.It appears that in this election, independents are in fact conservatives who appear to have been disenfranchised from a GOP they apparently see as part of the problem in Washington.
• Time to vote - Anger aside, voters should seek character (EDITORIAL Worcester News Telegram) Independent voters hold the balance of power in their hands, both today and on Nov. 2. However angry they may be at incumbents, or however dismissive of a political newcomer, we think democracy is best served when voters cast their ballots on the basis of qualifications, not party affiliation.
• Candidates Eschewing Party Labels in New Hampshire's U.S. Senate Campaign (By Tom Moroney, Bloomberg News) In New Hampshire, the preponderance of undeclared or independent voters offers another reason for candidates to play down their party affiliation, Hodes said. Undeclared voters number 388,220, compared with 267,725 Democrats and 266,077 Republicans, according to Secretary of State Bill Gardner’s website. The unaffiliated voters can vote in the primary of their choice.
• Tea Party primary wins in Delaware and New Hampshire could ruin GOP chances of Senate takeover (BY ALIYAH SHAHID, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER)
• Primary Day in Rhode Island: How to vote, get results (Providence Journal/Newsblog) The largest slice of Rhode Island voters is made up of independents -- or "unaffiliated" voters -- and they can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries Tuesday.
• A ‘Shoo-In’ Struggles in Massachusetts Race (By ABBY GOODNOUGH, NY Times) One theory is that Mr. Baker, a Harvard graduate who seems most comfortable talking policy, lacks the populist touch that came naturally to the truck-driving Mr. Brown and that independent voters, who make up 51 percent of the electorate here, seem to crave.
• A primer on today's primary (By LaCross Tribune - WI) This is an open primary, meaning voters are not required to declare a party before voting. What is the most common error voters make when voting in the primary? Cross voting. For instance, you choose to vote Republican and then down on the ballot you vote for an individual Democrat. Voters may only vote for candidates of one party.
• Primary Election Day: Please Vote! (Bostonist (blog) Barney Frank has a primary opponent, who he chose to debate, you might have heard of in the 4th District Race. Rachel Brown once clashed with Frank after she compared health care reform to Naziism.

COLORADO

• Incumbents in local contests lead early money race (John Stroud, Post Independent) Curry, who left the Democratic Party last December to become an independent, lost a legal challenge to have her name included on the Nov. 2 ballot. Curry reported $16,715 in new campaign funds during the most recent reporting period from July 29 through Sept. 1, including a $10,000 loan, and $6,715 in contributions.
• Independent Voters for Colorado A statewide strategy, communications, and organizing center working to connect and empower those in the state of Colorado who identify themselves as independent or unaffiliated voters. 

NYC CHARTER REVISION

• Term Limits in New York (LETTER NY Times by Matthew Goldstein)

I'm an Independent Voter - Can I Vote in the Primary in Rhode Island?

Yes you can! From FairVote:

'

If you are registered as "unaffiliated" you may vote in the primary of any party you choose. Once you vote in a primary, however, you are considered a member of that party until and unless you "disaffiliate".

Also see IndependentVoting.org

• Few voters may be key factor on Tuesday -  Campaigns prepare as low turnout forecast (Ted Nesi, WPRI - Providence)

Demand for Open Primaries Picks Up Steam

KENTUCKY

• Senate passes bill to allow independents to vote in primaries (By RONNIE ELLIS, McCreary County Record)
• Kentucky Senate Passes Bill to Require Parties to Let Independents Vote in their Primaries (Ballot Access News)
• Bill to open primaries to Independents passes KY Senate (By Elizabeth Donatelli, WAVE 3 Frankfurt)
•  NOTE: VIDEO includes interview of Michael Lewis
• Senate OKs Independent Voters In Primaries (Jessica Noll, KY Post) SB 53
• Ky. Senate Approves Open Primaries-Measure Expected To Die In Democratic House (WLWT Cincinnati)
• Senate Votes to Open KY Primaries to Independents (WBKO)
• Pushing for the Independent Vote (WTVQ ABC News 36 Lexington) Michael Lewis wants to overturn the state’s closed primary system...

ILLINOIS

• Tribal wins blunt democracy in Illinois feudal election (By Burt Constable | Daily Herald Columnist) "I understand the premise of primary elections - to determine a candidate for a party - but for independent voters such as myself, who frequently cross party lines during elections, we are effectively being discriminated against and not able to vote freely and fairly."
• Low voter turnout likely played role in election turmoil-Close races for Illinois governor nominees have yet to be decided (By JOHN SHARP AND KAREN McDONALD, Peoria Journal Star) "In my opinion, it will depend . . . on whether they are taking stances that will appeal to independents and some Democratic leaners," Hall said. "If (the Republican candidates) insist on a hard line, really conservative position, I think they make that prophecy harder to come to a realization."
• Our Opinion: Open primary would boost participation (THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER)
• Quinn declares victory but Hynes won't concede in Democratic governor's race (Chicago Tribune/Clout Street)

COLORADO

• Bill seeks easier path to ballot for independent candidates-Lawmaker who broke with Democratic Party says measure allows parties to set own deadlines (by Katie Burford, Durango Herald Staff Writer)
• Curry's re-election hopes tied to lawsuit in La Plata County (John Colson, Aspen Times)
• Colorado Bill to Legalize Fusion (Ballot Access News)

FLORIDA

• Maurice Ferre pushing poll results-2010 U.S. Senate race, Kendrick Meek, Maurice Ferre (jim stratton, Orlando Sentinel/Central Florida Political Pulse)

MASSACHUSETTS

• Mass. Republicans Eager To Follow In Brown’s Footsteps (By FRED THYS, WBUR NPR )

RHODE ISLAND

• Raptakis Proposes Ban on Closed Primaries (Chris Boardman, ABC 6) Raptakis said that no political party in the state should expect taxpayers to pay the bill for a party primary which shuts out 335,288 unaffiliated voters.

PENNSYLVANIA

• We, not party bosses, deserve the right to choose candidates (LETTER Allentown Morning Call)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

OPEN PRIMARIES: House panel rejects open-primary plan (Springfield State Journal Register)

SUPER TUESDAY II:

• Exit Polls Reveal Obama's Weaknesses (The Plank/The New Republic) Obama won independents in Ohio by 54 to 46 percent--nothing like his two-to-one margins in other states.
• Change Trumps Experience . . . For the Moment (By Tobin Harshaw, Opinionator/New York Times)

OHIO:

• Shortage of ballots leads to extended voting hours in Ohio (TOLEDO BLADE)
• Ohio Primary: Exit Poll Results & Election Coverage - The Independent Effect (WSAZ - WV)
• McCain, Clinton dominate Ohio, area (Central Ohio Gazette) Lanning said she believes many Republicans went to the polls to vote against Obama because race is still an issue.
• Crossovers use all the ballots-Some are told to wait - or come back later (Cincinnati Enquirer)

TEXAS:

• How Bell County voted: Obama has the numbers (Temple Daily Telegram)
• Upset in the Lone Star State (Trail Watch/Forbes) Republicans, knowing that McCain’s comfortable lead in the delegate count gives him a lock on the Republican nomination, may very well cross over to the Democratic primary and vote for the candidate against whom they think McCain has a better chance of winning in November.

VERMONT: Obama Wins the Green Mountains (The Trail/Washington Post)

NADER: Nader simply doesn't see two-party value (Sac Bee)

WASHINGTON DC: Catania Wants to Give Independents Primary Vote (Washington City Paper)

Live-blogging CNN and msnbc coverage of Super Tuesday II for independent voters

Hi everyone. I'll be live-blogging the coverage tonight of the primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. All four primaries are "open primaries" and allow independent voters to have a say. I'm mostly watching CNN and MSNBC commentary. I'm watching for how independent voters are impacting and how the media is relating to us.

The most current post will be at the top of the blog, so you'll have to scroll down to see what I said earlier in the evening.... (It's a blog thing.....) Thanks for tuning in!
The Hankster (Call me Nancy)

9:07pm: Texas Two-Step still in motion.... more party party talk.... Now 59% Clinton in Ohio, 56% Obama in Texas.... So the pundits are talking about what that means, the endlessness of this campaign bec. Hillary intends to go on.... the superdelegates.... the convention.... etc. etc. etc.

It's clear that there will be no clear outcome tonight.

9:00pm: Texas is too close to call, as is Rhode Island, as is Ohio, with Hillary ahead but with little results in... Vermont called for Obama....

8:53pm: Well, I have to say, the results from Super Tuesday in February, and the other primaries have been called really early. Not so this Super Tuesday II. The pundits are yacking... The pundits are endlessly facinating to themselves...

Texas totals now show a closer Obama/Hillary outcome: 55/43..

8:28pm: Texas -- Suzanne Malveauex is reporting from the floor of a Texas caucus where voters are gathering after voting in the primary... The lines in Texas are phenomenal... A long night.... Clinton is winning the Ohio primary by 62% to Obama's 36%.... What's happening in Ohio?

As Wolf Blitzer reminds us, you can to to CNN.com and get all this info! Good idea!

As well, go to msnbc to get voting results....

8:22pm: It appear that Barack Obama will win the Texas primary (though the networks have not called it!). This could change throughout the night, however, The Hankster is calling Texas for Obama. (Oh, I just bought The Man's game... ooops!)

8:14PM: Texas Obama 60%, Clinton 39% with one percent of the vote in.

8:10:pm: Obama seems to have a good lead in Texas with 61% to Clinton's 39%... INDEPENDENTS NO DOUBT MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

8:01pm: Ohio projections 42% for Obama and 56% for Hillary, very very early, not an indication... Here is the ABC News article.

Campbell Brown at CNN: Gloria Borger, pivot, no the people need to decide....

Obama is holding at 60% in Vermont; in Ohio, Clinton has 56% and Obama has 42%

Donna Brazille is talking about superdelegates needing to commit...

7:53pm: Here's what Wonkette is saying, who is also live-blogging this event. She's a clever one.... And just to back the whole thing up is Marc Ambinder.... Hmmm.... I getting the feeling that this has now become a desperate intra-partisan fight. Fortunately the voters in Ohio and Texas (and Rhode Island) will have a voice. Independent voters are still voting. Texans are going to the caucuses... Life is good!

7:49pm: 22% independents aligning with Hillary (Chris Matthews)

7:42pm: Ron Paul has 4% of the Vermont vote, which has been concluded by the media... msnbc is running polls as if it's news.... did the 3 am ad have an impact? Obama is seen as having a lower negative impact index than Hillary.... hmmmm.... huh????

7:39pm: Ok, we're back -- if you haven't already, please check out Linda Curtis of Independent Texans on this pro-Obama video. Good luck to you guys in Texas!!

7:24pm: Well, CNN and msnbc are really chompin' at the bit, but cannot make predictions bec. it's such a close race, but here's something from KXMC North Dakota: Early exit polls show independents are a big chunk of the electorate in today's presidential primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont. Surveys find that self-described independents were about one in five voters in Ohio's Democratic primary, one in four in Texas, a third in Rhode Island and four in 10 in Vermont. Thanks, KXMC!

7:10pm: msnbc with Joe Scarborough has Eugene Robinson, Pat Buchanan, and a woman I'm not familiar with....

Ok, here's some kind of exit poll from Vermont: 74% of anti-war vote went to Obama...

On CNN, The Map! where we've come to expect John King drawing on a map and showing us all kinds of demographic information... Everyone wants to talk about what will happen if Hillary, if Democrats, if Obama... Pennsylvania will also be critical for working people's vote....

Polls will remain open in Sandusky County OHIO until 9pm because of bad weather.

7:03pm: Polls close in Ohio at 7:30pm. CNN is doing a sort of man-on-the-street exit poll, but they're not showing us anything yet...

Back to msnbc -- Hillary didn't expect to win Vermont -- they're too liberal up there, too many anti-war votes.... (this is being reported by Andrea Mitchell in the field and Keith Olberman in the office)

Chris Matthews on the spot with more speculation on Hillary in Texas and Ohio....

7:00pm: msnbc just announced Obama as winner in Vermont; McCain in the Repub contest...

6:51pm: John Kerry, the last Dem presidential candidate is on MSNBC repsponding to the attacks on Obama about his "lack" of experience vs. Hillary's ... ummm... experience....

At this moment, we're looking for people to talk about the insider/outsider dynamic. Kerry is talking about Obama's ability to win delegates.

There's also the issue of spin -- Joe Scarborough (of Morning Joe) is posing the question of at what point does Hillary get out of the race. Pat Buchanan thinks Hillary should keep going. He says the superdelegates will freeze if Hillary wins Ohio and Texas....

6:31pm: Michelle Bernard, a black conservative and president of the Washington, DC-based Independent Women’s Voice, is a John McCain supporter, saying that McCain doesn't mean that we will be at war in Iraq for 100 years....

[Incidentally, many independent voters are Ron Paul supporters. Independent Texans endorsed Ron Paul in the Repub primary there. There's almost no media coverage, and certainly no MSM coverage of Ron Paul's campaign, which has been an outspoken anti-war campaign and deserves more attention.]

6:22pm: Fortunately there are a lot of commercial breaks, so just as in sports, we have a chance to get a snack, go to the bathroom, call a friend, etc. Come to think of it, politics IS a sport.

CNN -- Wolf Blitzer is already getting exit poll results.... Huh? Do they know something we don't know???
MSNBC is parsing the Obama/Clinton contest over and over, but I can't tear myself away.... Chris Matthews is holding forth. Lots of in-depth reporting with black leaders..... Oooops they also have exit polling....






6:20pm
AT THE GATE:
Texas has nonpartisan registration so everyone votes for whoever they want to and Democrats have early voting (people have voted for the past 30 days in droves!) and will also hold caucuses tonight which will be worth a third of the vote. So if you voted in the Dem primary, be sure to go to your local caucus to make your vote worth more.... (Independent voters in Texas should call Linda Curtis for help at (512) 535-0989.)

Ohio independent voters need to ASK for a party ballot to vote for presidential candidates. If you want to vote for Barack Obama, you will need to ask for a Democratic Party ballot.

Watch the independents tonight in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island

Here's what Bill Schneider will be looking for tonight:
Independents
How much of a role will they play? Independent voters are allowed to vote in all four states today. In the past, these voters have strongly favored Obama. Will their turnout be high enough to tip the scales toward the Illinois senator tonight? (CNN Political Ticker)

And this just in from Columbus OHIO: the [Obama] campaign has heard reports that Republican and independent voters who asked for a Democratic ballot received Republican or issue-only ballots “instead of the Democratic ballot they were entitled to,” and also that some voter ID requirements were “misstated” at certain locations, causing voters to be turned away..... (msnbc)

Ahhh, The Machine is clearly working! Let's see what the People can do!

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• DEMOCRATIC TOSSUP: Ohio polls differ on possible winner. Obama on rise, but seniors, women a plus for Clinton (Akron Beacon Journal)
• A guide to primary day (Providence Journal)
• Presidential Hopefuls Not Courting the Muslim Vote (Crosswalk - VA) The survey of 1,000 registered American Muslim voters showed that 49 percent consider themselves Democrats and 36 percent said they are independent.
• Democrats expect no knockouts (Houston Chronicle)
• Clinton, Obama face crucial test (Detroit News)
• Early voters line up (Tribune Chronicle) 52% turnout expected in Ohio
• Shifting weekend polls prompt sudden pro-Clinton Texas ad buy (LA Times blog)
• Mike and Barack: The winning ticket? (Staten Island Advance)
• Editorial: Blue vote in Collin County? (Dallas Morning News) "Something is happening"

What do New Yorkers think about the Obama/Clinton contest?

45 percent of New Yorkers think Clinton should shut down her historic effort if she's running behind Obama after Democratic primaries that include contests in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.... (Capital News 9)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• INDEPENDENT VOTERS
  So far, election breaks conventional wisdom (Detroit Free Press editorial)
• Urban Perspectives: Obama's success taking this skeptic by surprise (By Acel Moore, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The Tin-Eared Talk Show Wing's Declining Influence (Pajamas Media) Independent voters hold the balance of power in American politics, now and even more so in the future.

OHIO
'Cross-over' voting has baggage (Cincinnati Enquirer) Local African American talk show host Lincoln Ware switched from Repub to Dem to vote for Obama... Dems and independents can vote in the Ohio Dem primary with no questions asked, but Repubs have to say they want to become Dems.... but who cares?

TEXAS TWO-STEP -- Vote Early, Vote Twice!
The Texas Democratic Primary is a two-step process: 1) vote in the Primary -- vote early anytime before and including Tuesday, March 4 and then, 2) go to your local caucus site and vote again. This is important because your primary vote is worth 2/3 of your vote, and the caucus vote is worth another 1/3.

• East Texas may hold key to Democratic primary (Houston Chronicle) independents favored Obama by at least 13 percentage points.
• Dem Voting and Caucus Problems in Texas on March 4th (OpEdNews)
• Clinton’s fate in hands of Texas, Ohio (News Tribune Tacoma WA)
• Why are voters confused about Texas primary-caucus system? (The Beaumont Enterprise)

RHODE ISLAND

• 10,000 turn out at a campaign rally for Sen. Barack Obama in Warwick (Providence Journal) Lincoln Chaffee endorsed Obama
• In R.I., Obama Makes Inroads/Tiny State Seen as Clinton Stronghold (Washington Post)
• In ’08 Politics, Rhode Island Defies Its Size (NY Times)
  
  

WEST VIRGINIA

• Clinton’s Record Not Good for Ohio (The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register)

The Race Card (By ALEXANDER COCKBURN, CounterPunch)



BLOOMBERG

• Bill Plante: Why Bloomberg likes Obama (Newburyport MA Daily News opinion)
• Talk of Obama-Bloomberg ticket grows (UPI)

Our smallest state is having a big independent primary on Tuesday, March 4!

Rhode Island

WHO MAY VOTE: All who have been registered to vote in their current city or town for at least the past 30 days.

The largest slice of Rhode Island voters is made up of independents — dubbed “unaffiliated voters” in state political argot — and they can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries on Tuesday. (Providence Journal)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

HANKSTER LEDE: Figuring Out the Will of the People (Wall Street Journal) Book Review: Gaming the Vote, why elections are't fair

OBAMA GROUND CAMPAIGN: How They Grew Brand Obama (Ad Age)

THAT DEM DEBATE FROM CLEVELAND -- HILLARY'S ANTI-INDEPENDENT REMARK-- what was that about? NOTE: It's no secret that the Clintons are hostile to independents -- after all, they don't control us. For background on this, read Richard Carter's 2006 oped on BlackElectorate Lenora Fulani Is Here To Stay Despite The White-Bread Naysayers: "As Democratic mainstays, Clinton and Spitzer are alarmed that many Black voters eschewed their party in the last mayoral election and voted for Michael Bloomberg on the Independence Party line. Thus, they have tried to influence McKay to undermine the dynamic Dr. Fulani’s demonstrated ability to provide other viable options for Black voters...."

And read Queen Hillary's Courage or What's Laughingly Called "Principles" in the Democratic Party By Jackie Salit

• Hillary Recalls Her Fulani Moment (Adam Dickter, The Jewish Week)
• Russert persisted in questioning Obama on Farrakhan -- even after his repeated "denunciation[s]" of Farrakhan's "unacceptable and reprehensible" comments (Media Matters - TRANSCRIPT OF EXCHANGE)
• OBAMA ACES RUSSERT'S FARRAKHAN TEST... (The Nation)
• Morning Thoughts: Fighting Back (RealClearPolitics)
• Jews Now Drawn Deeper Into Racial Politics-As Obama surges, new round of e-mails raises specter of Farrakhan, Jackson, Sharpton. (The Jewish Week)
• Hillary Clinton & the Independence Party (Buffalo Pundit)

OPEN PRIMARIES:

• Letter: GOP should allow no-party voters (The Advocate)
• Every vote counts in state presidential primary (Jamestown Press - RI)

BLOOMBERG:

• I’m Not Running for President, but ... (By MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, NY Times) this is his original statement
• NYC to Mayor Mike: Don't run for prez (Newsday)
• Bloomberg: I'm staying out of NY Dem mayoral primary next year (Newsday)
• Bloomberg puts it in writing: 'I am not a candidate for president' (by Staten Island Advance)
• Bloomberg Won't Run, but Says an Independent Can Win (By Dan Balz, Washington Post)
• Bloomberg Says He'd Help the Right Candidate (NY Sun)

NADER: Party Pooper: Nader, others should not be discouraged from running (Mountain Press - TN)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

OPEN PRIMARIES: Letter: Political parties displease voter (The Advocate) * Bring back state primary for 2012 (The Denver Post) * Making It Easy To Vote is A Good Idea (The Day CT)

INDEPENDENT VOTERS: Voters get left out in the rain (Pasadena Star News)

NADER: Nader's 3rd presidential bid mostly draws shrugs (Chicago Tribune) ...... The Nader Nadir (Veeps 2008 blog)

TEXAS: Hispanic Spending in Texas to Surpass $2 Million (Ad Age)

OHIO: Obama draws big Toledo crowd; 5,000 turned away (Dayton Daily News)

RHODE ISLAND: Upbeat Despite Defeats (Hartford Courant)

FEATURE: Cutting Women Out: The media's bias against female presidential candidates (In These Times)

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Hillary Clinton has an uphill climb ahead ( Seattle Post Intelligencer)
• Secretary of State requests review of LA County ballots (San Francisco Chronicle)
• R.I. sees surge in new-voter registration (Providence Journal) Independents can vote in either presidential primary. Of the last four months of voter signups, about 6,800 enrolled as Democrats, roughly 1,900 became Republicans and more than 12,000 registered as independents, a category deemed “unaffiliated” in state political argot.
• The Chronicle endorses the senator from Illinois (Houston Chronicle)
• Bill Clinton sweeps through East Texas (Austin American Statesman) Obama's lead in one poll attributed to independents
• Charles Barkley: Conservatives are 'fake Christians' (Raw Story) [Barkley's statement that he's an independent was edited out of this version]
• Charles Barkley Calls Conservatives 'Fake Christians,' Likes Obamanomics (Business & Media Institute)
• Another poll gives Obama an edge in Texas (Austin American Statesman)
• Virginia Nonpartisan redistricting plan defeated (Richmond Times Dispatch)
• The 2/3 Southbound, 96th St, 11:30 pm (Chew your grouse blog) "Actually, Lenora Fulani has been running for years, and she's a black woman."