Obama and Clinton await their fate in North Carolina and Indiana

by Dave Keating | May 6, 2008 at 08:14 am | 1552 views | 20 comments

Update: 2:17PM EST

Voting continues in North Carolina and Indiana in the most significant contest left in the presidential showdown.

Opinion polls suggested Obama was positioned to win in North Carolina and Clinton could take Indiana, in a split which would keep her long-odds hopes of a comeback alive, but raise new fears of deep splits in the Democratic Party.

Voters lined up before sunrise in midwestern Indiana. Democratic senator Evan Bayh, a Clinton backer, late Friday predicted a record turnout in his rust-belt state.

The day's voting closes in North Carolina at 8:30 pm (0030 GMT), with a combined total of 187 pledged delegates on offer in the two states.

Clinton refused to say how she would perform, saying "I don't make predictions" as she toured the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway auto racing circuit, and accepted the endorsement of Indy 500 driver Sarah Fisher.

Her camaign chairman Terry McAullife however said he thought she would take Indiana and would fight on through the remaining six contests of the Democratic marathon.

Obama, who wants a good showing to shake off a grim month of April, was again up before dawn, after shaking hands at a shift change in an auto manufacturing plant in Indiana until past midnight on Monday.

"I think it's going to be close. I don't think anybody knows exactly what's going to happen," he said, after arriving in North Carolina where he will hold what he hopes will be a victory party.

PREVIOUSLY

If Obama wins both North Carolina and Indiana, Hillary is almost certainly finished and would likely drop out shortly. If HIllary wins both states Obama is in real trouble, because it will give the superdelegates a good reason to vote against him if the perception is that the Wright scandal has done irreperable damage to his 'electability.' If they each take one state then virtually nothing will change, and the race will likely go on to the convention.

the Democratic presidential primaries taking place on Tuesday in North Carolina and Indiana have more delegates up for grabs than any of the remaining contests. For political, demographic and mathematical reasons, those states have the potential to reshape the competition between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

It will be an opportunity for Mrs. Clinton to make the case that Democratic sentiment is swinging in her favor, and to slice into Mr. Obama’s lead in pledged delegates and in the popular vote (putting aside the disputed contests in Florida and Michigan). For Mr. Obama, it is a chance to tamp down talk that Mrs. Clinton has exposed him as a flawed general election candidate.

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Dave Keating

at 03:25 on May 6th, 2008

news wanted:

Looking for photos and videos from the North Carolina and Indiana polling stations today.

Nancy Nall Derringer

at 04:46 on May 6th, 2008

Although this photo was posted to my Flickr account, it was taken by Brian Stouder of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Nancy Nall Derringer has contributed a photo to this story.

casey atchley

at 11:04 on May 6th, 2008

Photo is Barack Obama after his speech at the Indiana Democratic Party's Jefferson Jackson Dinner on Sunday, May 4.

casey atchley has contributed a photo to this story.

M Clifton

at 10:09 on May 6th, 2008

That was not George Bush today on BBC 1 at 6:07pm he was talking like a controlled robot with a voice changer. His words was on the news at 6:07pm on BBC1 UK time.

seanbohan

at 12:27 on May 6th, 2008

Saw this on Battery street in SF today.

seanbohan has contributed a photo to this story.

cc511

at 12:36 on May 6th, 2008

Crowd at the Obama Early Vote Rally in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on April 28th, 2008.

cc511 has contributed a photo to this story.

Labrys3

at 12:42 on May 6th, 2008

Labrys3 has contributed a photo to this story.

Labrys3

at 12:45 on May 6th, 2008

Sunday was the Annual May Day Peace Parade, which has continued uninterrupted since the end of Viet Nam. The Obama supporters were out in force. In the photo, the Mayor of Minneapolis poses with two girls from the sidelines, one of whom had made her own Obama Poster for the parade.

politisite

at 13:22 on May 6th, 2008

good stuff:

Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.

murph3000

at 13:41 on May 6th, 2008

Obama is a born orator. Without raising his voice, resorting to negativity, or whining (a la Bush), he conveyed a message of hope for an America of integrity for us all.

murph3000 has contributed a photo to this story.

sciondriver

at 13:51 on May 6th, 2008

I rode my bike around the American Legion Mall the morning of Obama's rally in Indianapolis on May 5, 2008. The building in the background is the beautiful new Indianapolis Central Library.

sciondriver has contributed a photo to this story.

dziner

at 13:59 on May 6th, 2008

Just an hour before the event I heard that Hillary Clinton was going to be speaking just 3 blocks from my house. So I picked up my camera and headed out the door.

dziner has contributed a photo to this story.

conant.brian

at 14:10 on May 6th, 2008

Turnout in Indiana has been much more like a general election than a primary. I don't have a feel for who is the majority favorite but it seems everyone has an opinion. Not used to seeing the long lines for a primary.

avelli

at 14:10 on May 6th, 2008

This image of mine is from the Alaska Primary back in February. I wish i was in Indiana!

avelli has contributed a photo to this story.

nndosi

at 15:06 on May 6th, 2008

Haverford College students didn't expect both campaigns to visit within two days of each other, but to court young voters, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton spoke there. I was fortunate enough to be one of the three students allowed a press pass to shoot Hillary's speech.

nndosi has contributed a photo to this story.

TomTurnbull

at 15:21 on May 6th, 2008

TomTurnbull has contributed a photo to this story.

Kate Sherrill

at 17:03 on May 6th, 2008

I was forwarded this picture by a friend who is an Obama volunteer in Vincennes, Indiana. Their headquarters was broken into and vandalized the night of May 4-5. The broken glass in the picture is from one of the front windows.

Kate Sherrill has contributed a photo to this story.

Vox Massive

at 22:03 on May 6th, 2008

Vox Massive has contributed a photo to this story.

Vox Massive

at 22:49 on May 6th, 2008

Don't Count Senator Clinton out just yet!
The last several primaries have highlighted key deficiencies in Obama's bid for the White House. Time and time again political pundits have spun the complexity of Sen. Clinton's chances--time and time again Sen. Clinton has defied speculations. Both senators have renewed interest in American Politics, may the race continue and the best candidate change the country.

Our first image was sent to us by one of our supporters. We presume the poster was downloaded from our poster/resource download center Vox Massive. The second poster was produced by one of our collaborative design partners at Vox, with the contribution of our art director and creative director. Most posters and design work are free to download and post, minus some terms of use. You can learn more about Vox Massive's social endeavors and relate, conribute or debate on: About Vox Massive

With each primary the tide keeps turning, keep your eyes on the race, it is bound to be one helluva surprising outcome.

pjcinmt

at 12:09 on May 27th, 2008

Barack Obama came to Missoula, MT on April 19th. He appeared at the University of Montana in front of about 4,000 people. Many were turned away and had to watch on the big screen in the football stadium. The atmosphere was electric. He spoke for about 50 minutes.

pjcinmt has contributed a photo to this story.