Edwards wins N.C. caucus

[AP]

North Carolina Democrats sent a belated Valentine's Day card to Sen. John Edwards today, handing him a decisive victory in the party's first-ever presidential caucus.

Although Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry has already clinched the Democratic nomination, half the Tar Heel caucus-goers voted for Edwards, the favorite son who dropped out of the presidential race last month.

Some Democrats said their vote was meant to be a political telegram to Kerry's Boston headquarters: Choose Edwards to be your vice presidential running mate.

"I want to send a message to the rest of the party that we need Edwards on the ticket," said Micky Mills, 42, of Apex, who works for a cleaning company. "That North Carolina is strongly behind John Edwards. If we put him on the ticket we might be able to carry North Carolina in the race."

Added Irene Galloway, a retired social worker from Cary: "I think the rest of the country ought to know that we got somebody here who has national possibilities -- if not now, later."

http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/3520207p-3123545c.html


87 of 100 counties reporting

Howard Dean, 989 votes, 5.9 percent
John Edwards, 8,361, 50.3 percent
John Kerry, 4,469, 26.9 percent
Dennis Kucinich, 2,142, 12.9 percent
Al Sharpton, 562, 3.4 percent
Uncommitted, 101, 0.6 percent

Number of counties won (out of 87)
Dean, 0
Edwards, 73
Kerry, 10 (Camden, Chowan, Dare, Davie, Hyde, Lenoir, Pasquotank, Pender, Tyrrell, Warren)
Kucinich, 3 (Buncombe, Orange, Watauga)
Sharpton, 1 (Granville)

[KoKo]

1. AP, it's interesting that almost 20% of these of these "Southern" voters

voted for Kucinich and Dean, and Kerry got significantly less than 50%. Indicated a less than enthusiastic support for the "Presumptive Nominee" of the Dem Party.

And, btw, our County Converntion voted DOWN a proposal to recommend a "Kerry/Edwards" ticket. This is Wake County, NC! We have a BIG VOICE being Raleigh is in Wake County where the Capitol is!

It was the overwhelming anti-war vote that did in Edwards!

[mobuto]

2. Remember that turnout was miniscule

as Kerry is the undisputed candidate of the Democratic Party. Moreover, the anti-war vote can't have been that strong if over half of North Carolinean Democratic caucus voters voted for a candidate who was more hawkish on Iraq than Kerry.

[JohnKleeb]

3. yeah so that arguement makes no sense for me

I am happy for Edwards but to say the anti war vote is turning out for him makes no sense. Great guy but that makes little sense to me.

[G_j]

7. the anti-war folks

are still pissed at being treated so rudely by Edwards. :thumbsdown:

[G_j]

5. NC is the home

of Jesse Helms, Charles Taylor and others. The percentage of anti-war votes is very impressive for NC!

BTW, Kucinich won in my county

[JohnKleeb]

6. it is impressive and I am impressed that DK nearly won delegates

Kucinich won a few counties, I saw, thats great.

[mobuto]

50. Charles Taylor?

You mean in addition to Jesse Helms, NC is also producing Liberian warlords?

;-)

[G_j]

51. No Charles H. Taylor

Right Wingnut Repesentative from North Carolina's
Eleventh District



http://www.house.gov/charlestaylor/welcome.htm

[mobuto]

59. I know, I know

It was a joke. And I'm not sure how much better Charles H. Taylor is than the former despot of Liberia.

[G_j]

60. LOL

I'm note sure about that either! :eyes:

[AP]

4. Did Edwards in? He did better today than he was doing in the polls in...

...January in NC.

With turnout as low as it was, it was clearly a situation where fondness for Edwards, the home town boy, got his people out, and the the grass-rootsiness of the the Dean and Kucinich campaigns got their people out. But I do think Dean was polling much better in January than he did today.

Kerry didn't even campaign in NC.

The vote tells you nothing more than that many NC'ians have a genuine affection for Edwards and that the more you know him, the more you like him.

It also means he'll keep moving forward with the EVs. He's probably cracked 600 by now (almost 1/3rd of the total Kerry has gotten) and he'll keep putting distance between himself and everyon besides Kerry.

It also means he continues his streak of coming in first or second in every primary since February 10th other than VT (iirc).

[JohnKleeb]

8. its funny because I see many North Carolinians here say

that hes not like etc. Seems to me, they are wrong, good for Edwards. Edwards obviously is the runner up in the primaries and caucuses overall.

[G_j]

10. he is liked

but not by the the anti-war activists which is a small number of Dems overall. NC is VERY conservative, even the Dems can be pretty conservative.

[JohnKleeb]

12. yeah I am not suprised

the anti war activists I assume like Kucinich. Glad he won a few counties. Yes I know from my readings in the political alamanac, NC has some of the most conservative dems around, like McIntyre. Kucinich didnt do too well up here in Va which is a shame, that day my parents would have voted for him but there was a crisis, my nana had a stroke, she is better now though.

[G_j]

13. Jesse Helms

one of the worst Senators in American history had to retire for us to be rid of him. That will tell you something about NC in general. :-(


I'm glad to hear your nana is better! :-)

[JohnKleeb]

15. thanks I visited her just before I went to Florida

I was only a little kid in the 90's but I remember Senator Faircloth, my other grandma pointed him out to me, and I remember he was a jerk. Yeah Helms was awful, one of the worst of the worst.

[G_j]

17. don't even get me going about Faircloth!

another insane fascist... :puke:

[JohnKleeb]

22. sorry

well you know, at least you have one dem senator now, I still have a guy who once slept with Liz Taylor and one lousy son of a football coach. Thats what I tell people.

[G_j]

25. LOL!

hey at least we're here!

Edwards isn't running again so we'll see what happens. I think Erskin Bowles may run.

[JohnKleeb]

29. yeah Bowles is

[Amerpie]

21. I'm in McIntyre's district

When he and other house members investigated the spate of spousal murders (five) that occurred after the first troops returned from Afghanistan, they held a hearing at the local community college. All the members of the committee except McIntyre came over to speak to those of us holding antiwar signs.

DINO, DINO, DINO

[JohnKleeb]

30. yeah DINO sounds right

[JanMichael]

48. I've met a whole lot of very Left NC'ers in the last 6 weeks.

I know it's pretty conservative state so I guess I've been pretty lucky.

[DemPopulist]

19. Erm...

This is from the article:

Wake, which had the heaviest turnout in the state, gave 61 percent for Edwards, a former Raleigh lawyer.

[BootinUp]

9. 1% turnout?

Not even significant.

[Leilani]

11. I agree

This says nothing, nada, about North Carolina in November.

[Jane Eyre]

16. I agree, to a point

Turnout was abysmal. The caucuses were not well-publicized and the polls were only open for four hours on a beautiful spring Saturday morning. The poll where I worked this morning had a bit over 100 voters, but we had about 25 people volunteering either at the polls or campaigning outside. This was more of a straw poll for party activists.

Today's caucuses were a test to see who could turn out their "true believers" to the polls, and I would have to say that the Kucinich people won in that area. They recognized an opportunity to get their candidate a delegate or two in the process because of the low turnout, and they organized and planned to make that happen. Not only that, but they submitted 8 resolutions to the local county convention held this afternoon and had all but one (NAFTA and WTO) passed. I believe that there was an organized campaign to push these resolutions through at all the 100 county conventions held today, which gives them some clout later this year at the national convention. All the resolutions dealt with issues dear to the Kucinich campaign.

Many people here have said that the caucus idea was dreamed up as a way to hand Senator Edwards the home state win. OK, that did happen. But I think that special recognition goes to the Kucinich supporters for their willingness to organize and push their issues. For the record, I didn't vote for Kucinich and can't be classified as one of his supporters though I do agree with him on many issues, but I do admire his supporters and congratulate them on a job well done.

[G_j]

27. very nice report

thank you!

[Adelante]

18. What was the point of this?

To embarrass Kerry? I don't get it. :shrug:

[DemPopulist]

24. No

Despite the fact that Kerry is the de-facto nominee, all the caucuses and primaries that were scheduled are being held anyway.

[Jane Eyre]

26. No, to put Edwards on the ticket as veep

The caucuses were held today because the Republicans in the state general assembly have been holding up redistricting to the point that the NC primaries are being held in July - too late to elect delegates to the national convention that same month.

The caucus was designed by the state party as a way to select delegates without a primary. The caucus concept came about at a time when it appeared that Edwards had a shot at the nomination. There are some who say that the state party planned these caucuses with low turnout in mind, specifically so that Edwards would have an easy time winning his home state. I cannot say whether or not that is true, but there did not seem to be any effort from John Edwards' campaign to win today. I got an email from one of his supporters, but then I got emails from other candidates' supporters as well.

Most people who voted for John Edwards today did so because they want to see him on the ticket as vice president. If he had not won today's NC Caucus vote, it would be safe to say that he has no chance to be on the ticket. I don't know that a win proves anything either, but it is better than a loss for Edwards.

[AP]

41. I find it highly unlikely that the caucus was designed to help Edwards.

There was no chance Edwards wasn't going to win NC. They didn't need any particular kind of vote to ensure that he'd win.

What they needed was the NC primary as early as possible for him to win the nomination -- ie, on or before March 2nd. Kerry got his home state primary early, and NC (I believe) has plenty of EVs so it would have helped him to have his earlier.

The Republicans forcing a late primary was certainly designed to hurt Edwards chances of winning the nomination. But, unless the NC democrats could have gotten a caucus before March 2, they weren't giving Edwards anything more than he was going to get no matter what (ie, a NC win, but not neccessarily a nomination).

[DjTj]

36. I don't get your question...

There was a caucus today because North Carolinians wanted to send delegates to the National Convention.

...People voted for Edwards because they wanted to.

There isn't really a *point* - there was an election and people voted. End of story.

[Adelante]

43. I don't think that's the end of the story

This was an organized effort to have John Kerry lose. If individuals just went in and voted their hearts, that's one thing. This is something else again.

I read about it on the Kerry Forum:

http://forum.johnkerry.com/index.php?showtopic=21583&st=0

[atre]

54. You're only just seeing what you want to see

You point to an anonymous message board where the OP says the purpose of the caucus is to prod Kerry into tabbing Edwards as his running mate, and you extrapolate that the Caucus is meant to "embarass Kerry" and make him lose??? Perhaps you didn't consider the fact that N.C. voters think that Edwards as VP is the best way to ensure a Kerry victory? The link you provide gives absolutely no evidence of your claim other than fellow anti-Edwards posters in that same thread, not a single one of which purports to know anything at all???

Surely you don't mean to disgrace the Democratic Underground forums with such utter nonsense... Perhaps you started typing without actually thinking this thing through...

[AP]

57. Furthermore...

...the article cited at the Kerry Blog doesn't even say what the poster claimed it said.

In fact, it says this: "The Edwards backers stress that they do not want to embarrass Kerry in any way and that come November they will work feverishly to defeat President Bush."

And then it says that the only way the plan (not coordinated by the Edwards campaign) would backfire is if Kerry decided to campaign in NC and ended up winning. Well, Kerry didn't do that, so, perhaps, Kerry didn't mind Edwards winning. Which means, perhaps, Kerry isn't interested in embarrassing Edwards (which is what would have happened had Kerry contested the race and won.)

Furthermore, the Kerry blog poster says that the hill article argues that the effort would backfire. The article doesn't do that. They quote ONE professor who says it MIGHT backfire (for the reason noted above). And, as a I said, Kerry didn't contest, so, according to the professor's logic, the effort DIDN"T backfire.

http://www.thehill.com/news/041404/edwards.aspx

[atre]

55. I'm noticing a trend here

Among a handful of Clark supporters here, any election which produces results they don't like is the product of evil machinations. Edwards wins cross-over supporters in Wisconsin, and they claim Republicans were trying to help Bush win (conveniently ignoring the even greater support from independents). Edwards wins the N.C. Caucus, and they claim the voters were trying to "embarass Kerry" (this time without the slightest hint of any evidence). Clark does not have a successful campaign, and they blame the media.

Cognitive dissonance. It's the only way they can harmonize the belief that Clark would be the most popular man for the job and all of the real-world evidence contradicting that belief. How do you cure something like that?

[DemPopulist]

20. Wait a minute

Who said it's supposed to? :shrug:

[surfermaw]

28. I think it says a lot for North Carolina going democratic in Nov,

Bush policies have hit North Carolina really hard, many without jobs, and the ones that have jobs are working for a lower salary. Threat of a draft if Bush continues to fight every where he can, College expense for the 16 North Carolina Universities had risen 9 hundred dollars in the last three years, Yes I think Bowle's will win the senate seat and Kerry will carry the state, especially if Edwards is on the ticket. Republicans,some that is won't vote democratic, but they will stay and refrain from voting.

[maddezmom]

31. hope NC goes Dem in November

but the 1% turnout isn't a good indicator of high turnout in the fall. :(

[citizen snips]

34. The caucus sucked.

There was only a few caucus places in wake county that I could not find. The next time we should have a primary and I bet we will see high voter turnout.

[G_j]

37. yes I heard that many of them

were in out of the way places that were hard to find. :-(

[yardwork]

44. Oh no, the low turnout today means nothing about the election in the fall.

Today was a gorgeous spring day in North Carolina with lots of folk festivals, garden tours, concerts, you name it going on. I didn't vote in the Caucus because of family commitments, although I would have liked to cast a vote for Kucinich. (He won the neighboring county, and Edwards won my county.)

Nothing will stop me and thousands of North Carolinians from voting in the general election! Actually, a low turnout in the general election would help Kerry in the fall, though. Democrats are highly motivated to get Chimpster out of office. We must hope that freepers (of which our state certainly has its share) will stay home.

[mobuto]

32. I don't understand

I agree that NC just might go Democratic in November if Edwards is on the ticket, and I agree that NC has very good reasons for trending Democratic, but how are the results of this Democratic caucus at all significant? Turnout was a joke. And of course a Democrat won the Democratic caucus.

I agree with the rest of your post. Bowles can win this, and a combination of the economy, demographic changes, and teh abysmal record of the GOP has made NC ripe for change.

[Amerpie]

33. Kerry Won't Campaign Here

I also don't think Edwards would help him carry this state. I'd love to be wrong and I hope I am.

Your points on jobs and education costs are right on, BTW.

[Leilani]

40. I am not as optimistic as you!

I truly doubt that North Carolina will go Dem in Nov.

I know the state has been hurt by Bush policies, but Southern states are always hurt by Republican policies, & it doesnt stop people from voting against their own best interests.

I think in the future, with many Northerners relocating to N.C., especially in Charlotte, & the Triangle things will change, but not yet.

[yardwork]

45. It would take a miracle to make Charlotte go Democratic!

That's the buckle of the fundamentalist Bible belt.

[BootinUp]

56. Why?

I don't think NC has a chance in hell of going Dem for POTUS, not with Kerry at the top anyway. Why does 1% turnout in a primary make you think otherwise? Of course the primary was pretty pointless except for Kucinich people really, so I didn't expect a big turnout. But I still don't get your response.

[citizen snips]

35. What the Fuck?

Okay did you see the caucus sites? There was only a few in wake county that I could not find. Plus the caucus system is new and I predicted this would happen a long time ago.

[G_j]

38. and closed at 12 noon.. n/t

[patricia92243]

14. Dean did not win ANY counties - Bah! Humbug!

[VolcanoJen]

23. Wooooo-hooooo!!!!!!

Go EDWARDS. I don't care if it means squat. You'll make a helluva Veep, or, better yet, Labor Secretary or Attorney General. :D

[JohnKleeb]

39. I dont see labor secretary honest but AG or Veep you better believe it

I personally think Gephardt will be the labor secretary.

[G_j]

42. AP Story

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NC_DEMOCRATIC_CAUCUS_NCOL-?SITE=NCASH&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Apr 17, 8:40 PM EDT

Edwards wins historic N.C. presidential caucus, victory in second state

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Native son John Edwards won North Carolina's first-ever presidential caucus Saturday, a reward from faithful supporters looking to boost his standing at the Democratic National Convention.

Unofficial results from all 100 counties gave Edwards 51 percent of the total vote among five candidates. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive party nominee, was second at 27 percent.

Edwards stopped campaigning last month shortly before Kerry clinched the nomination, but many party members said they hoped a strong showing at home could make him more appealing as a potential vice presidential choice.

Edwards was the first Tar Heel resident on a state presidential ballot since Terry Sanford in 1972.

"We were pleased at how very well he did in the presidential race," said Loretta Parker, a retired schoolteacher who voted at the Method Road Community Center, five miles from Edwards' home. "We think he'd be a good vice presidential candidate."
..more..

[FrenchieCat]

47. Did the press

forget to mention the 1% turnout? It's ridiculous to even consider a win a win....at 1%! That's really too pathetic to call that news even! If I were Edwards, I wouldn't make any noise about this one...because it means that only 1% of the population were even excited enough to make a point!

[G_j]

52. the turnout here in Buncombe county was higher

than expected.

http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/buncombe_news/53430

Kucinich a hit with Buncombe; Edwards gets most votes in state's first presidential caucus

<snip>
Buncombe County Democratic Party Chairman Max Haner said 1,577 voters filled out paper ballots at four caucus sites, where people were waiting at the doors when they opened at 8 a.m.

"It's never stopped the whole day,'' said volunteer poll worker Robin McConnell. "I've been very pleasantly surprised.''

Lines were out the doors at some sites, as voters ignored the fact Kerry will be the nominee and exercised their right to have their issues represented by other candidates at the national convention this summer in Boston.

<snip>

[Adelante]

58. Here's another

Sunday, April 18, 2004
Edwards wins N.C.'s first presidential caucus

By David Ingram
JOURNAL REPORTER


It took 42 tries, but Sen. John Edwards finally came in first in a presidential nominating contest outside of the state he was born in.

And it came in the state he lives in.

He won North Carolina's first-ever presidential caucus yesterday with 51.1 percent of the vote, beating presumptive nominee Sen. John Kerry, who got 27.2 percent, and three other candidates.

~snip~

In complete but unofficial results, 17,809 people voted out of the state's 2.4 million registered Democrats. U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, came in third with 12.2 percent; Dean won 5.7 percent; and the Rev. Al Sharpton won 3.3 percent.

Edwards also came out on top in Forsyth County. He won 43 percent; Kerry won 27 percent; Kucinich won 15 percent; Dean won 6 percent; and Sharpton won 6 percent. Only 362 Democrats voted out of 87,954 registered in Forsyth County.

Winston-Salem Journal 4/18/04

[jsw_81]

46. Too little, too late

[AlFrankenFan]

49. When DK gets more than Dean...

You know he's doing a lot. Good for Edwards! My ol' candidate is still going strong :)

[NV1962]

53. Uh, at one per cent that hardly sends a “message”

It's symbolic, sure... But not a mammoth monument to turn the tide of History, methinks.

Then again, if proportionality has it, that overwhelming victory should definitely clench the post of Assistant Executive Deputy Undersecretary of the EPA for John Edwards.

Good show of organization though, it's still 8,361 local votes after all; not bad.