High turnout in NoVa, Richmond and Charlottesville bad news for HRC

[Perky]

(CNN) — Primary voting was going smoothly so far Tuesday in Maryland and Virginia, with some reports of long lines, election officials from each stat said.

In Maryland, there were a few reports of late openings of some polls but no systemic issues throughout the state, said Ross Goldstein, deputy administrator for the Board of Elections.

The only reports of lines were right at the opening of a couple of locations in Prince George's County, near Washington, when there was an initial rush because people were trying to vote before going to work. Those lines have since subsided, he said.

If voting continues at the current pace, Goldstein said, he anticipates a turnout of approximately 40 percent, which would be higher than normal. However, some anticipated inclement weather could lower the the turnout
numbers.

Virginia, high turnout was reported in the northern part of the state and in Richmond and Charlottesville, according to state Board of Elections spokeswoman Susan Pollard. There were reports of 45-minute lines in counties around Richmond, she said.

Virginia's State Board of Elections had predicted a higher-than-normal turnout of 30 to 40 percent for the Democratic and Republican primary elections.

The high winds that swept through the state on Sunday and Monday forced the relocation of eight polling stations that are still without power. The storm, which began Sunday night, had knocked out power to 50 polling locations by Monday morning. Local officials were able to get 42 of the locations back online — by either restoring power or using a generator –
before voting began Tuesday morning. Notices are posted at the closed locations telling voters where to go to cast their primary votes.

[JVS]

1. VIRGINIAAAAAA

[jefferson_dem]

2. A source in the Obama Boiler Room: "turnout is high where we need it to be."

From The Obama Boiler Room
12 Feb 2008 02:22 pm

A source: "turnout is high where we need it to be."

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/02/from_the_obama_boiler_room.php

[MissWaverly]

5. yeah, well they better give a jumpstart to Baltimore, MD

voting is flat in Baltimore City, and I hear the pitter, patter of sleet on my porch.

:-)

[SoFlaJet]

3. what's next for them....

a memo saying only half the inner city black people should only be able to vote?

[book_worm]

4. hope for the best, but we'll see.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. Virginia et al. are expected to go for BHO by > 20%

http://www.surveyusa.com/electionpolls.aspx">SurveyUSA Election Polls

VA, MD, and DC all have Obama polling 22-25 points ahead of Clinton.

--p!

[jefferson_dem]

7. A win is a win. Your side needs it far worse than does ours.

n/t

[Dogmudgeon]

9. Indeed it does.

Tonight, I will not be watching for the feel-good vibe. I'll be watching for the trends, the exit polling, and the reactions.

Only half of me is partisan. The wonk needs to come out to play, too.

:)

--p!

[jefferson_dem]

11. You and me both, Pigwidgeon.

:toast:

[TwilightGardener]

8. If supposedly Obama's voters are the motivated (caucus-type), younger crowd, why is it

that low turnout due to bad weather helps Hillary, the older, less-motivated crowd? Little old ladies going to the polls in ice storms?

[BlackVelvet04]

12. You obviously know nothing about the little old lady vote.....

older Americans vote regardless...they find a way because they see it as their duty.

[democrattotheend]

10. Not so sure about NOVA

I live in NOVA and the people I know are split pretty evenly. But it's just a small sample, so who knows?

[Sulawesi]

13. Charlottesville, VA

In line for last names P-Z, 110 voted Republican, 312 voted democratic when I checked in. Only an Obama table outside, so I asked if there was a Hillary table, and the Obama volunteers said "they went home when it started raining."