Bonnie Erbe, writing in her Scrips-Howard column today, quotes from a copy of a memo forwarded to her that was written by a professor in North Carolina who volunteered for Hillary at the Washington State Caucuses. The prof is a volunteer and was writing to warn other Clinton volunteers of tactics the Obama campaign reportedly used in other states.

First, the background from Bonnie:

I have obtained a copy of a memo written by a Clinton campaign volunteer in Washington state intended only for other Clinton volunteers in subsequent caucus states (specifically for Texas campaign volunteers). It warns them of "caucus disruption strategies" by supporters of Sen. Barack Obama.

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By Big Tent Democrat

Marc Ambinder has more detail on Barack Obama's decision to lawyer up against counting Florida and Michigan votes.

I'll discuss the merits of this in a later post, but I first want to take a moment to consider the shameless hypocrisy of the Obama campaign. Barack Obama is out there having his campaign argue that mail in voting has some type of impact that requires a Voting Rights Act review that could be troubling. That it will take more than a rubber stamp. Let's be clear, if the implication is this is just filling out a form, then no one would be bringing this up. Even the time frame is not a particular problem. No, Barack Obama is intimating that HE will raise a Voting Rights Act issue about mail in voting.

The SAME Barack Obama who is co-sponsor of the Senate version of this bill, "The Universal Right To Vote By Mail Act", which declares that NOT ALLOWING mail in voting in every state (28 do through absentee balloting) disenfranchises voters, now opposes a mail in revote. I have heard of chutzpah, but this one takes the cake.

By Big Tent Democrat

Gallup numbers:

Obama 47% (-1)
Clinton 45% (+0)

Vs McCain

Obama (D) 46%, McCain (R) 44%
Clinton (D) 47%, McCain (R) 45%

It is soooo obvious that my candidate, or yours, is so gonna lose and to McCain too. Now here are the ground rules of this thread. Be nice to each other. On topic, to wit, why will one candidate perform better against McCain than the other. And do not insult either candidate. Let's try to be civil, intelligent and on point, shall we?

By Big Tent Democrat

If you were in doubt if what posture the Obama campaign was going to take on revoting Michigan and Florida, wonder no more:

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is raising red flags about the idea of a revote in Florida to solve the mess over the state's delegates to the presidential nominating convention. David Plouffle, campaign manager to Obama, noted that the lead advocate for a mail-in revote is Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, is a supporter of his opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton. Plouffle said any revote would need to get U.S. Justice Department approval.

Does the DOJ need to approve a revote, presumably under the Voting Rights Act? There seems to be no Constitutional claims that could be made. Bill Nelson's lawsuit might have prospered if there were. If it does, then it is time to take another look at all the contests to see if the DOJ approved them and/or needed to approve them. The Texas contests (see in particular below my discussion of the last minute changes in the caucus system) in particular seemed to be institutionalized voter dilution of Latino votes in South Texas. Was that approved by the DOJ? Did it need to be? Would it be?

But what this really means of course is that Obama will say and do anything to stop the voters of Florida and Michigan from having a representative delegation at the Democratic National Convention. More . . .

From the Clinton Campaign, Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams' letter to the Obama campaign manager David Plouffe on Michigan and Florida:

Clinton Campaign Calls for Michigan and Florida Voices to Be Heard

David Plouffe
P.O. Box 8102
Obama for America
Chicago, Illinois 60680

Dear David:

The 2008 primary campaign has been a spirited contest that has resulted in record voter turnout. Both of our candidates can proudly boast of bringing new people into the process and energizing our Democratic Party.

With the campaign now entering the final phase of the nominating contest, it is vital that both of our campaigns come together to ensure that the delegations from Florida and Michigan be seated to reflect the will of the voters.

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By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

In reference to the attitude of the Florida congressional delegation with regard to the mail in primary revote proposal that will be made by the Florida Democratic Party this week, I believe this quote says it all:

Some of South Florida's Democratic leaders were skeptical about holding a mail-in vote, but considered it as a possible option."If it's the only alternative, it's certainly better than our votes not being counted," said Joseph Geller, Mayor of North Bay Village and Hillary Clinton supporter. "Anything is preferable to our votes not being counted."

(Emphasis supplied.) It is the only option. It is preferable to Florida's votes not being counted. That is the bottom line. Time to get behind the Nelson mail in revote plan.

BTW, in an ironic twist, Barack Obama has co-sponsored the Senate version of this bill, "The Universal Right To Vote By Mail Act". Alcee Hastings is a co-sponsor of the House bill. And here is the ACLU praising the bill.

Let me add that my "campaign" for a revote started a month ago. For more on this from Talk Left, see the links here.

By Big Tent Democrat

First, the Secretary of State of Mississippi seems pretty bad at his job to me. He said turnout was light and there would be about 150,000 votes. There will be more than 400,000 at the end of the night.

Second, Obama smoked Clinton by more than 20 points and 100,000 votes. A BIG night for Obama. The exit polls UNDER estimated Obama's vote. Bottom line a big big Obama night.

Third, yet again it appears that the selected delegate process is exposed for its voter dilution flaws. Based on his popular vote, Obama should have received 20 of the 33 available delegates. It appears he will receive 18. What a way to pick a nominee.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only.

So the Florida Congressional Delegation is said to oppose the only viable plan for a revote in Florida:

[A]fter meeting with Mr. Nelson on Tuesday night, Florida’s Democratic members of the House of Representatives added a serious new wrinkle by announcing they were unanimously opposed to a mail-in contest. They did not elaborate, but released a statement that said, “Our House delegation is opposed to a mail-in campaign or any redo of any kind.” The statement also said the delegation was committed to working with state and national Democrats and the two candidates “to reach an expedited solution that ensures our 210 delegates are seated.”

It is too late for sitting down for more blather. Senator Bill Nelson has the plan, the financing plans and the preapproval of Howard Dean. This is the only way to have a representative Florida delegation seated. The Florida Congressional delegation has a dollar and a dream. They have done no work at all on this. These Florida Congresspersons will find they have hell to pay if they are the obstacles to seating the Florida delegation. The Florida Democratic Party is submitting this plan. Period. What do these Congresspersons plan to do? Be the reason why Florida does not have a delegation at the Convention? They need to get over it and get with the plan.

NOTE - Comments are now closed.

By Big Tent Democrat

Florida finalizes mail in voting revote plan:

Facing tight deadlines for a do-over election, Florida Democrats are rushing to deliver to the national party as soon as Thursday a plan to vote again in the presidential primary — this time, by mail. If approved, ballots could start going out to voters in April.

MORE . . .

By Big Tent Democrat

White vote - 73% Clinton, Obama 26%.

A-A vote - 90% Obama, 10% Clinton.

Turnout was almost 50/50 White-A-A. Projecting the exit poll, It will be 58-42. I expect on THIS demo breakdown, a 17-16 delegate split.

In the popular vote, if turnout was 150,000, Obama would win 87,000 to 63,000, or a net gain of 24,000 for Obama.

Voters didn't flock to the polls in Mississippi today. The Mississippi Secretary of State's Office says turnout was "light to moderate."

Some facts about Mississippi voters and today's primary:

• Mississippi hasn't voted for a Democratic president in 32 years.
• Republicans and Independents can vote in the Democratic primary.
• Mississippi has the largest African-American population (36%) of any state. 70% of registered Democrats are African American.

  Those numbers appear to benefit Obama, who's overwhelmingly won the African-American vote so far this primary season.

• There are 40 delegates up for grabs, including 7 superdelegates.

CNN election results will be here.

By Big Tent Democrat

Two nights ago, Oculus highlighted this article to me in which some voters in Mississippi demonstrated they have more sense than most blog denizens. For example:

Catherine Cowans is a black supporter of Barack Obama who is disappointed by the Clinton campaign's recent attacks on her candidate. . . . But she doesn't think that the New York senator's jabs add up to an irredeemable sin. If Clinton becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, the 48-year-old hairdresser said, she will vote for her. "I'm not angry at her," Cowans said recently during a lull at her beauty salon in this sleepy Delta city. "I still like Hillary."

And the first exit poll data from Mississippi demonstrates similar feelings:

An exit poll finds Barack Obama voters are a bit more charitable toward Hillary Rodham Clinton than vice versa in Mississippi's Democratic primary. The survey Tuesday for The Associated Press and television networks found that six in 10 Obama voters said he should pick Clinton for vice president if he wins the nomination. Four in 10 Clinton voters said she should pick Obama as her running mate if she wins.

Finally, a little sense from Democrats. Take note Nancy Pelosi. More exit polling data here as it comes in. More . . .