2008

Pres-Elect Obama Names Eric Holder U.S. Attorney General

Erin Medlicott | Posted 11.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: African-American, Nominated, 2008, November 18, Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, Barack Obama, President Obama, President Elect Barack Obama, Obama Attorney General, Obama Administration, Politics News
Erin Medlicott

President-elect Barack Obama today named Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. as the next U.S. Attorney General. He has accepted the position, pending a Senate approval.

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Ten Chumps Who Helped Elect Barack Obama

Erik Ose | Posted 11.14.2008 | Politics

Read More: Obama Election Day, HuffPost Election Analysis, Rick Davis, President Obama, Mark Penn, Presidential Campaign, Sarah Palin, Ashley Todd, Mike Easley, GOP Blame Game, 2008 Presidential Election, Politics News, HuffPost Election Reaction, 2008, Obama Presidency, Obama 2008, John Edwards, Election Analysis, Obama President, Bill Clinton, John McCain, Obama Wins, Election Results, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Jeremiah Wright, Geraldine Ferraro, Barack Obama 2008, Sheldon Adelson, Presidential Results, Election Reaction, Hillary Clinton, Presidential Election, Steve Schmidt, Politics News
Erik Ose

With the post-election analysis season almost over, it's worth taking one final look at some of the characters who ensured President-elect Obama would make it to the White House.

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Proposal For 2012 Primaries

Will Bower | Posted 11.11.2008 | Politics

Read More: Caucus, Primary, Obama, Mccain, Democratic, Election Results, Missouri, Caucuses, Election, Republican, 2012, Margins, Primaries, Elections, Clinton, 2008, Calendar, Iowa, New Hampshire, Margin, Results, Politics News
Will Bower

The primary calendar we need most is one that is built on an orderly and rational plan, and not on an arbitrary, publicity-driven, system of one-upsmanship.

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Friday Talking Points [54] -- Republican Fossilization

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Obama Revolution, Leadership, Leader, Novak, Ballot, John Boehner, Al Franken, Obama, President-Elect, Jess McIntosh, Campaign, Fossilize, Counting the Votes, Republican, Lieberman, Permanent Minority, 2008, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Reid, Rove, Center-Right, Karl Rove, House, Obama Republicans, Franken, Democrat, 2008 Elections, Permanent Majority, 08, Fossilization, 2008 Election, Minnesota, Democrats, Fossil, Center-Left, Barack Obama, Election, Fdr, Mandate, 08 Election, Votes, Elections, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Party, 2008 Presidential Race, Close Race, Harry Reid, Recount, Joe Lieberman, Op-Ed, Republicans, Boehner, Senate, Fosil, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome back to Friday Talking Points. Of course, the big question on everyone's mind right now is: What is going on up in Minnesota? Al Franken is t...

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Supposedly Safe GOP House Seat in CA Too Close To Call

Erik Ose | Posted 11.06.2008 | Politics

Read More: Obama Election Day, Right Wing Republicans, Election Reaction, Election Day, Bill Hedrick, ’08 Congressional Races, General Election, Presidential Campaign, Voting Problems, Provisional Ballots, Civil Rights, California, 2008 Presidential Election, Prop 8 Ballot Initiative, Politics News, HuffPost Election Reaction, GOP Corruption, 2008, Voters, Obama 2008, On the Ground 2008, Obama Tsunami, Election 2008, Obama Landslide, Voting, Voter Suppression, Obama Wins, Election Day 2008, Election Results, 2008 Election, Democratic Challengers, Election, Barack Obama, Ken Calvert, Voter Turnout, Barack Obama 2008, LGBT Rights, Prop 8, Gop Voter Suppression, California Gay Marriage Ban, Presidential Election, Take Action, House Races, Gay Marriage, Politics News
Erik Ose

Despite voting with George W. Bush 94.4% of the time, this fall Calvert distributed mailers without a single mention that he belonged to the Republican party, proclaiming himself "An Independent."

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Yes We Can, Said Barack Obama, And We Did

Erik Ose | Posted 11.05.2008 | Politics

Read More: Bill Clinton, President Obama, Civil Rights Act, Battleground States, Election Day, General Election, Election Results, Presidential Campaign, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Civil Rights, 2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama 2008, Politics News, HuffPost Election Reaction, Election Reaction, 2008, Early Voting, Martin Luther King Jr., Obama 2008, Election 2008, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Frederick Douglass, Voting, Obama Election Day, HuffPost Election Analysis, Sarah Palin, Obama Presidency, Obama President, Election Analysis, John McCain, Obama Wins, Election Day 2008, Joe Biden, Election, Presidential Results, Presidential Election, Politics News
Erik Ose

Obama's victory does not spell the end of racial disparity in America, but it is a ringing sign of progress, a triumph on the road to greater equality and realizing the Dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. revealed to us.

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Final Electoral Math -- My Election Picks

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Penultimate, Elector, Election Day, Al Franken, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, 2008 Electoral Graphics, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral Math, Polling, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Tracking, Bounce, Closed the Deal, Chart, John McCain, Electoral Vote, House, States, Franken, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Battleground, Senate, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

About the Cartoonist  |  Reprint Policy Because it's Election Day, I'm not going to give a detailed analysis of the past week's polls, as I...

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Early Voting Flood in Swing States Predicts Obama Tsunami

Erik Ose | Posted 11.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Civil Rights Act, Election Day, Colorado, Mccain, General Election, Presidential Campaign, Sarah Palin, Civil Rights, Politics News, 2008, McCain Vice President, Voting Problems, Obama 2008, Election 2008, Voting, North Carolina, Vice President, Election Eve 2008, John McCain, Florida, Sarah Palin Vp, Battleground States, Election Results, Joe Biden, McCain VP, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Mccain-Palin, Sarah Palin Mccain Vp, Barack Obama 2008, Swing States, John McCain 2008, Early Voting, On the Ground 2008, John McCain 2008 Campaign, Mcclueless, Celebrities Talk Politics, Politics News
Erik Ose

Banking base voters early is now allowing the Obama campaign to focus its energy in the home stretch on independent and undecided voters.

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Hip-Hop Stars Stump For Obama In South Florida

AP | SARAH LARIMER | Posted 11.03.2008 | Politics

Read More: Celebrities Talk Poltics, Presidential Election 2008, 2008, Barack Obama, Campaign Trail, Diddy, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jay-Z, Campaign, Hip-Hop, Election, Politics News

MIAMI — With two days remaining until Election Day, Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs told voters in South Florida not to be scared away from the pol...

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Notes From The Road: NJ Restaurant Cashier Calls Obama "The Anti-Christ"

Erin Medlicott | Posted 11.01.2008 | Home

Read More: 2008, Barack Obama, Obama Racism, Joe Biden, Obama 2008, Obama Biden, Election 2008, Obama New Jersey, Obama Race, Home News
Erin Medlicott

She paused for a minute, rang up the order, and then responded, "you know, they're calling him the anti-Christ."

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Electoral Math -- Obama Has Closed The Deal

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.29.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Penultimate, Elector, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, 2008 Electoral Graphics, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral Math, Polling, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Tracking, Bounce, Closed the Deal, Chart, John McCain, Electoral Vote, States, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Battleground, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome to the penultimate Electoral Math column. OK, I admit, I just like correctly using the word "penultimate." Plus, it's fun to say! Try it! If...

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Top McCain Advisor Learned Slime Tactics From Jesse Helms

Erik Ose | Posted 10.28.2008 | Politics

Read More: Chapel Hill, GOP Slime Machine, Jesse Helms, Obama, Mccain, General Election, Presidential Campaign, Civil Rights, Politics News, Fear Watch 2008, 2008, Gay-Baiting, Hate Speech, Voting, North Carolina, Jim Hunt, Fear, John McCain, John McCain Attack Ads, Obama 2008, Battleground States, Gay, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Charlie Black, Gay-Bashing, Barack Obama 2008, Mccain-Palin, Swing States, Lee Atwater, John McCain 2008, McCain-Palin Ticket, John McCain 2008 Campaign, Joe Herzenberg, Mcdesperate, Southern Voters, Race-Baiting, Race, Lobbyists for McCain, Race in Politics, Glbt, Southern History, 1984 Election, Race Card, GLBT Democrats, McCain's Lobbyist Problems, GLBT History, South, Politics News
Erik Ose

During the '84 NC Senate race, one of Helms' top aides responsible for implementing a gay-bashing strategy was McCain advisor Charlie Black.

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Political Tourists and Out-of-State Obama Activists in Indiana

Gail McGowan Mellor | Posted 10.27.2008 | Home

Read More: Indiana Early Voting, Indiana Ohio, Obama Volunteers, Indiana Ground Report, Midwest Obama, Indiana Obama, Swing State Midwest, Indiana, Door to Door, Two Party, Chicago, White, Mccain, Obama, Kirstin Sears, Schrimpff's, One Party, Winnie Godfrey, Senator, 2008, Latino, Get Out the Vote, Ohio, Black, Universal Health Care, Gotv, Wardell Goodman, Illinois, Mikhail Heaven. Kenneth Paton, Canvass, HR 676, Texas, Mito Kakijama, Biden, Election, New York, Japan, Spring Street, Mccain-Palin, U.S. Political Tourists, David Waters, Independents, Undecideds, Louisville, Early Voting, Will Wooten, Paula Neff, Galveston, Jill Herren, Brent, Jeffersonville, Jamaica, Home News
Gail McGowan Mellor

Red and blue state Obama supporters are putting their weight on the see-saw state of Indiana, crossing state lines to help. Political tourists from ot...

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Friday Talking Points [53] -- Why McCain Is Losing, And Why Democrats Shouldn't Say So

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Paris Hilton, Debate, Tactics, Youth Vote, Winning the News Cycle, Mccain Losing, Pat Leahy, Experience, Rovian, Straight Talk Express, Hardball, Mccain, 72, Campaign, Sarah Palin, Losing, Base, Mukasey, 2008, Brag, Midotw, Craig Ferguson, Old, Katie Couric, News Cycle, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Couric, First Debate, Democrat, Letterman, Suspending His Campaign, Joe Biden, 08, Press, Democrats, Chris Matthews, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Lightweight, Elections, Michele Bachmann, Access, Mddotw, 30 Rock, McCain Campaign, Video the Vote, Hillary Clinton, McCain Errors, Campaign Theme, Polls, Election Night, Glasses, Video Your Vote, Obama, Keith Olbermann, Media, Clinton, Bias, New Hampshire, Snl, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Bachmann, John McCain, Karl Rove, Strategy, McCain Mistakes, Centrist, Age, Center, Bragging, 2008 Elections, Ad, 2008 Election, Theme, 08 Campaign, No Talk Express, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Close Race, Leahy, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Steve Schmidt, Bradley Effect, David Letterman, Politics News
Chris Weigant

John McCain is losing the race for the White House. Now, this doesn't mean he has already lost it -- we've still got to go vote, after all. I'll cov...

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McCain Campaign Tried Using Assault Hoax to Slime Obama

Erik Ose | Posted 10.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Mutilation Attack, Ashley Todd Mutilation Story, Ashley Todd and Obama Attacker, Voting, Fear Watch 2008, Mcdesperate, 2008 Election, Presidential Campaign, Sarah Palin, Mcnasty, Ashley Todd, Politics News, 2008, Drudge and Mccain Mutilation Story, Ashley Todd Mccain, Mccain Mutilation Story, General Election, Ashley Todd Fake, Obama Mutilation Story, North Carolina, Hate Speech, Pittsburgh Police and Mutilation Attack, John McCain, Obama 2008, Ashley Todd and Mutilation Story, Mccain-Palin, McCain Vice President, John McCain 2008 Campaign, Mccain Supporter Mutilation Story, John McCain Attack Ads, Mccain Palin Ticket, Pennsylvania, McCain VP, Barack Obama, Mccain, Barack Obama 2008, Swing States, John McCain 2008, Battleground States, Ashley Todd Hoax, Fear, Ashley Todd Polygraph, Mccain Vice President Palin, Politics News
Erik Ose

According to one of the actual police reports documenting the charade's unraveling, Ashley Todd says she can't remember whether she mutilated her own face, or had someone else do it.

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Four Years Later, Great Ideas Are Going Direct To Voter.

James Boyce | Posted 10.23.2008 | Media

Read More: Barack Obama, 2008, Veterans, Advertising, 2008 Election, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, Campaign Ads, Media News
James Boyce

One place where I see a massive difference between now and 2004 is the explosion of direct to voter video. Great messaging on behalf of our candidate is not just coming from his campaign but from an explosion of sources.

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Electoral Math -- Obama Holds His Lead

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, 2008 Electoral Graphics, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral Math, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Tracking, Bounce, Chart, John McCain, Electoral Vote, States, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Battleground, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

More and more, it is looking like Virginia will be the state that decides Election Night in Obama's favor. Sure, it could be Florida or Ohio, but my guess is that the vote-counting is going to take a while in both of them,

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McCain and Palin Inciting Violence in North Carolina

Erik Ose | Posted 10.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Sarah Palin Vp Pick, Mccain, Voting, Sarah Palin Vice President, General Election, Presidential Campaign, Sarah Palin, Mcnasty, Politics News, 2008, McCain Vice President, Obama 2008, Hate Speech, Early Voting, Palin Gaffes, Sarah Palin Reaction, Mccain Vice President Palin, North Carolina, Vice President, Fear, John McCain, Sarah Palin Vp, Battleground States, Presidential Debates, Colin Powell, Jeremiah Wright, McCain VP, Mcdesperate, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Mccain-Palin, Sarah Palin Mccain Vp, Barack Obama 2008, John McCain 2008, Mccain Palin Ticket, Sarah Palin Running Mate, Swing States, John McCain 2008 Campaign, Palin Vp Choice, Fear Watch 2008, John McCain Attack Ads, Civil Rights Act, Civil Rights, Politics News
Erik Ose

In the wake of McCain-Palin visits to North Carolina, a string of election season crimes have occurred around the state involving violence, vandalism, and harassment.

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Ky Dems Look to "Ditch Mitch" in Clean Sweep of Incumbent GOP

Gail McGowan Mellor | Posted 10.21.2008 | Home

Read More: Ditch Mitch, Mcconnell, House, Blue State, Addison S. “Mitch” McConnell, Democrat, Kentucky, Conservative, Pitch Mitch, Obama, Mccain, Political Machine, Election, Republican, Progressive, Louisville, Bailout, 2008, Red State, President. Congress, Campaign Finance Reform, Senate, Lunsford, Yarmuth, Northup, Mitch, Home News
Gail McGowan Mellor

Voters on November 4, 2008, will be genuine Deciders, using the election not only to select a president but to clean house--to clear a path by gettin...

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"Video Your Vote" On PBS And YouTube

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: News Hour, Polls, Precinct, Pbs, Election Day, Video Your Vote, Voting Videos, Election Day Videos, Poll, 2008 Elections, Media, 08, Upload, 2008 Election, Election, Cell Phone, 08 Election, Elections, Irregularities, Video, 2008, Vote, Jim Lehrer, Polling Place, 2008 Presidential Race, Youtube, News, Newshour, Voting, Politics News
Chris Weigant

if you spot (and record on video) something unusual at your polling place, you will have an easy way of uploading it to a place where journalists will have immediate access.

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Friday Talking Points [52] -- What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Roast, White House, Tim Russert, John Lewis, Checkers, Mccain, Session, Campaign, Sarah Palin, Alfred E Neuman, How Democrats Can Take Back Congress, Greek Column, 2008, Richard Nixon, Tears, Bite, Midotw, Brown, Nancy Pelosi, Foley, Al Smith, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Jake Speck, Miss Beazley, Humor, Conservative, Lipstick on a Pig, Joe Biden, 08, O'Reilly, Pit Bull, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Kick Around, John LeBoutillier, Manger, Elections, Mddotw, George Wallace, Hillary Clinton, Nixon, Page, Bit, What a Long Strange Trip It's Been, Tim Mahoney, Sex Scandal, Sherrod Brown, Mistress, Grateful Dead, Obama, Fox, Bush, Pelosi, Giuliani, Clinton, Senator, Mark Foley, Tricky Dick, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Hush Money, Comedy, That One, Boot's Blasts, Bill Clinton, John McCain, House, 2008 Elections, Lame Duck, Scandal, 2008 Election, Bush Bashing, Pull Teeth, Eternal Sunshine, Meet the Press, 08 Campaign, Cry, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Hannity, Bloomberg, Fox News, Leboutillier, Jor-El, Krypton, Nobama, Mahoney, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I started blogging over two years ago. That is to say, right about the time the 2008 presidential campaign began. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration...

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Looking to Connecticut for Change

Nick Nyhart | Posted 10.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008, Public Financing, Clean Elections, Public Campaign, Washington, Connecticut, Fair Elections, Congress, Election, Minnesota, Politics News
Nick Nyhart

The State Election Enforcement Commission in Connecticut announced that 75% of candidates for the state legislature have qualified and received funds under the state's Clean Elections program.

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Electoral Math -- Obama Lead Insurmountable?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, Debate, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, Insurmountable, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Tracking, Bounce, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Debates, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

It's going to be all but impossible to continue the "we're in a dead heat" nonsense if Barack Obama decisively wins Florida and Virginia when the East Coast returns come in.

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Friday Talking Points [51] -- Some Positivity

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Debate, Abuse, Demagogue, Green, Fisa, Mccain, Campaign, CAFE Standards, Sarah Palin, Gambling, Pissed Off, 2008, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Student Loan, Rockefeller, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Energy, Jay Rockefeller, Democrat, Congress, Joe Biden, 08, Stimulus, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Education, Demagoguery, Anger, Mddotw, College, Wiretapping, Warrantless, Troopergate, GI Bill, Mudslinging, Mother's Day, Mud, Obama, Democratic, Shocked, Waxman, Republican, Pelosi, Casablanca, Minimum Wage, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Report, Keating Five, John McCain, Keating, Mental Health, Angry, Medicaid, 2008 Elections, Henry Waxman, Alternative, 2008 Election, Crowd, 08 Campaign, Wall Street, Mother, Fat Cat, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Charles Keating, Wiretap, Telecommunications, Medicare, Head Start, Rocky IV, Fitzmas, Politics News
Chris Weigant

While we're all waiting for someone to leak the Palin Troopergate Report (which is reminiscent of waiting for "Fitzmas" during the whole Scooter Libby...

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Electoral Math -- Obama Landslide?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, Debate, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Bounce, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Debates, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have to admit, that's a pretty provocative title. And enumerating the poultry before they emerge from the ova is always risky... as the saying goes.

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