HouDecides08's Blog

Houston City Councilmember Sue Lovell is a super delegate committed to Clinton.  Former state representative Al Edwards is a super delegate committed Obama.  Both are free to change their minds.  I talked with them soon after the Texas Primary.  Both say they have received pressure from the other side to switch.  Between now and the democratic national convention in late August, Lovell and Edwards are likely to be the recipients of some serious arm twisting.  After all, the super delegates almost certainly will determine whether Obama or Clinton becomes the democratic presidential nominee.

What criteria do you think super delegates should use in making their decision?  Should they support the candidate who won the most pledged delegates or the most popular votes in the primaries?  If one candidate wins both (Obama leads in both now), should the super delegates automatically vote for that candidate?

Ford Atkinson

I'm a little late in posting these, but here are a few pictures from inside Fox 26 on election day.  Feel free to add your own captions! Sally Mac

Do you and your parents, spouse, brother/sister vote the same way?  Did the way you vote cause any rifts?

In this election season, more than ever, I think Democratic voters are split along generational lines.  We see the parents and grandparents voting for Clinton, while the newer voters are choosing Obama. 

Thoughts?

Sally Mac

Hey, Politico-Bloggerz...

Non-Stop primary coverage for 12 hours on MyFoxHouston.com was our warm-up for the November General Election. I see it as a way to please a lot of our viewers. Election-Night junkies had a place to get their fix with a local flavor... and those who couldn't have cared less could still watch the tube (American Idol).

One of our crews, in the field, told a story of competitor from another station gently mocking our coverage... but I really think it's what the future holds. The Internet has changed so many things... and it's changing us, too.

Did you watch? What did you think... and what should we change the next time?

Z

There is now a chance that neither Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama can win enough delegates to secure the Democratic Presidential Nomination outright.

That raises the distinct possibility that the votes of Super Delegates will  decide the winner.

Should the nod go to the candidate who won the the greatest number of delegates during the campaign or to the candidate deemed to be the one with the greatest chance of defeating the Republican candidate John McCain.

How can they accurately predict how a candidate would fare against an opponent?  

There have been countless political upsets in the past and there will be many more in the future.

President Bush formally endorsed John McCain's candidacy at the White House the day after McCain clinched the GOP Presidential Nomination.

Republicans hoping to keep the White House obviously hopes this helps their cause.

Democrats meanwhile will do everything they can to tie McCain to all the things voters don't like about the Bush Administration.

But did McCain and Bush really have a choice?  Could the GOP Presidential nominee campaign from now until November with the current Republican President sitting on the sidelines and saying nothing?

Surely you've seen it-- the now-famous "It's 3am" ad, launched by the Clinton campaign in the days before the Primary Elections:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcR6enqJZJ8

The ad's gotten lots of play-- and lots of parodies on YouTube.  My colleague, Ford Atkinson, believes the ad was effective and may have drummed up more votes for Clinton from those who might have been on the fence. 

What do you say?

Carolyn Canville

So, after it's all "said 'n done"... & the primary results are in... do you feel YOUR vote made a difference? 

mwilson

Are you just getting warmed-up about all the Primary/Caucus results... or are you already getting burned out?

mwilson

It was a controversial call -- but it may have been effective.  In the days before the March 4th Elections,  a  popular conservative talk show host was running a campaign of his own.   He was urging conservative voters to cross party lines and vote for Clinton-- a strategy to keep McCain from having to face off with Obama in November.

What's your take on that talk jock's crusade? 

*Should voters vote for a candidate they don't like as a strategy to keep their own candidate from losing against another who might defeat him down the road?

*How much of the Hillary vote, on March 4th,  was from McCain backers, hoping to avoid an Obama-McCain contest in November?

It's an interesting debate. -- Wanna weigh in?

Carolyn Canville

You'd never know Obama lost three states tonight/this morning.  Supporters at his Houston watch party shouted a similar refrain as returns were coming in:  "It's all about the delegates!"  Here are a few pictures I snapped inside the Cotton Exchange Bar and Lounge.

Sally Mac

McCain's sewn up the GOP nomination.  Now he just needs a running mate.  Got any suggestions for him?  Who would have the muscle McClain needs to make it  all the way?

On the Democratic side, the race to the nomination is far from over.  Tuesday was a good day for Clinton --winning Texas & Ohio--   but Obama still has a strong lead in delegates.   Depending on who seals the deal-- who should they pick for the bottom of their ticket?

Who would boost Obama to the Oval Office?  Who would carry Clinton back to the White House?    Do you think one could choose the other, or is there too much bad blood between them?

Carolyn Canville

As I write this... it's almost 10:30... and a number of Texas voters are still hard at work. The Democratic Caucus process continues... with some precincts noting hundreds in attendance. I might be hours before some of these polling places complete thier work.

It can seem a complicated process for the uninitiated... but what a beautiful thing. So many people demanding they be heard and their vote counted. And this is just the Primary.

I have found only a minority of people who seemed uninterested in participating in this contest. What has been your experience?

Z