Tuesday, November 4, 2008

2008 Election Day Thread

Share your comments and observations. I plan to be back on here this evening as the returns start to come in.

BTW, on Sunday evening I outlined my post-election post ripping the VBTA if John Moss tanks as expected.

6:23 P.M. - downstairs having dinner, it occurred to me to make a bold prediction: no matter what the election results tonight, Reid Greenmun will be complaining that the new government isn't far enough to the extreme right.

6:53 P.M. - The Virginian-Pravda reports that a flier is being distributed to African-American voters with which the Sessoms Campaign tries to go for Obama's coattails. http://hamptonroads.com/2008/11/fliers-beach-candidate-sessoms-mccain-backer-tie-him-obama

Nice try, but you see what's missing on it? That's right: Sessoms makes no commitment to scrap Virginia Beach's at-large voting system. In addition, without an "Authorized By" tag, the flier is illegal. (Sorry, Bruce.)

8:47 P.M. - With Obama up in the Presidential race, celebrations have already started in our apartment complex, which is about 85% African-American. Pots are being banged on; one man said all he needs now is to see Jesus walk on water.

9:45 P.M. - Still only 2 precincts (Point O View and Malibu) from Virginia Beach up on the State Board of Elections (SBE) website. WTF is going on?!? Granted, it's been nice to see Georgia Allen with the lead for the past 90 minutes....

The neighborhood has quieted down. They may have figured out what I have: the Presidential race looks like it will be at least 'til Midnight to call.

11:12 P.M. - It's official: Obama looks like he has enough electoral votes to win. In our neighborhood, the pans were beaten and shouts of "Obama!" went up.

On the City side, very interesting. Stay tuned.

12:10 A.M. - I'm going to try to get some sleep. Diezel is winning with just over 50%, as Flores splits off of Jackson. Sessoms is up about 6,500 votes over Meyera. Rosemary is winning on a plurality, as in 2004. The big thing is Glenn Davis is ahead.

John Moss is doing better than conventional wisdom, but that means nothing for VBTAers if they wake up with Mayor-elect Sessoms. With Sessoms in the Mayor's Office, the only thing that could stop light rail is the FTA.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Spent one hour in the rain to vote. No one working the polls, although I did see one person voting with a giant Moss sticker.

Voter turnout was extremely heavy.

Avenging Archangel said...

Which precinct?

Poll workers usually duck for cover in the rain. Having done it many times before, if it rains, you must have cover for your lit. Otherwise it gets ruined and the entire op is useless.

Unknown said...

Hi Henry. Poll workers were not a factor for helping candidates today with the rain - waste of time.

Avenging Archangel said...

Peter,

With the long ballot in Virginia Beach, that could be a major issue. The longer the ballot, the more effective poll workers as you move down the ballot.

After all, how many did serious research of the School Board candidates?

Michael Ragsdale said...

There were a few complaints that we weren't telling people to remove campaing lit while inside

Anonymous said...

Elmer Fudd is Mayor!!!!!!!! I'm ready to see the end of the VBTA!!!!!!!