MI exit poll: 73% of the African-American vote went for Obama vs 22% for Clinton

[RiverStone]

Imagine what it would have been if Obama had actually been on the ballot! :think:

(CNN) — Hillary Clinton faced a grim statistic in Michigan tonight, despite her primary "win" there: results revealed that she may have reason to worry about her grasp on the African-American vote.

The Michigan primary vote was essentially meaningless: the national party stripped the state of its delegates because it held its contest too early in the election season, and Clinton was the only major Democratic contender whose name appeared on the ballot.

Even so, roughly 70 percent of Michigan’s African-American voters — a group that makes up a quarter of Michigan’s Democratic electorate — did not cast their votes for Clinton, choosing the “uncommitted” option instead. Yet these voters weren’t uncommitted at all: in fact, according to CNN exit polls, they overwhelmingly favored Barack Obama, whose name did not appear on the ballot.

Had Obama’s name been on the Michigan ballot, CNN exit polls show that he would have won an overwhelming 73 percent of the African-American vote, in contrast to 22 percent who say they would have voted for Clinton under those circumstances. If South Carolina’s large African-American community votes as Michigan’s, Hillary may not be feeling much ‘southern hospitality’ in that state.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

[aquart]

1. Well, then Obama must feel relieved and happy.

[Perry Logan]

3. And his followers will stop making false accusations for a whole day.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. but there were other people on the ballot.

DK got 0? Edwards got 0? Nobody voted uncommitted just to make a point?

Anybody got a link handy to the actual numbers?

[nonconformist]

4. Edwards wasn't on the ballot.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#MI

Kucinich got 4%

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. what I meant was, Obama doesn't get all the uncommitted votes like this article says...

the uncommitted votes belong to Obama and Edwards.

[TahitiNut]

6. The "uncommitted" votes will go anywhere TPTB decide. They're proxies.

No matter WHAT the "intent" of the voters, they surrendered any choice regarding the allocation upon voting. There has been absolutely NO demonstration that the Michigan voters' are being respected at all. No candidate other than Kucinich expended a single dime or a single minute facing the voters and responding to the very real concerns of Michigan residents. Nothing. Zip. Nada.

The Democratic Party has thrown Michigan away. Dissed. Pissed on. How often will we hear that same ol' smear and sneer about toeing the line or "letting the GOP win"??? Well, that kind of authoritarian bullshit will no longer limp, let alone fly.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. it pisses me off too, and I don't even live there...

One of my boy's friends came in yesterday and asked me if "that lady" is our president now. (This kid is 19, early drop-out, never watches the news.) So I explained no, that was just in Michigan and most of the candidates weren't on the ballot, ect. He totally got it. Got pissed of that those people's votes didn't count.
Good kid. :)

[ecstatic]

7. I'm shocked that so many people voted, knowing it wouldn't count

I'm proud of them.

[TahitiNut]

9. Turnout was low. Snow the night before and no statewide issue on the ballot.

Moreover, the legislation for the primary was off-putting to independents since it required "REGISTRATION" for the ballot of choice. (In states with Open Primaries, it's typical to merely record the selection without requiring a specious signed "registration" for that selection.) Signs that "Photo ID Required" were prominent - even though we were not asked to produce any.

If the Democratic Party, using the specious "registration" we were required to fill out and sign, sends me ANY "Business Reply" solicitations, I'll be tempted to return a brick. In any event, they're likely to get a scathing letter (peppered with profanities) in response. The big "fuck you" is not something I'm likely to forgive or forget.

[EFerrari]

10. TN, have you seen this? It's sort of weird and off putting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x494211

[TahitiNut]

11. Yes... and I don't know what to make of it.

We used ES&S Optical Scanning systems in our precinct (17th) and the co-located precinct (20th). Tabulation equipment in Michigan is under the control of the city, town, or township elections officials, afaik, NOT the county. Here in Royal Oak (Oakland County), all such affairs are under the authority of the City of Royal Oak (and City Clerk) and I know of no county authority that intervenes between the city and the state (under the Secretary of State). Thus, I'm somewhat perplexed by the ascription to "20 counties" and can only assume they're upstate troll (below the bridge) or yooper (upper peninsula) counties - areas without incorporated elections boards.

[EFerrari]

12. See, that's even more weird because when I called the SoS's office

the "election specialist" didn't correct my terms but confirmed instead. Maybe the contracts are between the county and the vendor and then, the county subs them out to townships?

But, my deal is, if one kind of vote can be counted as another kind AND, if the scanners can be reprogramed mid-election, what the heck kind of "election integrity" is that? :crazy:

[TahitiNut]

13. There is no "integrity" without validation and verification. Period.

No matter what the process - or equipment used - basic controls insist on validation and verification. This is absent in ALL MANNER of electoral tabulation, including (sadly) paper balloting. The gravest concern is not only the absence of a V&V discipline but the sheer scope of fraud being made possible.

[EFerrari]

14. I agree. Try finding this information on the internets. It's not there.

It's not on the MI SoS website, -- it's only on my TiVo box because I was working late and accidentally caught it.

We are out to lunch on our elections. And anyone raising the question is beat about the head and shoulders.

We'd feel differently if Clinton votes got recorded as Obama votes last night. The capacity is certainly there.