Some statistics from Tuesday's presidential primaries in Arkansas and Kentucky, based on unofficial returns: Number of counties Barack Obama lost in Arkansas: 35 of 75 Number of counties Barack Obama lost in Kentucky: 68 of 120 Number of counties Barack Obama lost in West Virginia: 9 of 55 Number of counties Barack Obama lost in Oklahoma: 15 of 77 Number of counties Barack Obama lost in Alabama: 6 of 67 Number of parishes Barack Obama lost in Louisiana: 3 of 64 Number of votes cast for Barack Obama in Arkansas: 94,852 Number of votes cast for Mitt Romney in Arkansas: 102,930 Number of votes cast against Barack Obama in Arkansas: 67,491 Number of votes cast against Mitt Romney in Arkansas: 47,764 Total number of votes ... Continue reading →
It’s not exactly news: there’s a swath of the nation that can’t stand Barack Obama. Voters there didn’t like him in 2008 and on Tuesday their disdain for the president resurfaced in Democratic primaries in Arkansas and Kentucky, where Obama won with less than 60 percent of the vote – an anemic performance for an incumbent. The region in question is the Upland or Upper South: its borders range roughly from eastern Oklahoma to western North Carolina and northward to include Appalachia. It’s similar in many ways to the Deep South but still culturally, politically and economically distinct. The heart of the Obama resistance is located in the coal country of Kentucky and West Virginia, places that first signaled their opposition to Obama in 2008 ... Continue reading →
There are no gubernatorial or Senate races on the ballot today in Arkansas and Kentucky, and the GOP presidential nomination is a foregone conclusion. But here are a few storylines that bear watching tonight in the only two states where voters will go to the polls: The rising star In Arkansas’ 4th District, which covers much of the southern part of the state, Iraq War veteran Tom Cotton has captured national attention in his bid to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Mike Ross. But his path to Congress isn’t quite paved yet – while he carried a lead in the most recent public poll, he faces a tough challenge from Beth Anne Rankin, a former Miss Arkansas and the GOP’s 2010 nominee against Ross. Rankin carries ... Continue reading →
Mitt Romney's List Of Words He's Not Supposed To Say “I have a list of words I'm not supposed to say,” Romney said at a fundraiser today. “No, I'm just kidding.” Or is he? posted May 21, 2012 4:02pm EDT Continue reading →
In New Hampshire, 2008 was a big Democratic year, led by Barack Obama’s easy win at the top of the ticket. Two years later, Republicans just about ran the table there, winning the state’s two congressional districts and control of the legislature. So how does New England’s only swing state look in 2012? At this point, writes WMUR’s James Pindell (behind paywall), it’s 2004 all over again. Eight years ago, there was a tight presidential race, including a Massachusetts nominee known locally. There were budding signs the governor’s race would be very competitive, even if the challenger was basically unknown. The battle for the State House and Senate could result in either party holding power, but then, just as it is now, conventional wisdom believed ... Continue reading →