Popular Votes, Electoral College Votes, Convention Schedule, Do Dems have a chance to win?

A somewhat random thought blog
from Xtine on the Nevada Political scene

Popular Vote, Electoral Vote, Convention information



In the upcoming weeks Colorado and Minnesota will host
the Democratic Convention and the Republican Convention.


The Democratic convention will be held Monday, August 25th through Thursday, August 28th, 2008 in Denver,Colorado.

The Republican Convention will be held from September 1st through September 5th Minneapolis,Minnesota.


According to the Democratic conventions web site,
there will be media coverage from 130 countries at the Democratic Convention.
They expect 75,000 attendees.
The Republican convention expects 45,000 attendees.

just a "factoid" I found humorous:

# of friends McCain has on MySpace: 63,552 (as of 8-18-08)

# of friends Obama has on MySpace: 451,966 (as of 8-18-08)

Even with Michigan and Florida's delegates being given only half their 'weight' in delegate voting rights,
there will be 4,235 democrat votes cast at their convention.

there will be 15,000 members of the press, over 5,000 delegates and staff, and 50,000 guests at the convention on Thurs.
a total of 75,000 in Invesco Field aka Mile High arena.

21,000 volunteers


live streaming on both the rep. and dems web sites:

Dem Con.

and

GOP Con.

Obama has recently passed the 2 millionth individual donor milestone.

McCain gets money from lobbyists.
(like Oil companies which have declared/ admitted to record profits)


Obama is earning more donations from our troops.


According to

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Obama has 275 committed electoral votes
and
McCain has 250 electoral votes

there are 13 ties.
total of 538 electoral votes.

they say it's not the popular vote but the electoral votes that count.
or so the Supreme Courts of the USA upheld in the 2000 year elections when
Al Gore won the popular vote but
President Bush won the electoral votes.


In 2008 Republicans have 23 seats up for stake, Democrats have 12 seats up.

2008's swing states:


Virgina is a truly tied state and has 13 electoral votes.

Mt has 3 E.V's (electoral votes)
N.D 3
S.D 3
Co 9
IN 11
OH 20
VA 13
NC 15
FL 27
Del 3
New Hamp 4
and
NV 5


*one more? I see on the web site "Electoral Vote.com" that there are 13 ties. Perhaps
I've overlooked a state.
Like I said, some of this blog post is random thoughts.:)

officially it will take 270 electoral votes

to win the pres.

the popular vote stands 45% for Obama and
42% for McCain, according to the latest polls.

there are a total of


538 electoral votes.

Who and What are electoral votes?

your Representatives(the House that is) and SENATORS (plus three for Wash. D.C)

100 Senators, 435 Representatives (+3 for Wash. D.c)




Why are some states "swing" states?
Because of the senatorial and house of representative jobs up for grabs in those states with the most "undecided" voters.


Which states have the most electoral votes?
55 CAl., 31 NY, 21 PA, 34 TX, 27 FL, 17 MI, 15 GA, 21 IL. (in somewhat random order)
Co 9, 10 MN (the convention states)
and
10 AZ, 11 WA (Sen. McCain's state and the "high tech" state)

Why do they say that NV might help elect the next pres?

Because even with only 5 electoral votes(2 Senators plus three Representatives from the House) they might very well be democratic votes
because there are two Democrats (Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Dist. 1 and Senator Reid, D), plus Dina Titus,D, is running for Dist. 3 and Jill Derby,D, is running for Dist. 2.
If there is a 'clean sweep' with the seats in Nev's house being Democrats
and you pair that with the Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and Congresswoman/ Representative Berkley and viola! (4 of 5 Ev's or Electoral Votes go for Barack Obama)

Nevada counts for something more than it has since it was "Battle Born."


That is why the popular vote is so important!
Your votes in your states elections help
determine how the electoral votes go.

Get out there. Get-Out-The-Vote or GOTV as we volunteers say.


Some tight races in the states:

Virginia former Governor Mark Warner, D, running for Senator will speak at the DNC on Tues. Aug. 26th.

Mr. Warner, who made over $200,000,000 in the cell phone industry is financing his own campaign.

So much for the saying there aren't any self-made successful wealthy democrats!


In Minnesota there is a 'tie" so far (according to the polls) Comedian Al Franken vs. Norm Coleman is a tight race.

I loved reading at least one of Al Franken's books and watched him for years on Saturday Night Live.
People in Minn. elected a wrestler Govenor so why the heck not elect a comedian?


In Mississippi Ronnie Musgrove D, vs. Roger Wicker, R is considered tight so I can't figure out why they
say that Mississippi's not one of the 'swing' states in 2008. Perhaps it's still going to be a strong Republican state?

Cousins Mark and Tom Udall are both running for office this year, but in two different states.
Mark Udall, (D) is running in Colorado and his cousin Tom is running in New Mexico.

They say that New Mexico is truly a 'swing' state from the way it changes from a Republican dominate state to Democratic one.



Guest Speakers at The Democratic National Convention
2008:

MONDAY, August 25

Michelle Obama,House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Craig Robinson.

There will be a tribute to Mass. Sen. Edward Kennedy, who's a huge Obama supporter and is bravely (& sadly)fighting cancer.


TUESDAY, Aug. 26

Mark Warner,who's running for the Senate in VA, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton,will speak on the anniversary of Women's Right to Vote.

Other speakers include Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and former Transportation Secretary Federico Pena.

WEDNESDAY, August 27

Obama's vice presidential choice will make a speech.

It could be exciting to see the reaction of the media and the public to the Democratic candidate for Vice Pres. persona and plans this year. It might be more important than ever in helping the undecided to decide how they will vote.
In previous elections it's been a time for people to weigh in on their perceived ability to step in the role and if they would have conflicts with the Pres.

THURSDAY, August 28

Barack Obama accepts the nomination.

Remember when Barack Obama gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in
2004?
I cried my eyes out! I remember what he said "Help is on the way."

Senator Obama I believed you and am still waiting.
It's our time now and Thursday, August 28th is the beginning of real "Help on-the-way."


Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter will also speak on Thursday.

Now before you go thinking that this is a 'Rock Concert' or a coronation of
Obama at the convention because there will be 75,000 people in attendance,
please read a bit about 10 special people who were invited as guests.
These people entered a contest to be considered to be guests at the convention.
These people are so fired up about the Campaign for Change and/or fed up with
the way things have gone over the past 8 years, or maybe they're ready for a new beginning, which is what Barack Obama offers.

Here's a glimpse of the type of people who will be in the crowd:


Barb Sackman of Fallon, Montana
Barb is a teacher living in Fallon, Montana, a town of 150. She lives on her family's wheat and cattle farm, and rising fuel prices are making it hard to get by. She hopes Barack's plan for alternative bio-fuels will help the struggling economy in rural Montana. Barb volunteers for her church, sits on a hospital board, and organizes community events in Fallon. Barb says Barack "genuinely cares about the problems of people like me. We appreciate his continued trips to Montana to let us know that we are not forgotten." She will attend the convention with her husband.

Lenny Julius of Emerald Isle, North Carolina
Lenny is a retired naval officer who believes the Iraq War was a serious strategic mistake. He says that in 2000 he looked forward to seeing John McCain, a fellow shipmate, in the Oval Office, having known and served with him in Vietnam -- but no more. "Senator McCain has become a strong supporter of the Bush policies -- policies which have led to disaster both at home and abroad." He was won over by Barack's communication skills, leadership abilities, and intelligence. Lenny is an auto parts manager at AutoZone in Emerald Isle, a heavily Republican town where he says there are many "closet Barack supporters." Lenny remembers staying up late when he was young to watch John F. Kennedy accept the nomination at the last truly open convention in 1960. He will come to the convention this year with his wife.

Anne Rector of Indianapolis, Indiana
Anne is a retired budget analyst for the federal government. She says the first time she saw Barack at the 2004 convention, she thought, "This is Everyman. He is Kansan and he is Kenyan; he is African and he is Anglo-American; he is common sense and he is eloquence; he is dynamic and he is down to earth." Anne is an active volunteer for the campaign, as well as for a local animal protection group. She hosts a weekly local radio program named Art and Review, in which she reads to the blind. Anne strongly believes in the protection of our civil liberties. She will attend with a friend and fellow campaign supporter.

James T. Fondriest of Massillon, Ohio
James, a 22-year-old law student and graduate of Ohio State University, never thought he would vote for anyone other than a Republican. An active Bush-Cheney supporter in 2004, he became disillusioned with his state party and Republicans' handling of Iraq, health care, and education. "Barack Obama has inspired me to believe in politics again and, most importantly, the power of the ordinary citizen," he writes. "Although I still identify as a Republican and still stand for some conservative values, I finally feel like America has found a leader it can look up to and trust." Leading up to the Ohio primary, James made over 500 "Buckeyes for Obama" T-shirts and donated the profits to the campaign. He plans to bring his father with him to the convention.

John Volkmar of Boulder, Colorado
John served in the U.S. Army for 10 years. He says his two tours in Iraq with the 10th Special Forces Group opened his eyes to "the link between our country's lack of an effective energy policy and our flawed foreign policy." John believes changing this relationship is an essential step towards ensuring that our government works for the interest of the American people instead of special interest groups. He is now pursuing an MBA and hopes to work in the alternative energy industry. He is coming to Denver with his wife.

Marsha Shearer of Orlando, Florida
Marsha is a retired elementary school principal. She has phone banked and canvassed for Obama in Florida, and has been a supporter since even before Barack made the decision to run. Marsha believes that both the Iraq War and America's dependence on oil are negatively affecting the health of our economy. She supports Barack because he is not a typical politician. "He represents something above and beyond," she says. "I haven't felt so energized since McCarthy, trying to end the Vietnam War." She will bring her college-age granddaughter to the convention.

Trinace Johnson of Richmond, Virginia
Trinace is a single mother and disabled veteran who served overseas for the Iraq War. She currently works for the U.S. Army as a public affairs specialist. She has voted since the age of 18, but this is the first time she has actively been involved with a political campaign. Trinace is inspired by Senator Obama's message of change and his plans to address all of the issues that she cares deeply about: veterans' support, education, stopping the war, tax breaks for the middle class, gas prices and health care. Trinace became motivated to get involved when her neighborhood ran out of ballots in the primaries, and is determined to ensure access to voting in this election. "I wish I could be there in Denver," she wrote to Backstage with Barack. "I would love to be a part of this historical event. [It's] so long overdue." Trinace will attend the convention with her sister.

Eric Melder of Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Eric is a 59-year-old married father of three sons and a grandparent to seven grandchildren. A retired YMCA director, he has worked at Diakon Wilderness Center for the past 13 years counseling young men with drug, alcohol, and family problems. "The boys call me 'E-rock' and I do all I can to make a difference in their lives," writes Eric. A self-proclaimed "values voter" and evangelical Christian, Eric switched his allegiance from Mike Huckabee to Barack, convinced by Barack's ability to lead and build coalitions. Eric is bringing Anthony, a former student at the Wilderness Center, who overcame immense hardships, including an absent father and a drug-addicted mother, to ultimately become Program Director of the Center. "Barack needs to meet him," Eric says.

Holly Miowak Stebing of Anchorage, Alaska
Holly, a 20-year-old Alaska Native Inupiaq, is spending her summer break from Stanford University at the First Alaskans Organization interviewing native elders about their experiences with segregation. Holly is passionate about improving health care access for Native Americans, and protecting Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling. The 2008 presidential election is Holly's first as a voter. She says: "This was the first campaign I felt I needed to support. I don't have a lot of money, but I donate what I can because I believe in [Barack]." She will attend the convention with her mother who is the first Native American woman to pass the Alaska bar.

Kayla Whitaker of West Fargo, North Dakota
Kayla is a 20-year-old student and evangelical Christian who credits Barack for her new found interest in the political process. "As a Christian, I have seen it repeated that evangelical Christians are 'required' to vote Republican. When I heard Barack's 'Call to Renewal' speech, I was surprised... This is change I can believe in and many other young, evangelical Christians can believe in, too. For the first time in my life, I got hooked on politics." She now plans to register to vote so that she can cast her ballot for Barack in November. Among Kayla's top concerns are health care, teacher pay, and the environment. In an effort to convince her mom to become involved in politics, she is bringing her to Denver.


These people have stories that deserve to be addressed, respected, and they deserve recognition.

You can get involved by voting, or volunteering. Perhaps you have some extra money or something of value that your local Campaign for Change office needs.

You can start by visiting the web site and signing up for email updates:

Barack Obama









source: info. about Democratic Convention schedule:

Writing by Jeff Mason and Andy Sullivan; editing by David Wiessler

http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/08/14/news/OUKWD-UK-USA-POLITICS-DEMOCRATS-CONVENTION.php


Source:

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Source:

Http://www.demconvention.com

Source:

http://www.barackobama.com