LadyMod at scam.com
05-03-2008, 07:21 AM
I thought this an interesting piece of trivia...
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hap93NpeNhTyB9-7-C2rUqOgNmDQ
Tiny Guam choses between Clinton and Obama
6 hours ago
HAGATNA, Guam (AFP) — The White House battle Saturday took a brief pan-Pacific diversion to tiny Guam, where island Democrats seized a chance to weigh in on the epic tussle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Four electoral votes were up for grabs in the oft-forgotten US territory's nominating caucuses, 20 hours flying time, and more than 8,000 miles from Washington, in another improbable twist to a convention-defying campaign.
Back on mainland battlegrounds, Clinton and Obama traded sharp blows as they chased voters in Indiana and North Carolina, which hold crucial primaries on Tuesday, as the race careens towards a gripping climax.
The charismatic Democratic rivals have been on the road for 16 months -- but neither made it to Guam, which basks under the slogan "Where America's Day Begins." They did however trawl for votes with interviews on local radio stations.
Guam is best known in the United States for its huge military base, and activists capitalized on their moment in the spotlight to demand more self determination and a vote on either independence or statehood.
Local Democrats say that some 4,000 people may take part in Saturday's caucuses, up from 1,500 in 2004.
The caucuses, in schools and community centers, kicked off at 10:00 am (2000 GMT Friday) and ended by 8 pm (0600 GMT Saturday). Results were expected around 1600 GMT Saturday.
Ironically, as their race took on a global dimension, Obama and Clinton fought a pitched battle Friday on a hot-button domestic issue, soaring gasoline prices.
The former first lady promised a defining moment in the presidential race on Tuesday, despite Obama's hefty mathematical advantage as their nominating contests heads into its final nine contests.
"This primary election on Tuesday is a game-changer, this is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward," the New York senator declared, as she rallied supporters at a tractor showroom in North Carolina.
Polls favor Senator Obama in North Carolina, though the race has tightened in recent days, after he suffered through a miserable April.
The race meanwhile was too close to call in midwestern Indiana as the rivals dueled through the final nine nominating contests of a 16-month battle for the right to take on Republican presumptive nominee John McCain in November's presidential election.
"I have no doubt that these are going to be tight races," Obama told reporters in Indiana, bemoaning a "rough couple of weeks" after his loss to Clinton in Pennsylvania and a new controversy over his fiery former pastor.
Clinton pummeled Obama over his opposition to a 'holiday' on gasoline taxes as US drivers wither at high prices at the pump -- in many places as high as 3.5 dollars a gallon.
Obama says the gas tax moratorium would only save most Americans less than 30 dollars over the summer.
His campaign, which accused her of "pandering," debuted an political ad titled "Pennies" decrying Clinton's plan, even as she introduced the proposal as a Senate bill.
Clinton is trying to convince 'superdelegates' -- nearly 800 top party officials who hold the balance of power, that neither she nor Obama can reach the 2,025 delegate threshold to win outright, and that she is the best choice.
A tally by independent website RealClearPolitics.com had Obama up by 139 total delegates, 1,738 to 1,599, and fast closing on his rival's current 266-249 lead among superdelegates, with less than 300 superdelegates undeclared.
One undeclared superdelegate, representative Susan Davis from California, told AFP that Clinton and Obama both had a responsibility to come together to unite the Democratic whoever emerged as the party nominee.
"I don't believe that either of the candidates who are the top nominees of the Democratic Party now should quite the race.
"They are injecting such enthusiasm among new voters in this election."
Polls meanwhile showed softening support for Obama.
A Howey-Gauge poll in Indiana had him barely ahead, 47 percent to 45. Clinton trailed by 15 points in the same poll in February.
A Rasmussen poll in North Carolina on Friday had Obama leading by nine points, but with Clinton closing, cutting the gap from 14 points earlier this week.
But a Zogby tracking poll on Friday had Obama up 16 points in North Carolina, where he hopes his coalition of African-Americans, affluent white voters and students will carry him to a clear victory.
.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hap93NpeNhTyB9-7-C2rUqOgNmDQ
Tiny Guam choses between Clinton and Obama
6 hours ago
HAGATNA, Guam (AFP) — The White House battle Saturday took a brief pan-Pacific diversion to tiny Guam, where island Democrats seized a chance to weigh in on the epic tussle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Four electoral votes were up for grabs in the oft-forgotten US territory's nominating caucuses, 20 hours flying time, and more than 8,000 miles from Washington, in another improbable twist to a convention-defying campaign.
Back on mainland battlegrounds, Clinton and Obama traded sharp blows as they chased voters in Indiana and North Carolina, which hold crucial primaries on Tuesday, as the race careens towards a gripping climax.
The charismatic Democratic rivals have been on the road for 16 months -- but neither made it to Guam, which basks under the slogan "Where America's Day Begins." They did however trawl for votes with interviews on local radio stations.
Guam is best known in the United States for its huge military base, and activists capitalized on their moment in the spotlight to demand more self determination and a vote on either independence or statehood.
Local Democrats say that some 4,000 people may take part in Saturday's caucuses, up from 1,500 in 2004.
The caucuses, in schools and community centers, kicked off at 10:00 am (2000 GMT Friday) and ended by 8 pm (0600 GMT Saturday). Results were expected around 1600 GMT Saturday.
Ironically, as their race took on a global dimension, Obama and Clinton fought a pitched battle Friday on a hot-button domestic issue, soaring gasoline prices.
The former first lady promised a defining moment in the presidential race on Tuesday, despite Obama's hefty mathematical advantage as their nominating contests heads into its final nine contests.
"This primary election on Tuesday is a game-changer, this is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward," the New York senator declared, as she rallied supporters at a tractor showroom in North Carolina.
Polls favor Senator Obama in North Carolina, though the race has tightened in recent days, after he suffered through a miserable April.
The race meanwhile was too close to call in midwestern Indiana as the rivals dueled through the final nine nominating contests of a 16-month battle for the right to take on Republican presumptive nominee John McCain in November's presidential election.
"I have no doubt that these are going to be tight races," Obama told reporters in Indiana, bemoaning a "rough couple of weeks" after his loss to Clinton in Pennsylvania and a new controversy over his fiery former pastor.
Clinton pummeled Obama over his opposition to a 'holiday' on gasoline taxes as US drivers wither at high prices at the pump -- in many places as high as 3.5 dollars a gallon.
Obama says the gas tax moratorium would only save most Americans less than 30 dollars over the summer.
His campaign, which accused her of "pandering," debuted an political ad titled "Pennies" decrying Clinton's plan, even as she introduced the proposal as a Senate bill.
Clinton is trying to convince 'superdelegates' -- nearly 800 top party officials who hold the balance of power, that neither she nor Obama can reach the 2,025 delegate threshold to win outright, and that she is the best choice.
A tally by independent website RealClearPolitics.com had Obama up by 139 total delegates, 1,738 to 1,599, and fast closing on his rival's current 266-249 lead among superdelegates, with less than 300 superdelegates undeclared.
One undeclared superdelegate, representative Susan Davis from California, told AFP that Clinton and Obama both had a responsibility to come together to unite the Democratic whoever emerged as the party nominee.
"I don't believe that either of the candidates who are the top nominees of the Democratic Party now should quite the race.
"They are injecting such enthusiasm among new voters in this election."
Polls meanwhile showed softening support for Obama.
A Howey-Gauge poll in Indiana had him barely ahead, 47 percent to 45. Clinton trailed by 15 points in the same poll in February.
A Rasmussen poll in North Carolina on Friday had Obama leading by nine points, but with Clinton closing, cutting the gap from 14 points earlier this week.
But a Zogby tracking poll on Friday had Obama up 16 points in North Carolina, where he hopes his coalition of African-Americans, affluent white voters and students will carry him to a clear victory.
.