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Obama wins big, Huckabee appears headed to close victory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama won an overwhelming victory in Georgia Tuesday with strong support from young and middle-age voters. Meanwhile, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won a close Republican primary battle.
Obama led Hillary Clinton big throughout the vote count, even before African-American-heavy DeKalb and Fulton precincts had been counted.
In the Republican presidential primary, Huckabee led John McCain most of the night. While much of Fulton County - which went heavily for Mitt Romney and McCain - had yet to be counted late Tuesday, it appeared Huckabee would hold off his rivals.
In the Democratic primary, it was Obama’s second straight Southern triumph, and like an earlier victory in South Carolina, was built on a wave of black and young voters.
About 77 percent of voters ages 18-29, about 74 percent ages 30-44 voted for Obama, according to exit polls.
The only age group going for Hillary Clinton was voters 60 and older, according to the exit polls.
Obama received more than 60 percent of the vote from both men and women.
Clinton beat Obama among whites, 57 percent to 39 percent, while Obama polled 88 percent of the black vote, according to the poll.
White women voted heavily for Clinton, while the white male vote was split.
Voters were split about the economy, one of the most important issues of the campaign.
About 93 percent of Democrats say the economy is in bad shape, and most Democrats say it is by far the most important issue facing the country, according to the exit polls. Republican voters weren’t as down on the economy, with 41 percent saying it is in good or excellent shape and 58 percent classifying it as not so good or poor.
Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister, was aided by strong vote by Georgians concerned about religious beliefs and born-again or evangelical Christians.
Exit polls showed 69 percent of Republican primary voters in Georgia say they want a candidate who shares their political beliefs. And 64 percent described themselves as born-again or Evangelical Christians.
Those figures probably didn’t help Mitt Romney, a Mormon running in a state with a tiny Mormon population.
Huckabee also backed the “fair tax” plan to replace federal income and payroll taxes with a federal sales tax, an idea supported by many Republicans.
Huckabee did particularly well among voters under 30, while McCain and Romney were splitting those over 45.
Throughout the campaign, Huckabee has aimed his message at what he calls Walmart Republicans, not Wall Street Republicans. According to the exit polls, Huckabee was having his highest success among those whose family income is than $50,000 a year, and among those voters with no college degree.
The most highly educated among voters, those with college degrees or better, leaned toward Romney.
Of the three candidates, McCain did best among those who expressed negative feelings about the Bush Administration, and worse who had positive thoughts about the current administration.
However, McCain, who has argued that Bush’s push for a surge of U.S. troops has turned the tide in Iraq, did best among those GOP voters who disapprove of the war. Of the three candidates, he did the poorest among those who approved of the war.
Exit polling shows trends
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here is a snapshot of the exit polling, which helps show what happened in Georgia’s Democratic and Republican presidential primaries.
DEMOCRATS:
About 77 percent of voters ages 18-29, about 74 percent ages 30-44 voted for Barak Obama, according to exit polls.
The only age group going for Hillary Clinton was voters 60 and older, according to the exit polls.
Obama received more than 60 percent of the vote from both men and women.
Clinton beat Obama among whites, 57 percent to 39 percent, while Obama polled 88 percent of the black vote, according to the poll.
White women voted heavily for Clinton, while the white male vote was split.
REPUBLICANS:
Mike Huckabee, Arkansas’ governor and a Southern Baptist minister, was aided by strong vote by Georgians concerned about religious beliefs and born-again or evangelical Christians.
Exit polls showed 69 percent of Republican primary voters in Georgia say they want a candidate who shares their political beliefs. And 64 percent described themselves as born-again or Evangelical Christians.
Huckabee did particularly well among voters under 30, while John McCain and Mitt Romney were splitting those over 45.
Huckabee was having his highest success among those whose family income is than $50,000 a year, and among those voters with no college degree.
The most highly educated among voters, those with college degrees or better, leaned toward Romney.
Of the three candidates, McCain did best among those who expressed negative feelings about the Bush Administration, and worse who had positive thoughts about the current administration.
McCain did best among those GOP voters who disapprove of the war. Of the three candidates, he did the poorest among those who approved of the war.
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Slow going on vote
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At 7 p.m., more than 120 people circled the inside of Grady High School’s gym waiting to vote. The problem: Just after 6 p.m. the polling station ran out of the forms voters must fill out before they can cast a ballot. Poll workers said they were waiting for more forms to be brought over from another polling place on nearby Ponce de Leon Avenue. They said the voting station would stay open until everyone in line got a chance to vote
CNN also calls for Obama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CNN has also called the Democratic presidential primary race in Georgia for Barack Obama, based on exit polls
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Obama wins in Georgia, exit polls show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democratic presidential primary exit polls in Georgia are giving the state to Barack Obama. Exit polls were not immediately calling the Republican race. The exit polls showed Georgia Democratic voters were generally happy with their choices. About 78 percent said they’d be satisfied if Obama won the nomination, no matter how they voted today. About 65 percent said they’d be satisfied with Hillary Clinton.
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Democrats say economy in bad shape
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Democratic presidential primary voters say the economy is in bad shape, and they say it’s the most important issue facing the country, according to exit polls today. About 92 percent of the Georgia Democratic voters in the exit poll said the economy was either in poor shape or not doing well. By comparison, only 57 percent of Republicans gave the economy bad marks. Another 43 percent of Republicans in the exit poll said the economy was in good or excellent shape. About 53 percent of Democrats also said the economy was the most important issue facing the country, followed by health care (22 percent) and the war in Iraq (21 percent)
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Democratic voters made up their minds early
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Most Georgia Democratic voters apparently decided long ago who to vote for, according to exit polls today. About 21 percent decided who to vote for in the past three days, and 29 percent decided in the last week. By contrast, exit polls show 41 percent of Republicans decided in the past week.
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Religious beliefs important to Republican voters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Exit polls show most Georgia Republican presidential primary voters Tuesday thought it was important that a candidate share their political beliefs. The question may suggest Republican Mitt Romney had an uphill battle in Georgia since he’s a Mormon and the Mormon population in the state is relatively small. In the exit poll of Georgia Republican voters, 70 percent said it was important that a candidate share their religious views. About 75 percent of the Republican voters polled also expressed approval of U.S. war in Iraq. Also, 43 percent declared the state of the economy either excellent or good, while 57 percent declared it is not so good or poor.
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Many voters decided at the last minute
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Exit polls suggest almost a third of Georgia Republican presidential primary voters decided who to vote for in the three days heading up to the election. About 29 percent decided the past three days, and 41 percent decided within the past week. With a hot Democratic Primary contest also on the ballot, exit polls also show very few Democrats crossed over to vote in the Republican primary. Only 5 percent crossed over, according to exit polls, while 95 percent classified themselves as Republican or independent.
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Obama not trying to keep polls open longer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Earlier media reports that Barack Obama’s campaign had called on state officials to keep polls open in certain precincts are incorrect, his campaign said Tuesday afternoon. Several local media outlets reported that Obama’s campaign had asked state officials to allow polls remain open past 7 p.m. in precincts where delays were caused by malfunctioning machines. But Obama spokeswoman Adora Andy said that was incorrect. The campaign, she said is “considering” such a move, but has not yet made it. Andy said they want to make sure polls are open for 12 full hours, as required by state law. In some precincts, she said, some polls did not open on time. They might ask the Secretary of State to allow those precincts to remain open past 7 p.m., but no decision has been made.
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Candidate, campaign visits here this weekend
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bill Clinton Today Speech, 7:30 p.m., New Baptist Covenant convocation, Georgia World Congress Center.
John McCain Saturday Rally, 5:30 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, 2800 Cobb Gallerie Parkway.
Mike Huckabee Sunday Church, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., First Baptist Church of Woodstock Rally, 3 p.m., Third Street Park, Macon
Mitt Romney Monday, TBA
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Biden drops presidential bid
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in the state’s caucuses.
Biden was expected to announce his decision to withdraw from the contest at his campaign caucus rally in Des Moines, according to advisers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The veteran lawmaker and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee received less than 1 percent of the vote in Iowa’s caucuses despite a spirited campaign in which he emphasized his international policy credentials and long career in public service.
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First post-Iowa shot fired
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As Mike Huckabee was still delivering his victory speech in Iowa, the first attack of the post-caucus era was leveled.
The Club for Growth, which has never hid its enmity for Huckabee, issued a statement late Thursday on the caucus results.
“The Club for Growth PAC urges New Hampshire voters to reject Mike Huckabee and his big-government policies next Tuesday,” Club president Pat Toomey said. “Republican voters should nominate a leader who will return the party to the principles of economic conservatism, not an economic liberal who wants to be the John Edwards of the Republican Party.”
Huckabee and the Club for Growth have tussled often over the course of the campaign, with the conservative economic group blasting Huckabee for his record while governor of Arkansas, and Huckabee responding by calling the group the “Club for Greed.”
The organization accuses Huckabee of raising taxes while governor and opposing other programs it holds dear, such as school choice.
It’s an influential organization in Republican circles, but it’s record Thursday was less than stellar in Iowa. Along with bashing Huckabee, the Club for Growth has had no love for John McCain, who was in a tie for third in Iowa, a state he barely campaigned in.
AP says Dodd drops out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut has ended his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, The Associated Press is reporting.
Dodd managed to get less than 1 percent of the vote in Thursday’s Iowa caucus. With nearly 97 percent of precincts reporting, Dodd had the support of 0.02 percent.
CNN is also reporting that Dodd will drop out of the race, ending what was always a long-shot bid for the affable chairman of the Senate Banking Committee who went so far as to move his family to Iowa and enroll his young daughter in Iowa schools.
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Iowans sent a message, Lowery says
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Voters in Iowa sent a message to the world tonight by delivering the state for Barack Obama, the Rev. Joseph Lowery said.
Lowery, the legendary civil rights leader from Atlanta, celebrated his candidate’s victory at an Atlanta pizza parlor with 300 others.
“I’m as happy as a bird flying in the breeze, a worm in his mouth and a whole bunch of worms on the ground waiting for him,” Lowery said.
Lowery said the Iowa results are hugely important.
“I just thank God I’ve lived long enough to see a state like Iowa overlook the issue of race and vote for the best candidate,” said Lowery, 86. “People are tired of the old politics and the good old boys and the old guard have been sent a message. They want change. And they see Barack as an agent of change. And I thank God that they saw him irrespective of his color and his name, frankly.
“It’s a great day for America.”
McCain ‘on the scorecard’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While it appears clear that Mike Huckabee will finish first in Iowa and Mitt Romney will finish second, the real action on the GOP side is for third place.
And the real question is whether John McCain can capture that third place despite running not one television ad and all but abandoning the state some months ago.
With about 67 percent of the precincts reporting, McCain is in fourth place, about 350 votes behind Fred Thompson who current occupies third.
A third-place finish for McCain would be quite the accomplishment and his supporters are “thrilled to be on the scorecard at all,” said South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, McCain’s campaign chairman in the Palmetto State, where Republicans will vote Jan. 19.
“We didn’t do any TV ads (in Iowa), we did not do very much campaigning there,” McMaster said. “And McCain has been steadily coming up in all the polls. No one expected that even three weeks ago.”
McMaster said this strong finish, and they’ll take fourth place as a strong finish, will pay good dividends for McCain in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Huckabee rallies Georgia supporters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
His huge victory in Iowa still fresh, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee issued a call to his supporters in Georgia.
In the video, released Thursday night, Huckabee asks Georgia Republicans to support “leadership that will help the country go up and not down.”
He invokes the name of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and says Perdue won a long-shot campaign in 2002, the kind of campaign Huckabee is now making for president.
“I hope you’ll join us in Georgia because February the 5th is coming up quickly,” Huckabee said in the video. “By the time we get there, we would like to secure the nomination. And with your help, that is exactly what we are going to do.”
Huckabee will be in Geoergia on Jan. 22, for a fund raiser and the Georgia Right to Life march.
CNN and Fox project victory for Obama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With about three-quarters of the precincts reporting, both networks say Barack Obama has won the Iowa caucus, with second place still up in the air.
John Edwards holds a tiny lead over Hillary Clinton for second place.
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AP and NBC call it for Huck, too
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That makes three networks projecting Mike Huckabee the winner in Iowa: CNN, Fox News and NBC/MSNBC, plus The Associated Press.
Starting to look like a done deal and a major, major victory for Huckabee and a serious blow to Mitt Romney who spent millions in Iowa only to fall short.
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Half way home …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While the GOP side looks like a rout, it’s still neck-and-neck-and-neck on the Democratic side.
With just about 50 percent of the precincts reporting, Barack Obama is enjoying a lead of about 3 percentage points over John Edwards and Hillary Clinton.
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Huckabee supporters thrilled, cautious
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shawn Davis, Mike Huckabee’s Georgia communications director, warns that word they’re getting from Iowa is that only one of the four major counties there have reported results.
And while cable networks Fox News and CNN have projected Huckabee as the winner, Davis said they’re holding off on celebrations just yet.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Davis said. “But, of course, we’re delighted with the early projections.”
Obama takes the lead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Iowa Democratic Party site shows Barack Obama now holding a slim lead.
With more than 35 percent of precincts reporting, Obama has 33.2 percent to John Edwards’ 32.11 percent and Hillary Clinton’s 31.71 percent.
Is this the start of the Obama run? Or a momentary lapse for Edwards? And when, or if, does that Clinton surge start?
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CNN, Fox declare Huckabee winner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fox News and CNN are both calling Mike Huckabee the winner in Iowa and Mitt Romney is acknowledging the possibility of defeat.
“Congratulations on the first round to Mike,” Romney told Fox News moments ago.
Over on CNN, anchor Wolf Blitzer, was jazzed:
“We can now project that Mike Huckabee, Mike Huckabee, who only weeks ago seemingly came out of nowhere, Mike Huckabee will win the Iowa caucuses.”
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Huckabee pulling away?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With 15 percent of Iowa precincts reporting, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is leading 36 percent to 23 percent for Mitt Romney.
Fred Thompson is holding on to third with 14 percent.
Those numbers please Shawn Davis.
Davis, Huckabee’s communications director in Georgia, said via e-mail that the early results look good.
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Richardson backer keeping the faith
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bob Beer, a Marietta immigration attorney and Bill Richardson supporter, isn’t giving up hope.
The New Mexico governor is currently pulling about 2 percent of the vote, according to the Iowa Democratic Party results. That’s good for fourth place, but way off the pace.
“Well, I still think it’s a little early,” Beer said. “But I’m optimistic.”
Still, Beer said, Richardson was always realistic and knew a first- or second-place finish was unlikely.
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15 percent there
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
About 15 percent of the results are now in on the Democratic side, and John Edwards has led the entire way.
What’s more difficult to gauge at this point is where those 15 percent are coming from. In other words, if it’s from more rural counties, Edwards’ perceived base in Iowa, then it makes sense, and could swing when the more urban areas come in. Those are expected to be stronger for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
But if the results hold, Edwards could be having a big night.
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Romney at Iowa caucus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is at a GOP caucus outside Des Moines where the room is apparently packed and the doors haven’t even closed yet, despite the fact that voting was supposed to start 30 minutes ago, according to a reporter on the scene.
Former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas is also there on behalf of John McCain.
If this is a common scene across Iowa, it could signal a long night ahead for the Republican candidates.
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Real results coming in
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over at the site of the Iowa Democratic Party, the real results are coming in already.
The site updates automatically every few seconds, but a snapshot a moment ago: Clinton 35.52 percent, Edwards 35.15 percent, Obama 27.12 percent.
Goodness, technology has changed politics.
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Go Braves!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Proving true that there are Braves fans everywhere, there’s a guy at a Democratic caucus in Persia, Iowa, on CNN just a minute ago wearing the familiar blue and red lid of the Atlanta Braves.
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Entrance polls show close race
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Associated Press has just released what’s known as entrance polls, where caucus-goers are asked for their picks as they entered the caucuses Thursday evening.
The results, which are far from scientific, show bad news for John Edwards, but a tight race overall for the Democrats. The AP found that Obama and Clinton leading among Democrats and Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee ahead among Republicans.
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And they’re off
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DING, DING, DING
The caucuses have officially started in Iowa.
Here we go …
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