Free Republic

Interviews with New Hampshire voters on Tuesday gave a glimpse into the issues that drew these newcomers to a campaign that has been trying to gain mainstream support for its message since Paul first ran for president in 1988. Most said they were initially drawn to one element of Paul's platform, but came to support the rest of it later. 'Painfully, Very Slowly' One voter, James Kelley, said he supported Paul at first because he seemed like the only candidate who was serious about cutting taxes and spending. But as he researched Paul's platform, he found himself reconsidering his hawkish...

Initial results from France's Socialist Party show that Francois Hollande and Martine Aubry led primary voting for next year's presidential elections. The party says on its website that longtime party chief Hollande won 39 percent of the vote and Aubry, author of France's 35-hour workweek law, 30 percent of the vote based on about 977,000 ballots counted. The party estimates that more than 1.5 million voters took part in Sunday's voting. The runoff will be held Oct. 16 between the top two finishers. The winner would be the main challenger to conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy, widely expected to seek re-election....

State Senate 7 Republican Primary Trish Marsh ___________2270____ 43.29% Anthony "Tony" Wright____2974____ 56.71% One down and one to go. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. I am going to need more help in the general election. Tony Wright wrightfornevada.com

Semi-Official Results Results are updated as new information is received from county elections offices, after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. County elections officials must report their final results to the Secretary of State 31 days after Election Day, which for this election is July 9.

I apologize in advance for the Vanity Post. I rarely use 'em - but in this case, I need some Freeper advice. Like all of you, I despise Harry Reid. Next year, I want him gone in the worst possible way. But I was gonna wait and see how Nevada's GOP primary turned out before I wrote a check. In the last three weeks, I've received two fundraising letters from Danny Tarkanian's campaign for US Senate. I've read thru both of 'em. I've visited his website. And you know what? I still don't know much about this race. I don't...

With Tuesday's record-setting turnout, California Hispanics for the first time performed as well as any other racial group in a statewide election. The outpouring was especially strong on the Democratic side, with Hispanics accounting for 30 percent of Tuesday's presidential primary vote. Hispanic Democrats nearly doubled their percentage from the 2000 and 2004 primaries. And they matched their percentage among California adults, suggesting the state's fast-growing Hispanic population is finally being reflected at the polls. Analysts cited a variety of possible reasons for the uptick in Hispanic voting, from the voter registration drives that developed from the 2006 immigration protests...

Florida Republicans, splintered by a crowded field of presidential candidates, opened the party's Presidency IV convention Saturday pledging to unify against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-politics2107oct21,0,7620762.story

For the past few months, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, has flirted with the idea of running for president as an antiwar Republican. Now, however, that platform is threatening Hagel’s standing within his own state and party. In a race that has received scant national attention, Jon Bruning, Nebraska’s 38-year-old Republican attorney general, is challenging Hagel’s bid for re-election to the Senate--by attacking him from the right. Bruning charges that Hagel’s stance on Iraq, as well as his criticism of the president and members of his cabinet (see: Alberto Gonzales), put the incumbent out of touch with the majority...

That's what Stephen Hayes is reporting in the Weekly Standard and Mike Allen in Politico. Last night I attended an off-the-record American Spectator dinner with Thompson and his wife, Jeri; George Will and Robert Novak were also there. I'm not supposed to say what was said there, but nothing I heard inclined me to think that Hayes and Allen have gotten it wrong. Thompson's exploratory committee will go into action June 4, collecting money and hiring staffers.

Today’s Democratic primary in Minnesota’s very blue fifth Congressional district could prove historic. If he wins, Keith Ellison would be all-but-assured to be the first Muslim ever elected to the U.S. Congressman. It would also mark the first time that someone ascended to Capitol Hill courtesy of key support from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Ellison has received financial and other help from executives at CAIR, which has deep connections to supporters of Islamic terrorism. Also among those who have contributed money to the candidate are an official from a group that participated in a “tribute” to the Iranian...

Battle the 'anointed elite' Posted: September 1, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern Editor's note: This Letter of the Week is in response to a letter to the editor that appeared Aug. 29. It is reprinted here for the reader's convenience: Just thought you'd like to know that most, if not all, medical personnel here in Miami are endorsing and voting for Charlie Crist for governor. I'm a physician in Miami and my colleagues, both doctors and nurses, have been strong advocates against any public official who had the audacity to interfere in what should have been a family medical decision. Yes,...

Forget the war in Iraq, the war on terror, or any other war against which Connecticut citizens are said to have voted by defeating Joe Lieberman and nominating Ned Lamont for the U.S. Senate. The operative war for American citizens is something closer to home -- a war of independence from the bickering partisans who have made political life in America a childish and tedious exercise.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - A Supreme Court argument on Wednesday posed a civics question with practical implications: Is a political party's primary election basically the business of the party, or of the state? Oklahoma was appealing a federal court decision that would have allowed political parties to open their nominating process to nonmembers. Along with 23 other states, Oklahoma does not permit voters registered in one party to vote in another party's primary. Independent voters in Oklahoma may choose a party primary in which to vote, but those enrolled in a party may not cross party lines unless they "disaffiliate"...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. LAS VEGAS (AP) - Voting officials were watching how successful Nevada would be Tuesday in becoming the first state to use touch-screen machines in statewide voting. Primary voting was due to narrow the field of November candidates for Congress, the state Legislature and two nonpartisan seats on the Nevada Supreme Court. Seats also were at stake on the state university Board of Regents and state Board of Education and many local offices. State and county election officials reported few problems with electronic machines after at least 100,000 ballots were cast during...

Except for the presidential election, the most important election this year will take place on April 27 in Pennsylvania. That's the day of the Republican primary pitting a great Republican, Pat Toomey, against the 74-year-old, Ira Einhorn-defending alleged "Republican," Arlen Specter. No, it's not the "American Idol" finals. It's even more important than that. Thanks to Arlen Specter: States can't prohibit partial-birth abortion; Voluntary prayer is banned at high-school football games; Flag-burning is a constitutional right; The government is allowed to engage in race discrimination in college admissions; The nation has been forced into a public debate about gay marriage;...

Officials: Voting going slowly, smoothly05:36 PM CST on Tuesday, March 9, 2004By BRIAN ANDERSON / Dallas Web Staff Dora Elizondo stood outside a polling place in Duncanville early Tuesday, waving a sign for her favorite candidate and anxious to make her vote count. “This is the first year I’ve exercised my right to vote,” said Elizondo, who became a U.S. citizen five years ago after emigrating from Mexico. She was well aware that today’s primary election was expected to be a low turnout event, but that didn’t stop her from getting involved. “Every person is different. Some people like to...

Chairman of Congressional Immigration Caucus to Attend Kaloogian-Led Rally in Burlingame on Saturday The Chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado), has endorsed Howard Kaloogian for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Tancredo explained that Kaloogian's strong stand against illegal immigration and outstanding service as a conservative Republican State Assemblyman were reasons for his endorsement. Tancredo has offered to assist Kaloogian in a variety of ways in the final two weeks of the campaign. "The United States Senate needs Howard Kaloogian's strong voice and leadership! I endorse his candidacy and offer my wholehearted support" Tancredo said....

If rivals can't slow Kerry, he could cruise to nomination With 7 states voting, trailing hopefuls look for a road-blocking win07:15 AM CST on Tuesday, February 3, 2004By DAVID JACKSON / The Dallas Morning News COLUMBIA, S.C. – In the next 24 hours, John Kerry could face either a smooth ride to the Democratic presidential nomination or new twists and turns in a roller coaster of a race. Climbing to the top in just a few weeks, the winner in Iowa and New Hampshire now has high hopes for seven contests today: South Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma, Delaware, North Dakota, Arizona...

Let us review the Democratic presidential primaries so far: In the beginning, John Kerry surged to a big lead in the New Hampshire polls because he seemed so electable. He had plenty of experience, lots of money and big hair, and, as somebody said, he looks like an animatronic version of Abraham Lincoln. But then Howard Dean raised a lot of money, and New Hampshire voters figured that he was bringing so many new people into the process that he must be electable — and if he was electable, then they should probably support him because they wanted somebody who...

Modern democracy means you have no choice One of the most hallowed pageants of our modern democracy is happening today: the New Hampshire primary, a vitally important bellwether for major party nominees. Why, from this field of battle have ridden anointed such legends as Lyndon Johnson in '68, Edmund Muskie in '72, Gary Hart in '84, Paul Tsongas in '92, Pat Buchanan in '96, and John McCain in 2000. This contest displays the vital, bloody, throbbing heart of what makes us great. The people listen, judge, gather, and participate in the process of choosing the leader of our great political...

<p>Two religions, two incomes, children from two marriages -- the lives of Democratic hopefuls reflect new times, not campaign fliers of old.</p> <p>DES MOINES - Dennis Kucinich, on the phone en route to a campaign event, is annoyed. The Ohio representative and presidential hopeful, twice divorced and currently single, is fresh off a date organized by a website trying to find him a wife. His romantic track record raises a fairly obvious, if irritating, question: Could Americans have a problem voting for a man who has trouble staying married?</p>

<p>DES MOINES, Iowa — The race for the Democratic presidential nomination remains in a statistical dead heat in the vital Iowa caucuses but it has a surprise twist -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (search) has taken the lead, according to the latest tracking poll, released Thursday.</p>

On Sunday morning, presidential candidate the Rev. Al Sharpton addressed more than 1,000 people through a time-honored medium in the black community — the pulpit. Sharpton preached 45 minutes at West Columbia’s Brookland Baptist Church’s 11 a.m. service. His appearance was a surprise for many in the predominantly black congregation. Sharpton took Bible verses from the book of Exodus — the story of God leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt — and applied them to what he called the “disturbing” present condition of black America. “Many of us seem to have lost our way,” he said. “We used...

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton helped serve Thanksgiving dinner to more than 100 people at a homeless shelter. "Happy Thanksgiving! Tea or punch?" the Rev. Sharpton asked people as they came through the line. Some shook his hand, some offered words of support, and some, covering their faces or heads from the TV cameras, took their drinks and sat down. Sharpton's visit to the shelter Thursday caused some concern for shelter volunteers who organize the dinner each year. "I don't ever want our people exploited for one day," said Sandi Harris, volunteer coordinator for Crisis Ministries, who...

As revolutions go, this one began with remarkably little fanfare. Last Thursday MoveOn.org sent out an e-mail to its members -- all 1.4 million of them -- asking if they'd like to take part in an online Democratic presidential primary later this month. Candidates would answer questions that MoveOn put to them, and if one of them managed to pull a majority of the members' votes, the organization would endorse him. This is no straw poll: MoveOn does real politics. Founded by some Silicon Valley entrepreneurs as a way for liberals and others to electronically register their rage at the...

A day after Bill McBride claimed the Democratic nomination for governor, election supervisors in Miami-Dade and Broward counties launched a precinct-by-precinct review of election returns that could throw the outcome of the governor’s race into doubt.The discovery was particularly striking in Miami-Dade, where Supervisor of Elections David Leahy said almost 2,000 additional votes were found in four precincts. He guessed that vote counts in as many as 60 of Miami-Dade’s 754 precincts may be suspect. The net result: Reno could stand to pick up more than 19,200 votes and McBride about 7,300. That would allow Reno to overcome McBride’s current...

Votes missing; observers hissing By THOMAS C. TOBIN, CURTIS KRUEGER © St. Petersburg Timespublished September 12, 2002 MIAMI -- A new wave of election problems in South Florida on Wednesday kept elections officials laboring for a second straight night to retrieve votes from touch screen machines that had been expected to spit out results in record time. Results from a few dozen precincts were still trickling in late Wednesday from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which had spent a combined $42-million on computerized voting systems but performed at a pace that was slower than the infamous hand recounts of 2000....

Registered Republicans and Independent conservatives need to turn out in force, August 6th in Kansas Primary Election, especially in the 3rd Congressional District.The so-called Moderate Republican groups such as GOP Club of Johnson County, Mainstream Coalition; Johnson County Republicans for Education and other so-called left leaning groups are attempting to stack the deck against conservative candidates. These groups are aided and abetted by well known liberals such as Governor Bill Graves; former Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum; former U. S. Representative Jan Meyers; Senator Pat Roberts; The Kansas City Star; the Topeka Capitol Journal; and the Wichita Eagle.The above named newspapers...

<p>Only about 5,000 people in Maricopa County have requested early ballots for the Sept. 10 primary election, far below the county's projection.</p> <p>"It's a lot lower than we expected," said Maricopa Elections Director Karen Osborne. "I was expecting about 10,000 by now." It's too early to predict how many of the county's 1.2 million registered voters will actually cast a ballot, Osborne said. But she estimates that about half of those doing their civic duty will do so by mail before Election Day. Early voting begins Aug. 8 for the Sept. 10 primary and Oct. 3 for the Nov. 5 general election. "Early voting has become exceedingly popular," said Osborne, adding that the number of early ballot requests will increase substantially when candidates turn them in to her office.</p>

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Their fight over new legislative maps finished for the moment, state lawmakers have agreed to hold North Carolina's long-delayed primary elections on Sept. 10. The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of the plan, which also eliminates runoffs. The House had approved the date Monday evening. Gov. Mike Easley signed the bill Tuesday afternoon. "We tried to make sure that everyone who could be affected was consulted on this," said Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland. "The time frame was compressed so this was about the only way to do it." The compressed election schedule is...

WHAT: FReeper Augustus Alzona is forming a slate of nineteen true conservative Republican activists to take over the current local central committee in Montgomery County, Maryland, and then later, work with fellow, state central committee members statewide to gain effective control (by conservatives) over the Maryland Republican Party.  WHY: As most of you who have been keeping up with Republican Party politics over the last four-year election cycle (now ending) know, the Maryland State GOP continues to be basically controlled by so-called "moderates." This phenomenon has also applied to the locally elected party central committee here in Montgomery County over...

Comments on the Maine Primary election, all invited

Flinn upsets Scroggs, will face Wharton in Aug. 1 general election By Thomas Jordan jordan@gomemphis.com May 7, 2002 Political newcomer George Flinn apparently was heading toward an upset of state Rep. Larry Scroggs in the Republican primary for county mayor Tuesday, while Public Defender A C Wharton glided to victory in the Democratic primary. Flinn, 58, a physician and broadcast mogul, will face Wharton, 57, who defeated Carol Chumney, in the county general election Aug. 1. Scroggs, 60, entered the race as the favorite, but Flinn garnered name recognition by spending heavily for advertising in the weeks leading up to...