Tag: US

What to expect from the election tonight

Jag Singh Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 01:04:19 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

There's apparently an election today, and I suppose that's a good thing. Here's what you'll want to look out for tonight, when waiting for the results to come in.

[N.B: Number in brackets denote the electoral college votes]


We're expecting the results to stream in around midnight GMT.

Obama is expected to carry Vermont, VT (3) and Virginia, VA (13).
Kerry won VT and Bush won VA in 2004.

McCain is expected to carry Georgia, GA (15); Kentucky, KY (8); South Carolina, SC (8); West Virginia, WV (5).
Bush won all these in 2004.

Swing states: Indiana, IN (11); Ohio, OH (20); North Carolina, NC (15).
Bush won all three of these in 2004.

If Obama wins two out of those three swing states (and also carries Virginia), we have President-elect Barack Obama. You'll be able to go home at this point, and not miss a thing.


Around 1am GMT, we'll have the second tranche of results come in.

Obama is expected to carry Connecticut, CT (7); Delaware, DE (3); the District of Columbia, DC (3); Illinois, IL (21); Maine, ME (4); Maryland, MD (10); Massachussetts, MA (12); New Hampshire, NH (4); New Jersey, NJ (15); Pennsylvania, PA (21), Michigan, MI (17).
Kerry won all of these, with the exception of Connecticut, in 2004. Joe Lieberman is from Connecticut.
Joe Biden is from Delaware

McCain is expected to carry Alabama, AL (9); Arkansas, AR (6); Mississippi, MS (6); Oklahoma, OK (7); Tennessee, TN (11).
Bush won all of these states in 2004.

Swing states: Florida, FL (27); Missouri, MO (11).
Bush won both Florida and Missouri in 2004.

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Colin Powell Backs Obama!

jamesmalexander Sun Oct 19, 2008 at 05:52:10 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has said that he backs Obama!



expanding the electoral map

malcolmclark Sun Sep 21, 2008 at 01:50:27 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Expanding the Electoral Map: Four strategies for rebuilding parties and empowering voters

This is Make Votes Count's fringe at Labour Conference, tonight (sunday 21) at 8pm, at the Arora Hotel, 20 Princess Street, Manchester.

So what is it about? What debate are we trying to start?

As I see it, there are twin dynamics at work currently, and have been for much of the past decade:
1) Labour retreat - losing members and voters, targeting ever smaller numbers of people and geographic areas
2) increasing voter disengagement and disatisfaction with the way politics works

We need to look at how we can expand the electoral map again: make people feel they are relevant and listened to, compete for votes in many more areas, (and this is for labour but it applies to other parties too) build up the party base and become a truly national party, especially in terms of representation, again.

Away from the academic, desk-bound Government reviews and proposed technocratic or 'sticky plaster' fixes, there are practical solutions, tested in parts of the UK / world, which might help to boost party activity and to re-engage voters with electoral politics.
The idea of this fringe is to explore some of these strategies, hearing from people who have been at the coal-face of their implementation and/or experienced how they have operated in their native land, and see what can usefully be applied to this country, and to Westminster in particular.

This isn't a dragon's den 'in or out', 'either or' situation. Some of the ideas which will be put forward by our speakers are complementary and could be introduced together, or cherry-picked for a constitutional reform package. Others involve more of a choice between them. But hopefully the ideas put forward will trigger further discussion and debate, both at this Conference and after.

Here's the line up:

Jag Singh (MessageSpace)
‘50 State Strategy’ - on lessons from the Obama and Clinton campaigns.

Paul Smith (Australian Labor Party Abroad)
‘Playing by Aussie Rules’ - on a broad constitutional reform package

Jennette Arnold AM (Chair of the London Assembly)
‘Londoners Votes Counted’ - reflections on increased diversity, turnout and party activism.

Stephen Purcell (Leader of Glasgow Council)
‘Scottish Local Government Experience’ - on offering choice and strengthening connections with voters.

The event is chaired by Stephen Twigg. It is open to all, and is followed by a reception at 9.30pm. But even if you aren't at conference or can't get along, do join in the debate. I'll post a summary / edited transcript on the MVC site and here.



Missiles aimed at Europe

For the Union Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 02:20:42 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7561926.stm

Looks like the missile shield deal has to been finalised, signed and sealed.

Both the US and Poland must have felt the time was right - indeed, it is clear an old enemy is up to new tricks.

The Question is - what is EUROPE and the US going to do when Russia inevitably points its missiles at POLAND and NATO?  




US Presidential Election Update and Prediction

David Reeves Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 08:17:29 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

The 2008 US Presidential elections have reached a crucial stage. As a former Gore campaign staffer, I thought I might take now as the opportunity to comment on where the parties stand and what the future may hold.



US Presidential Politics: Inevitability

WillParbury Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 10:58:48 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Will Parbury thinks the race for President of the United States is the most open in decades.