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BELGRADE (Reuters) - The coalition government of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica was formally dissolved on Monday, opening the way for an early parliamentary election.

The decision was taken at a brief cabinet session following Kostunica’s announcement on Saturday that the government could not continue in office owing to deep disunity over defending Kosovo versus pursuing a place in the European Union.

“The government did not have a united and common policy any more,” a statement said, “and this kept it from performing its basic constitutional function, to define and lead Serbia’s politics.”

President Boris Tadic must now disband parliament and set a date for the election, probably on May 11. It will be the most important election since voters ended the era of the late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

The vote will be a close race between the Democrats and the nationalist Radicals, the strongest party.

Kostunica, whose party lies a distant third, quit after tacitly accusing his coalition partners, the Democrats and the G17 Plus party, of giving up on Kosovo, the 90-percent Albanian province which seceded last month with Western backing.

Not all of the Union’s 27 members have recognized Kosovo, but Brussels is deploying a supervisory mission that will monitor the territory’s progress as an independent state.

Tadic, also the head of the Democrats, said on Sunday that attempts to divide Serbs into patriots and traitors over Kosovo would backfire at the polls. A strong and stable Serbia would be in a better position to defend its interests, he added.

“If we join the EU, then we can make sure that this outlaw state never becomes an EU member, he said on a TV talk-show.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said he hoped for a victory for pro-European parties in the poll.

“To be quite frank, I don’t think there is any other possibility for our Serbian friends than the European Union. Where should they go?” he said in Brussels on Monday.

‘NO CHANGE’ ON KOSOVO

Serbia spent almost five months in limbo under a caretaker government in 2007, also under Kostunica, until he and the Democrats hammered out a policy they could both stand by.

Their deep differences meant the government worked in fits and starts, between compromise and crisis, moving slowly on reforms and ending up last in the Balkan queue of EU hopefuls.

Polls indicate the election could produce a hung parliament and a coalition deal might need long negotiations.

Such a delay could stall urgent legislation and the arrest of war crime suspects — a key condition for EU membership. But Kostunica’s officials say the caretaker government will stay firm in its total opposition to independent Kosovo.

“Serbs and other loyal citizens in Kosovo shouldn’t worry,” said Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic.

Belgrade is instructing Kosovo’s 120,000 remaining Serbs to sever ties with Kosovo’s government and ignore the EU mission. The Serb-dominated north is a flashpoint for any move towards a de facto partition.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who has warned Belgrade against trying to carve off part of the territory, said on Sunday Kosovo had contributed to Serbia’s democratization.

“In 1999, when we pushed the police, army and administration out of Kosovo, Milosevic’s fall from power started,” he said at a border crossing where he unveiled a ‘Welcome to Kosovo’ sign.

“Now, with Kosovo’s independence, Kostunica has fallen, the mentality of the past has fallen in Serbia.”

The latest metamorphosis of Hillary Clinton’s message is a chilling ad depicting children sleeping peacefully and an ominous voice-over saying, “It’s 3 a.m., and your children are safe and asleep … But there’s a phone in the White House, and it’s ringing … Your vote will decide who answers that call.”

The biggest problem with this ad? Barack Obama’s effective response:

Phoenix, AZ (AHN) - Having no viable Republican rival to trade jabs with, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) commented on the controversial “red phone” ad launched by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) last week that slyly accused Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) of lacking the experience needed to make effective decisions during times of national crisis.

“My knowledge and experience and background clearly indicates that if the phone rang at 3 a.m. in the White House and I was the one to answer it, I would be the one most qualified to exercise the kind of judgment necessary to address a national security crisis,” McCain, a decorated Vietnam war veteran and four-term senator, said during a press conference in his home state. “I’ve been involved in every major national security challenge for the last 20 years that has faced this country.”

“Sometimes I’ve agreed with the administration and sometimes I have not, but I’ll rely on my record and my knowledge and my experience on national security issues,” he added. “I’m not the youngest candidate, but I’m certainly the most experienced and qualified to answer that phone and act in America’s best security experience.”

Clinton ran a 30-second TV spot titled “Children” in the Lone Star state that asked voters, “It’s 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there’s a phone in the White House, and it’s ringing. Something’s happened in the world… Who do you want answering the phone?”

The TV spot was received with condemnation by Obama. He accused Clinton of fear mongering and having “given the wrong answer” when the nation had its red phone moment and decided to invade Iraq.

The press conference by McCain is his first public event since holding a barbecue for reporters in his Arizona home on Saturday. The Republican frontrunner is expected to win Tuesday’s contests against former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. His campaign sent an email to supporters on Monday saying it only needed 101 delegates to secure the GOP nomination.

Sen. Hillary Clinton has a new TV ad up which uses one of her main arguments against Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.

It boils down to she’s ready, he’s not, to be in the Oval Office when a national-security emergency occurs in the wee small hours of the morning.

She has repeatedly used this argument in her stump speech. It plays to the image of toughness she has with many Democratic voters.

The ad shows a series of small children asleep in the middle of the night. It’s clearly meant to appeal to women, the part of the Democratic electorate that had been among her strongest supporters but has been eroding as women have become more willing to support Obama.

It’s 3 am and your children are safe and asleep
But there’s a phone in the White House and it’s ringing
Something’s happening in the world
Your vote will decide who answers that call.
Whether it’s someone who already knows the world’s leaders, knows the military - someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world
It’s 3 am and your children are safe and asleep
Who do you want answering the phone?

Obama, calling it “a legitimate question” yet accusing the Clinton campaign of using “fear” tactics, had this to say about the ad this morning:

“I don’t think these ads will work…. The question is not picking up the phone. The question is what kind of judgment will you exercise when you pick up that phone. In fact we have had a red-phone moment. It was the decision to invade Iraq. President Bush gave the wrong answer. Sen. Clinton gave the wrong answer… Sen. McCain gave the wrong answer.”

Obama, saying he “exercised the right judgment,” said that is what he will bring to the White House. “I will never use the threat of terrorism to scare up votes.. Tthat is the judgment we need at 3 a.m.”

The ad has the feel of a mashup to me. The innocent children blissfully sleeping while dangers are afoot in the world, remind me of the famous 1964 “Daisy” ad President Lyndon Johnson ran against Sen. Barry Goldwater.

But the mood is much more like the “Bear” ad President Ronald Reagan used in 1984 with the ominous it’s-a-dangerous-world-requiring-a-clear-eyed-leader vibe.

Politisite Exit Polls, Real Time Election Results, Breaking News from TX, OH, VT, and RI

All of our posts are in reverse chronological order.  The newest stories are first, oldest last.

RESULTS:

12:28 pm -

NEW DATA

TEXAS CAUCUS - 5% Reporting

Democrat
Obama - 56%, Clinton 44%

OHIO - Election Results - 81% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

TEXAS -Election Results - 75% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama - 48%,

Republican
McCain - 52%, Huckabee - 37%, Paul - 5%

12:13 pm -

OHIO - Election Results - 81% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

TEXAS -Election Results - 75% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama - 48%,

Republican
McCain - 52%, Huckabee - 37%, Paul - 5%

Clinton Camp Counsel Complains About Texas Caucus « POLITISITE: Politics from the RIGHT Side of the WEB

Clinton Camp Counsel Complains About Texas Caucus
Posted on March 5, 2008 by politisite | Edit

TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Lyn Utrecht Campaign Counsel

RE: Caucus Irregularities

The campaign legal hotline has been flooded with calls containing specific accusations of irregularities and voter intimidation against the Obama campaign. This activity is undemocratic, probably illegal, and reflects a wanton disregard for the caucus process.

The three most egregious categories are:

1) Irregularities: Prematurely Taking Precinct Convention Packets by Obama Campaign

Numerous calls have shown that Obama supporters prematurely removed convention packets from polling places. Packets may not legally given out until 7:15 PM or when the last voter has cast a ballot in the primary. The Texas State Party warned the Obama campaign in writing that they may not take these packets early or remove them from the polling locations. The Party directed that these irregularities be reported to law enforcement “since they amount to criminal violations.” The Party stated “removing convention packets … will not be tolerated.”

A sampling of the precincts where this occurred are:

659 – Tarrant

709 – Houston

2316 – Tarrant

1205 – Dallas

3127 – Bexar

3082 – Fort Bend

18/224 – Harris

3221 – Dallas

87 – El Paso

851 – Houston

115 - Harris

470 – Galveston

388 – Harris

3000 – Dallas

1214 – Dallas

20 – Medina

205 – Walker

2) Voter Intimidation: Lock-out of Clinton caucus goers by Obama Campaign

Numerous calls have been received that the Obama campaign has taken over caucus sites and locked the doors, excluding Clinton campaign supporters from participating in the caucus. The Clinton supporters have been unable to enter the premises to caucus. In at least one instance, law enforcement was called and forcibly opened the caucus site.

A sampling of the precincts where this occurred are:

4401 – Dallas

2052 – Tarrant

4402 – Dallas

75 – Harris

18 – Hardin

259 – Harris

124 – Nueces

4050 – Tarrant

115 – Harris

6 – Roma County

78 – Jefferson

117 – Denton

1. There are numerous instances of Obama supporters filing out precinct convention sign-in sheets during the day and submitting them as completed vote totals at caucus. This is expressly against the rules. The sign-in sheets were copied by the Obama campaign from the Texas Democratic Party website and taken by supporters to various polling places to sign-up caucus goers prior to the start of the caucuses

Source: politisite.wordpress.com via politisite

Caucus Problems  throughout Texas Upset Voters, Some still waiting

By Joe LePage - KETK News

Story Created: Mar 4, 2008 at 10:46 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 4, 2008 at 10:46

PM CST

TEXAS - The Texas Democratic Party helped settle a dispute between the campaigns of Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The Democratic Presidential Campaigns today traded accusations of primary day “shenanigans” in Texas.

Allegations flew from both camps that staffers were signing up participants before the precinct caucuses.

Other claims involved the alleged swiping of caucus packages containing tools for the second round of voting in the Texas Democratic Primary System.

Source: ketknbc.com via politisite

DALLAS—Texans turned out in overwhelming numbers for Tuesday’s primary, resulting in long lines at polling places, shortages of paper ballots in some precincts and overflow crowds at post-election caucuses.

Some precincts in Houston remained open after 10 p.m. to accommodate long lines of waiting voters. Similar scenes were reported elsewhere in the state, including Travis and Tarrant counties.

“At this point in time, everybody’s looking for something different,” said Al Miller, a 20-year-old financial services staffer who voted in Hurst. “I expected a lot of turnout because everybody’s trying to make a difference.”

Turnout had been expected to set a new Texas record. Based on early voting numbers, Secretary of State Phil Wilson projected26 percent of the state’s 12.7 million registered voters in Texas would cast ballots.

State Democratic Party officials also were expecting a dramatic increase because of the intense race between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

“This has the air of a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Democratic precinct chair Bob Ackerman in Dallas. “All of a sudden, we matter after having been forgotten so long as Democrats in George Bush’s home state.”

The crush of voters caused a run on ballots in some counties where parties are responsible for ordering ballots.

Washington County Elections Administrator Linda LaCross expected problems before the polls even opened Tuesday.

Source: elpasotimes.com via politisite

Verbal arguments, power plays and voter confusion hampered Democratic caucuses throughout Dallas County on Tuesday, party officials said.

In between an influx of phone calls from complaining voters, county Democratic chair Darlene Ewing said she was frustrated and blamed presidential campaigns for spreading misinformation about the state’s hybrid primary-caucus system.

But she also expressed excitement because much of the problems were due to overwhelming turnout that shattered previous records.

“It’s a wonderful problem,” she said

Ms. Ewing said candidates urged voters to turn out in the primaries and the caucuses so their votes counted. But in Texas’ hybrid system, all votes count.

“As with all political campaigns, they talk in sound bites,” she said.

In Texas, ballot results account for 126 of 193 delegates. The caucus counts for 67, but Tuesday’s caucuses are just the start of process that won’t end until the state party convention in June.

One piece of misinformation, Ms. Ewing said, was that caucuses must begin at 7:15 p.m. and whoever holds the precinct’s paperwork controls the caucus. Caucuses could not start until after ballot voting ended, and at many polling places, large turnout delayed the end of voting because anyone in line at 7 p.m. was allowed to vote.

Ms. Ewing said in many cases, ballot voting did not end until after 9 p.m. Also, precinct chairs typically call the caucuses to order and conduct the count.

Most precinct chairs were also election judges who were sent caucus paperwork in advance but instructed not to open the paperwork until the start of the caucus.

Source: dallasnews.com via politisite

11:52 pm -

OHIO - Election Results -73% Reporting

Democrat
Clinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

TEXAS -Election Results - 65% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama - 48%,

Republican
McCain - 52%, Huckabee - 37%, Paul - 5%

11:40 pm - Obama Speaking. He relates that politics doesnt start at the closed doors of washington but at the street corner when a few say yes we can, to a city, even more say, “yes we can”  to states that have developed a movement and may say, “yes we can”.  Relates that John McCain is more of the same.  Calls him the third term of Bush.  Clinton has echoed McCain, “speeches not action”.  There is nothing empty about the call for help and gives several examples

11:40 pm -

OHIO - Election Results -72% Reporting - Network Now Projecting Clinton Win
Democrat
Clinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

TEXAS -Election Results - 58% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama - 48%,

Republican
McCain - 52%, Huckabee - 36%, Paul - 5%

11:31 pm  -  Hilliary will go to PA which demographically will go er way.  But 3 other states favor Obama.

Our last results for VT

Vermont - Elections Results -83% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

11:28 pm -

OHIO - Election Results -68% Reporting - Network Now Projecting Clinton Win
Democrat
Clinton -57%, Obama - 41%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

TEXAS -Election Results - 52% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama - 48%,

Republican
McCain - 52%, Huckabee - 36%, Paul - 5%Vermont - Elections Results -83% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

Hilliary Clinton:  Thanks the people of Ohio, Thanks to those who have been counted out but not knocked out.  As Ohio goes so goes the nation.  The Senator says she is going all the way.  No one has ever won the White House without Winning in Ohio. She rattles off MI and FL as wins.  She relates that she needs to turn around the economy.  She says she is ready to take on John McCain. Chants of “yes she can, Yes she can” Mocks Obama Chant, Saying, “Yes we Will”

I have a question for Clinton and Obama, “if the economy is SO BAD, how can you raise millions of dollars”?  I have a question for the Clintons, “if Republicans are for the rich and corperate America, why did the stock market go through the roof under a Clinton administation?”

I have a question for John McCain, “Hows McCain/Fiengold working for you now?”

Rhode Island - 98% Reporting
Democrat
XClinton-58%, Obama - 41%

Republican
XMcCain - 65%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -7%

11:11 pm -

OHIO - Election Results -63% Reporting - Network Now Projecting Clinton Win
Democrat
XClinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
XMcCain - 59%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

Rhode Island - 88% Reporting
Democrat
XClinton-58%, Obama - 40%

Republican
XMcCain - 65%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -6%

TEXAS -Election Results - 39% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama - 49%,

Republican
McCain - 53%, Huckabee - 35%, Paul - 5%

Vermont - Elections Results -83% Reporting
Democrat
XObama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
XMcCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

11:08 Networks standing by to cue Clinton

10:58 pm -

OHIO - Election Results -55% Reporting - Network Now Projecting Clinton Win
Democrat
Clinton -57%, Obama - 41%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

Rhode Island - 88% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton-59%, Obama - 40%

Republican
McCain - 65%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -7%

TEXAS -Election Results - 23% Reporting - Reversal
Democrat
Clinton - 50%, Obama -49%,

Republican
McCain - 54%, Huckabee - 35%, Paul - 5%

Vermont - Elections Results -81% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

The big question is now prevailing in the blogs: “What has Obama really Accomblished?” Clinton finally has struck a cord of truth with voters by bringing up this question.

As Politisite Projected 24 hours ago, The networks are now projecting Clinton Winning in Ohio

10:44 pm -

OHIO - Election Results -50% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -57%, Obama - 41%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

Rhode Island - 83% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton-59%, Obama - 40%

Republican
McCain - 65%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -7%

TEXAS -Election Results - 23% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -49%, Clinton - 49% (wthin 2K votes)

Republican
McCain - 54%, Huckabee - 35%, Paul - 5%

Vermont - Elections Results -76% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

10:34 pm -  Politisite Note.  TX, Narrowing to within 10K Votes.  Obama Rich Counties have not been counted .  Most of Clinton have been counted.  1/3 of the delegates come from Caucus.  OHIO, Look for Narrowing in Ohio many of Obama counties not counted until 9pm.  Look for a closer race here with Clinton to win.  Tx we still think Obama wins Popular and delegate vote.  Spliting the two big states and 3 small.  Each comes away with 2 states each.

OHIO - Election Results -46% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

Rhode Island - 83% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton-59%, Obama - 40%

Republican
McCain - 65%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -7%

TEXAS -Election Results - 21% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -49%, Clinton - 49%

Republican
McCain - 54%, Huckabee - 34%, Paul - 5%

Vermont - Elections Results -76% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

McCain Claims Republican Nomination; Democrats Split (Update1)

By Kristin Jensen and Catherine Dodge

March 4 (Bloomberg) — Republican John McCain secured his party’s presidential nomination as rival Mike Huckabee conceded after losing primaries in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each scored a victory in Democratic primaries tonight, according to network projections.

Obama won in Vermont, while Clinton claimed victory in Rhode Island, Fox News, CNN and the Associated Press projected. The primary in Ohio was too close to call, according to the networks. Results were still being tallied in Texas.

Obama, a senator from Illinois, has now won 12 of the 13 contests since the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday voting, putting more pressure on Clinton to do well in delegate-rich Ohio and Texas. Exit polls in Ohio showed that Clinton, a New York senator, won union households and split the others with Obama, CNN reported.

“Plain and simple, Clinton is finished if she doesn’t win both Texas and Ohio,” said Kenneth Mayer, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “And she’s probably finished if she doesn’t win decisively — by 10 points or more — in both states.”

Huckabee, 52, conceded defeat to McCain at a rally in Irving, Texas. Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, said he called McCain, an Arizona senator, and pledged to help unite the Republican Party.

“Senator McCain has run an honorable campaign because he’s an honorable man,” Huckabee said.

Bush Endorsement

McCain, 71, plans to travel to Washington tomorrow to receive the endorsement of President George W. Bush at the White House, according to administration spokeswoman Dana Perino and McCain aide Steve Duprey.

McCain said he was prepared to take on the nomination “with confidence, humility and a sense of great responsibility.”

In the Democratic race, Obama has at least 1,129.5 pledged delegates, according to an unofficial tally by the Green Papers, a non-partisan Web site that tracks the nomination campaign. That gives him a lead over Clinton of 119 delegates; a candidate needs 2,025 to gain the nomination.

The states holding presidential primaries today have a total of 370 pledged delegates at stake for the Democrats, mostly awarded proportionally based on votes. Texas Democrats have a combination primary and caucus to select delegates.

Source: bloomberg.com via politisite

Poll:  Working Class Whites Back Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton showed renewed strength Tuesday in Texas and Ohio among whites and working class voters who had begun deserting her in recent contests, early results from exit polls in the states showed.

With her back against the wall in a pair of contests that seemed virtually must-win, the New York senator seemed to be limiting Barack Obama to groups that have supported his candidacy from the start of this year’s Democratic presidential contest.

Source: townhall.com via politisite

McCains Victory Speech Text Here

Text of remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday by Sen. John McCain after he won enough delegates to claim the Republican presidential nomination, as provided by McCain’s campaign

Source: foxnews.com via politisite

10:15 pm - Rhode Island - 49% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton-61%, Obama - 38%

Republican
McCain - 64%, Huckabee - 23%, Paul -7%

10:14 pm - OHIO - Election Results -36% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -57%, Obama - 41%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

10:12 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 68% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 38%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

10:11 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 13% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -50%, Clinton - 48%

Republican
McCain - 55%, Huckabee - 34%, Paul - 5%

10:04 pm - OHIO - Election Results -29% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -57%, Obama - 41%

Republican
McCain - 61%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

9:57 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 9% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -51%, Clinton - 48%

Republican
McCain - 56%, Huckabee - 33%, Paul - 5%

9:55 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 63% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -59%, Clinton - 39%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 7%

9:53 pm - OHIO - Election Results -22% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -59%, Obama - 39%

Republican
McCain - 58%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

9:48 pm McCain Speaking

9:39 pm - Rhode Island - 14% Reporting
Democrat
Obama-53%, Clinton - 46%

Republican
McCain - 56%, Huckabee - 33%, Paul -5%

9:44 pm - OHIO - Election Results -18% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -58%, Obama - 40%

Republican
McCain - 58%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

9:39 pm - Rhode Island - 10% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -53%, Obama - 46%

Republican
McCain - 63%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -8%:37 pm - OHIO - Election Results -14% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -60%, Obama - 38%

Republican
McCain - 58%, Huckabee - 33%, Paul -4%

9:28 pm -TEXAS - 4% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -54%, Clinton - 45%

Republican
McCain - 56%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul - 5%

9:28 pm - Rhode Island - 14% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -53%, Obama - 46%

Republican
McCain - 63%, Huckabee - 22%, Paul -6%

9:28 pm - OHIO - Election Results -7% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -60%, Obama - 38%

Republican
McCain - 58%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul -5%

9:22 pm - Huckabee, states that we should turn our attention to get  Republican Nomonee elected.  Thanks his wife who is tearful, thanks staff, Quotes from the Bible, “I have finished the race, fought the good fight”

9:21 pm - OHIO - Election Results -5% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -60%, Obama - 38%

Republican
McCain - 59%, Huckabee - 31%, Paul -5%

9:17 pm - Rhode Island - 5% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -50%, Obama - 49%

Republican
McCain - 63%, Huckabee - 24%, Paul -8%

9:15 pm - Rhode Island - 3% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -52%, Obama - 37%

Republican
McCain - 63%, Huckabee - 24%, Paul -8%

9:15 pm - OHIO - Election Results - 3% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -58%, Obama - 40%

Republican
McCain - 60%, Huckabee - 30%, Paul -5%

9:11 pm - Huckabee at 4 seasons Hotel networks are standing by to que Huckabee

9:08 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 3% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -54%, Clinton - 45%

Republican
McCain - 53%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul - 5%

9:06 pm.  McCain wins Republican Nomination.  Huckabee to conceide race.

9:04 pm watching feed from Dallas McCain is about to be announced.  Phil Graham is speaking now

9:03pm - Mike Huckabee will drop his presidential bid.  Stand by at 8:10-8:15 pm local time

9:00 pm McCain Wins TX, Wins R Nomination.  AP, CNN, ABC, NPR, FOX, NBC, Politisite

8:58 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 1% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -54%, Clinton - 45%

Republican
McCain - 56%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul - 5%

8:55 pm - Bob Woodward and Dick Armey is on C-SPAN2

8:53 pm -  Politisite will call Rhode Island for Clinton and McCain.  Networks will do this right at 9:00pm

8:51 pm - Clinton will speak in OHIO.  Satellite  feed is Fox. Expect her to speak at 9:00 pm.  McCain will speak in Dallas at 10:00 pm Eastern

8:50 pm - OHIO - Election Results - 1% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -60%, Obama - 38%

8:48 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 36% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -59%, Clinton - 39%

Republican
McCain - 72%, Huckabee - 15%, Paul - 6%

8:41 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 31% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -59%, Clinton - 39%

Republican
McCain - 70%, Huckabee - 15%, Paul - 7%

8:38 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 1% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -56%, Clinton - 43%

Republican
McCain - 56%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul - 5%

8:27 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 1% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -58%, Clinton - 41%

Republican
McCain - 56%, Huckabee - 32%, Paul - 5%

8:22 pm- Terry McCalliffee is on MSNBC talking about MI and FL delegates.  This is a sign that the Clinton Camaign sees the reading on the wall.  The best way to stay in contest Florida and Michigan.  Read my notes on the Florida Primary Results on NowPublic as I outlined what they would do.

8:18 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 0% Reporting - We think these are Absentee votes (about 300K)
Democrat
Obama -58%, Clinton - 41%

Republican
McCain - 54%, Huckabee - 36%, Paul - 4%

8:16 pm - OHIO - Election Results - 1% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -62%, Obama - 36%

Republican
McCain - 69%, Huckabee - 21%, Paul - 5%

8:13 pm - Obama Campaign won a judges order in 1% of Pt in Cleveland. Polls will stay open until 9:00 pm. Problem here is these polling places have been closed since 7:30 pm.  This opens up law suits in OH.  So we have potential law suits in both TX and OH.

8:12 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 0% Reporting - We think these are Absentee votes (about 300K)
Democrat
Obama -60%, Clinton - 39%

Republican
McCain - 53%, Huckabee - 37%, Paul - 4%

8:10 pm -TEXAS -Election Results - 0% Reporting - We think these are Absentee votes
Democrat
Obama -58%, Clinton - 41%

Republican
McCain - 52%, Huckabee - 39%, Paul - 4%

Politisite Political Projections: Texas Two Step

Republican’s Voting in Democratic Primary

1. Talk show host Rush Limbaugh and others have urged people to vote in the Democratic primary. With John McCain the Presumptive Republican nominee some voters will vote in the Democratic primary for Hilliary due to her negative likability factors

Source: nowpublic.com via politisite

8:05 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 11% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -59%, Clinton - 39%

Republican
McCain - 70%, Huckabee - 15%, Paul - 7%

OHIO - Election Results - 1% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -56%, Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 63%, Huckabee - 27%, Paul - 6%

8:00 pm- Obama - due to the report of shortages of ballots in Cleveland and Columbus, requested to a judge that Polls be left open longer. The secratary of state says Sundusky co. will be open until 9 pm in Ohio

7:56 pm -OHIO - Election Results - 0% Reporting
Democrat
Clinton -56%
Obama - 42%

Republican
McCain - 63%
Huckabee - 27%
Paul - 6%

7:54 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 6% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -59%
Clinton - 39%

Republican
McCain - 72%
Huckabee - 15%
Paul - 6%

7:51 pm - Some Clinton supporters may have signed Caucus ballots before the caucus begins at 9:00 pm , There are complaints on both Obama and Clinton supporters stating that Caucus will not be held.  I think this is going on to contest the results.  Watch for this.

7:50 pm - Sundusky County, OH may not report until 9:00 pm tonight

7:42 pm-Vermont - Elections Results - 4% Reporting
Democrat
Obama -56%
Clinton - 41%

Republican
McCain - 75%
Huckabee - 13%
Paul - 4%

7:40 pm -Obama, Clinton duel in Ohio, Texas

The Vermont victory was Obama’s 12th straight over the former first lady and left her desperate to rebound later in the night in the other three states holding elections.

McCain added first Vermont, then Ohio to his column in the Republican race, and moved to within about 130 of the delegate total needed to clinch the nomination. Aides readied a giant banner bearing the magic number — 1,191 — to serve as a backdrop for an anticipated victory celebration in Dallas.

The Associated Press made its calls based on surveys of voters as they left the polls.

Source: news.yahoo.com via politisite

7:34 pm -Vermont - Elections Results - 2% Reporting
Democrat - Obama -54%, Clinton - 44%,

Republican - McCain - 74%, Huckabee - 14%, Paul - 4%

7:30 pm - CNN, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, NPR, Politisite  - Project John McCain to win Ohio

7:21 -
Vermont - Elections Results - 0% Reporting only 1000 votes
Democrat
Obama - 53%
Clinton - 45%

Republican
McCain - 72%
Huckabee - 15%
Paul - 3%

7:16 - a Bomb threat was called into a polling place.  Sweeped and clear.  A Man Arrested for attaching democratic supporters

7:15 pm - Next Polls close in 15 minutes  OH.  We project McCain winner.  We have Clinton winning in Ohio

7:12 pm - You can add 17 delegates for McCain

7:08 pm - We are still waitng on the first election results from VT.  Exit polling data: Dems VT 44%W/56%M  Highest age demographic is 45-59 Y/O @ 38%

7:00 -Fox news, CNBC, CNN Projects Barack Obama, John McCain to Win Vermont

Politisite Political Projections: Ohio
Politisite Political Projections: Texas Two Step

Texas exit polls

Results from partial statewide samples of voters in 40 precincts each in Ohio and Texas and 20 each in Rhode Island and Vermont as well as a telephone survey of early voters in Texas. Fieldwork by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. Sample sizes ranged from 364 voters in the Rhode Island Democratic primary to 1,453 in the Texas Democratic contest.

Despite rain and floods, voter turnout strong in Ohio primary

Despite rain and floods, voter turnout strong in Ohio primary

Published on Tuesday Mar 04, 2008

Ohio voters, mindful they could help Republican John McCain clinch a nomination and decide the competition between the Democratic presidential candidates, ignored rain, hail and sleet in large enough numbers Tuesday that officials expected record turnout for a primary.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner predicted as many as 4 million voters, 52 percent of Ohio’s registered voters, would cast ballots. Many got a head start before Tuesday by using absentee ballots _ this was the first presidential primary in Ohio that didn’t require voters to give a reason for using absentee ballots.

Early exit polls from The Associated Press and television networks found self-described independents were breaking toward the Democratic primary between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. One in five voters in Ohio’s Democratic primary called themselves independents; one in seven GOP voters called themselves independents.

Turnout was steady around the state, but not so heavy that long lines were a problem, said Brunner spokesman Patrick Gallaway.

Rain was a bigger issue. A least 10 counties with flooding problems _ Jefferson, Adams, Harrison, Hocking, Perry, Pike, Athens, Vinton, Guernsey and Ross _ asked the state for permission to move voting sites located near water-covered roads, Gallaway said.

Adams County elections board director Stephanie Thompson said only a few voters had taken advantage of the option.

Ice caused power outages at a few polling locations in Knox County, but backup generators were keeping voting machines up and running, said Elections Clerk Kim Horn.

Ohio’s primary typically comes well after presidential nominees are decided. But with Democrats Obama and Clinton still in a tight race for nominating delegates, Ohio’s contest was key.

Dems Name Economy As Top Issue In All 4 States
CBS News Exit Polls Also Show Nearly 1/3 Of Texas Democratic Voters Are Hispanic
Campaign ‘08 Complete Coverage
March 4 Primaries Preview

AUSTIN (CBS) ― Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton contested primaries in Ohio, Texas and two other states on Tuesday, the front-runner and his pursuer in a riveting race for the Democratic presidential nomination. John McCain
reached out for the Republican delegates needed to secure his omination after a decade’s struggle.

In all there were 370 Democratic delegates at stake in Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio and Texas, which uses an unusual primary-caucus system.

Polls close at 7 p.m. EST in Vermont, 7:30 p.m. EST in Ohio, 9 p.m. EST in Rhode Island, and at 8 p.m. EST in Texas except for El Paso and Hudspeth counties, which close at 9 p.m. EST, and the Texas Democratic caucuses begin shortly after polls close. Check CBSNews.com for results as they come in.

According to CBS News early exit polls, the economy was the top issue for Democratic voters in all four states voting today. Large majorities of Democrats in all four states think the economy is in bad shape.

The Economy was of most concern to Ohio Democratic voters. In Vermont, however, the economy nearly tied with Iraq as the most important issue.

Ohio Democratic voters hold mostly negative views on U.S. trade with other countries, according to the early exit polls. Eight in ten say trade takes jobs away from their state. In Texas, however, a lower number - 58%- say trade takes jobs away. In fact, in Texas, a quarter say U.S. trade with other countries creates jobs.

According to the exit polls, 32 percent of Texas primary voters are Hispanic — up from the 24 percent in 2004. In Ohio, 20 percent are African American, compared to 14 percent in 2004. Eighteen percent of Texas primary voters today are black, compared to 21 percent in 2004.

After 11 straight victories, Obama had the momentum and the lead in the delegate chase in CBS News count, 1,390-1,276. See the latest CBS News state-by-state delegate tally.

Clinton in desperate need of a comeback with time running out - if it hadn’t already.

“Hillary Clinton, if you believe the polls, and that’s always a danger, seems to have made her move in the last couple of days,” CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield said. “I think part of that may have to do with her pounding away on the fact that Barack Obama doesn’t have the experience - that so-called 3:00 a.m. ad.”

Some of her supporters, her husband, the former president among them, said she needed to outpoll Obama in both Texas and Ohio to sustain her candidacy.

Without conceding anything, Obama’s allies said even that wouldn’t be enough, given his lead in the delegate count and party rules that virtually assure primary losers a significant share of the spoils.

Nevertheless in appearances Tuesday, Clinton sounded like she might continue her campaign if she only won Ohio, and Obama sounded almost resigned to an extension of the nomination battle.

Source: cbs5.com via politisite

Early Views From The Clinton/Obama Campaigns

The Obama campaign expects to net seven or eight delegates out of the night from winning Vermont… they expect, delegate-wise, RI and Ohio will tie, and Texas, because of the caucus, will be a wash.

The Clinton campaign, having recieved leaked exit polls showing slim leads in both Texas and Ohio, is already challenging, in the press, the aggressiveness of Obama’s caucus operation but is generally happy with early reports that turnout in Texas is high.

In preparation for tonight’s precinct conventions, the Clinton campaign has worked with the Obama campaign and the Texas Democratic Party over the past few weeks to ensure that there was clarity of the rules and that every voter has a chance to participate in the process on an even playing field.

Unfortunately, we have received numerous reports that the Obama campaign is violating Texas Democratic Party rules by circulating precinct convention sign in sheets in advance and are having them filled in now. These underhanded tactics undermine the process that all parties agreed to.

Understanding Ohio Politics

The first wave of Democratic exit polls are in: more women are voting then men, and the highest turnout is among white women, according to exit polls conducted by Edison/Mitofsky. The earliest results were gleaned from 1,020 Ohio voters.

Of those polled so far, 75 percent are white and 20 percent are African-American. Three percent are Hispanic.

Thirteen percent are between the ages of 17 and 29; 27 percent between the ages of 30 and 44; 33 between the ages of 45 and 59 and 26 percent older than 60.

Eighty percent of voters in the Democratic primary made their decision a week ago or more.

Fifty-nine percent considered the economy the most important issue facing the country, followed by 18 percent considering Iraq most important and 19 percent considering health care their most important.

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Schneider: What I’m looking for tonight

NEW YORK (CNN) — It’s certain to be long night, but here are some early indicators I’ll be keeping my eye on as the first wave of exit polls roll into the CNN Election Center.

The gender gap:
The bigger it is, the more it helps Hillary Clinton. She needs to do well with women voters tonight in order to carry Ohio and Texas. In nine Super Tuesday primary states Clinton won, men were split, but nearly 60 percent of women voters supported the New York senator. In seven states Obama won that night, the Illinois senator beat Clinton among both men and women.

Young voters
Much attention has been focused on Obama’s ability to rally young voters. The number of these voters that showed up to vote and the proportion that break for Obama will be key to his chances of winning tonight. Senior voters have always been a backbone of support for Clinton, and will likely continue to be so today. In many of the states Obama has won, the youth vote has been heavy and has broken for him better than 2 to 1.

Minority turnout
Minority turnout will be crucial, but which minority? African-American voters have solidly aligned themselves behind Obama, and Latinos have usually supported Clinton. This means Obama has had the edge in states where African-American voters make up a significant proportion of the electorate while Clinton has had the advantage in states where Latinos do so. But Texas has both a heavy African-American population and a heavy Latino population. Whichever group has a higher turnout could be key to who wins the state.

Union workers
Whichever candidate wins among union voters in Ohio could very well carry the state. Even though several major unions in Ohio — like the Teamsters and the Service Workers and the Food and Commercial Workers — have endorsed Obama, the Nevada caucuses proved that union voters don’t necessarily vote the way their leaders tell them to. Clinton is banking on strong support from this demographic to help her win tonight.

Independents
How much of a role will they play? Independent voters are allowed to vote in all four states today. In the past, these voters have strongly favored Obama. Will their turnout be high enough to tip the scales toward the Illinois senator tonight?

Republicans
Republicans are allowed to vote in the Democratic primary in Texas. Some conservative commentators, like Rush Limbaugh, are urging them to vote for Hillary Clinton just to keep the Democratic race going. The idea that large numbers of Republicans will vote for Clinton just to make trouble for the Democrats seems unlikely. But lots of unlikely things have happened this year.

Related: CNN’s Ed Lavandera reports on early Texas voting

Source: politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com via politisite

Burlington Free Press.com Vermont live streaming

Published: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Channel 17 will air live tonightat 7:30 with election results, interviews with candidates, video of ballot issues, Exit interviews from the polling places and more. If you can’t get the station on TV, tune into our Live stream at www.channel17.org

Highlights of preliminary results from exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks in Tuesday’s presidential primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont:

^—

OPEN TO ALL

The primaries in Ohio, Texas and Vermont were open to all voters, while in Rhode Island registered independents could choose which party’s primary to vote in. In the Democratic primaries, independents were about one in five voters in Ohio, one in four in Texas, a third in Rhode Island and four in 10 in Vermont.

Data for Republican primaries were available only in Ohio and Texas. In Ohio, independents were about one in seven GOP voters, in Texas one in five.

    SUPERDELEGATES

Roughly six in 10 Democratic voters Tuesday said “superdelegates” - party leaders and elected officials who get to cast votes at the party nominating convention this summer in Denver - should vote based on results of the primaries and caucuses rather than for the candidate they think has the best chance to win in November.

Even among Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s voters, about half said the superdelegates should follow the results of the primaries and caucuses. Sen. Barack Obama’s supporters were more likely to say so. Clinton is trailing in pledged delegates and depending on how the remaining primaries go, it’s possible her only chance for the nomination is if many superdelegates support her at the Democratic convention.

    FRETTING ABOUT THE ECONOMY

The economy was big in Ohio Democratic voters’ minds - six in 10 said it’s the most important issue facing the country, more than said so in any of the other 25 Democratic primaries with exit polls this year. More than half of Rhode Island Democrats and nearly as many in Texas picked the economy as the top issue out of three choices. In Vermont, almost as many voters picked Iraq as the economy - the first Democratic contest this year in which Iraq was considered about as important as the economy.

As in other Democratic primaries this year, few voters Tuesday viewed the nation’s economy positively. But Texas Democrats were relatively optimistic, with one in seven saying the economy is in good condition - as many as have said that in any other state.

THE TRADE TRADE-OFF

A whopping eight in 10 in Ohio’s Democratic primary said international trade takes more jobs from the state than it creates. That was closer to six in 10 in the other three states voting Tuesday.

WORRIED ABOUT FINANCES

Asked how worried they were about their family’s financial situation over the next year, two-thirds of Democratic primary voters in Texas and at least seven in 10 in the other three states said they were very or somewhat worried. Ohio Democrats were most concerned, with four in 10 saying they were very worried.

    HAIL TO THE CHIEF

One in seven Obama voters acknowledged Clinton as more qualified to be commander in chief; fewer than one in 20 Clinton voters said that about Obama.

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

Four in 10 Clinton voters in Ohio and Texas said Obama inspires them about the future of the country. Somewhat fewer Clinton voters in Rhode Island but two-thirds in Vermont gave Obama kudos for being inspirational. Obama voters were much less likely to call Clinton inspirational - about a quarter of them said that across the four states.

—

Results from partial statewide samples of voters in 40 precincts each in Ohio and Texas and 20 each in Rhode Island and Vermont as well as a telephone survey of early voters in Texas. Fieldwork by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. Sample sizes ranged from 364 voters in the Rhode Island Democratic primary to 1,453 in the Texas Democratic contest.

Source: guardian.co.uk via politisite

Statistical Soup Of Texas Exit Poll

It’s not a prestigious poll or a poll conducted by a giant cable news network. But it’s a typical poll. An Austin, Texas TV channel finds pretty much nothing.

KVUE’s latest Belo Texas poll shows voter turnout will be key for Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — the democratic winner is anyone’s guess.

Voters decide who they prefer for president Tuesday and according to the latest poll, Clinton lead Obama by just one point — 46 percent to 45 percent — both numbers within the margin of error.

Neck and neck, anyone’s game, a real nailbiter.

Source: huliq.com via politisite

Early exit polls show independents are a sizable chunk of the electorate in presidential primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont.

In all those states except Rhode Island, Tuesday’s primaries were “open,” meaning all voters could choose which party’s contest to vote in. In Rhode Island, only registered independents could choose between parties.

The surveys for The Associated Press and television networks found self-described independents were about one in five voters in Ohio’s Democratic primary, one in four in Texas, a third in Rhode Island and four in 10 in Vermont.

Exit poll results for Republican primaries were available only in Ohio and Texas. In Ohio, independents were about one in seven GOP voters, in Texas one in five.

Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com via politisite

Hello all you pundits, politicos, politstes, pollsters, political junkies, And casual political readers: Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island.  Your at Super Tuesday Two.  Keep coming back to see our Exit Polling posted here within minutes.  Breaking News Reports and Election Results Begining at 7pm Eastern.All of our posts are in reverse chronological order.  The newest stories are first, oldest last.

The pollsters are proclaiming a lead for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in Texas. Rush Limbaugh is urging people to vote for Hilary. Will there be enough new voters voting for Obama? Will enough people vote for Hilary to stop Obama? As soon as the results are clear, they will be posted here.

Here are some comments from AOL Hot Seat:

“Truthfully, I think that History will tell our posterity that 2008 was the year that “America Woke Up” and realized, you can’t keep electing Liberal Socialist Demoncrats into office and allowing them to keep waving the American Flag, while they are constantly empowering Government to regulate our thoughts, actions, and desires, with absolutely no ability of freedom of choice in how we will live!

NO MORE DEMONCRATS. Freedom Forever!!!!!!!”

Regarding the Rush Limbaugh impact:

“His plan very well could work. His objective is only to keep the vote close enough to keep Hitlary in the race, and keep these two Liberal Socialists fighting, tearing down, and exposing each other for what they REALLY ARE.

Keep both of these Liberal Socialist Democrats (LSD) active and fighting”

By mid afternoon, election officials in Ohio and Texas indicate a high voter turnout, despite bad weather.

The pollsters are proclaiming a lead for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in Texas. Rush Limbaugh is urging people to vote for Hilary. Will there be enough new voters voting for Obama? Will enough people vote for Hilary to stop Obama? As soon as the results are clear, they will be posted here.

Here are some comments from AOL Hot Seat:

“Truthfully, I think that History will tell our posterity that 2008 was the year that “America Woke Up” and realized, you can’t keep electing Liberal Socialist Demoncrats into office and allowing them to keep waving the American Flag, while they are constantly empowering Government to regulate our thoughts, actions, and desires, with absolutely no ability of freedom of choice in how we will live!

NO MORE DEMONCRATS. Freedom Forever!!!!!!!”

Regarding the Rush Limbaugh impact:

“His plan very well could work. His objective is only to keep the vote close enough to keep Hitlary in the race, and keep these two Liberal Socialists fighting, tearing down, and exposing each other for what they REALLY ARE.

Keep both of these Liberal Socialist Democrats (LSD) active and fighting”

By mid afternoon, election officials in Ohio and Texas indicate a high voter turnout, despite bad weather.

Though my first choice for president was John Edwards, today I voted for Barack Obama. He’s not perfect, but he’s a good progressive and unlike Hillary Clinton, he opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. As a constituent of his while he was a state senator, I remember very clearly that he was an outspoken opponent of the war at a time when most others in public life were running scared. And, unlike Hillary Clinton, he didn’t stand and applaud when Bush said the surge was working.

That said, I’m getting increasingly weirded out by some of Obama’s supporters.

On listservs I’m on, some people who should know better – hard-bitten, not-so-young cynics, even – are gushing about Barack, raving about his “game-changing” politics, about his “power to inspire,” about how they wept while viewing the now-famous Dipdive video, and on and on.

Then there’s this unsettling article from a few weeks back about Obama’s volunteer operation. One volunteer speaks of her encounter with the man himself.

Political parties in Pakistan lists political parties in Pakistan. Pakistan has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.

Parties active in national and provincial politics

Major parties and coalitions

1.Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), the parliamentary wing of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was founded in 1967, on November 30 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who became its first chairman and later Prime Minister of Pakistan. This party has been active in Pakistani Politics after the separation of East Wing from the rest of Pakistan. The party gained much popularity and support from masses in in era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The party won the 1971 elections on socialist mandate of “Roti, Kapra, Makan” (Bread, Clothes & Shelter). PPP took control of the country after the Indian supported Civil War of 1971. After the first parliamentary term, PPP secured a landslide victory in 1977 elections to rule for further five years.

Opposition parties claimed that the election was heavily rigged by PPP. Tensions mounted and despite the agreement was reached between opposition and PPP, martial law was imposed in the country by Gen. Zia ul Haq. Bhutto was hanged in 1977 after a very controversial trial in which he was found guilty of murder of a political opponent. His daughter Benazir Bhutto was elected twice as the prime minister but her government was dismissed both times on corruption charges, none of them proven in the court despite many years of proceedings.

PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) was a socialist nationalist party when formed by Zalfikar Ali Bhutto, but moved toward the right under Benazir Bhutto. Zalfikar Ali Bhutto wanted closer ties with China and more attention to the lower classes. Benazir Bhutto adopted conservative privatization policies in order to secure funding from the United States and the World Bank. Although twice elected Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto was criticized for corruptions and extra-judicial killings.

The PPP currently holds 81 seats in the national assembly and 11 seats in the senate. It forms the provincial government in Sindh is the official opposition in Punjab. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22-December-2007, it was in first place, with about 30% of the vote. It is strong in the rural areas of Sindh and Punjab.

2. Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML “Nawaz group”)is a centrist conservative party that has been led from Saudi Arabia by Nawaz Sharif. It currently holds 19 seats in the national assembly and 4 seats in the senate. Although twice elected as Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif was criticized for wide-spread corruption and extra-judicial killings. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22-December, the PML/N was in second place, with about 25% of the vote. It is strong in Punjab province.

3. Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML “Quaid-i-Azam group”), the party supporting current president, Pervez Musharraf), and officially called Pakistan Muslim League. PML/Q is a centrist conservative party that forms the current national government. It currently holds 142 seats in the national assembly and 43 seats in the senate. The PML/Q formed from the split of the PML following the arrest and exile of PML leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The PML/Q absorbed some minor parties through power-sharing agreements.

Although initially popular, Musharraf has been criticized for supporting the US invasion of Afghanistan and suspension of legal rights. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22-December-2007, the PML/Q was in third place, with about 23% of the vote. It is strong in urban areas of the two large provinces (Punjab and Sindh). It forms the provincial government in Punjab.

4. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), previously known as Mohajir Qaumi Movement. The party was formed firstly as student’s organization in University of Karachi as the All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO) in 11 June 1978. This student organization was founded when the thousands of Mohajir students (Urdu-speaking immigrants from India after partition) were deprived of their rights and jobs in both private & government organizations. The students were faced with harsh quotas introduced by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto which deprived Mohajir students of their seats in Universities and higher educational institutions. That led to the formation of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement in 1984. The name was changed to Mutthaida Qaumi Movement in 1997 in order to fight for the rights of 98% oppressed people in Pakistan. Altaf Hussain is the head of this political organiztion. MQM currently holds 17 seats in the national assembly and 7 seats in the senate. It is the official opposition in Sindh province. In the Angus Reid poll of 22-December, the MQM was in sixth place, with 2% of the vote

5. Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of six religious parties consisting of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Fazl-ur-Rahman Group), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Sami-ul-Haq Group) Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy), Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith and a few more. The religious alliance forms the government in Northwest Frontier Province. It leads the coalition government in Balochistan with PML Quaid-e-Azam.

MMA is de-centrist. It is the official opposition nationally. It is strong in the two small provinces. It is legally ultra-conservative and economically socialist. It strongly opposes US military presence in Pakistan. It currently holds 63 seats in the national assembly and 21 seats in the senate. In the Angus-Reid pre-election pollsof 22-December, the MMA was in fifth place, with 4% of the vote.

6. Twelve other parties hold a total of 20 seats in the national assembly and 18 seats in the senate. The PTI party led by Imran Khan is boycotting the elections, but was in fourth place in the Angus-Reid poll of 22-December, with 6% of the vote. The PTI is strong in NWFP, where it forms the official opposition.

===Minor parties===

* Awami National Party
* Awami Tehreek
* Balochistan National Party
* Balochistan National Movement
* Communist Party of Pakistan
* Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party
* Federal National Movement
* Green Party of Pakistan
* Jamhoori Wattan Party
* Jamiat Ahlehadith Pakistan
* Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mehaz
* Khaksar Tehrik
* Millat Party
* National People’s Party (NPP)
* Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
* Pakistan Awami Tehrik
* Pakistan Democratic Party
* Pakistan Muslim League (F) (also known as Functional Muslim League or PML Pagaro Group)
* Pakistan People’s Party (S)
* Hizb ut-Tahrir
* Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan
* Pakistan Progressive Party
* Pasban (Voice Against Injustice) (Altaf Shakoor)
* Sindh Democratic Alliance
* Sindh National Front
* Sindh National Party
* Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party
* Tehrik-e-Istiqlal
* Hazara Qumi Mahaz (HQM)

Parties in Parliament

* Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), PML (Q) – 117 (led by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain)
* Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, PPPP – 81 (led by Benazir Bhutto)
* Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, MMA – 60 (led by Maulana Fazl ur-Rahman and Qazi Hussain Ahmad)
* Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), PML (N) – 19 (led by Nawaz Sharif)
* Muttahida Qaumi Movement, MQM – 17 (led by Altaf Hussain)
* National Alliance, NA – 16 (led by Imtiaz Sheikh)
* Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) – 5
* Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo) – 3
* Pakistan Peoples Party (Sherpao) – 2
* Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – 1
* Pakistan Awami Tehrik – 1
* Pakistan Muslim League (Zia) – 1
* Balochistan National Party – 1
* Jamhoori Watan Party – 1
* MQM(H) – 1
* PSPP – 1
* Independent candidates – 15

The Parliament of Pakistan is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate. National Assembly elections were last held on 12 October 2002, and Senate elections were last held in February 2003.

Elections are scheduled to be held on 8 January 2008. See Pakistani general election, 2008.

Composition of Parliament
Senate after February 2003 elections Party     Seats
PML     40
MMA     21
PPPP     11
Mutahida Quomi Movement     6
PML/N     4
NAP     -     PPP/S     2
PkMAP     2
ANP     2
PML/F     1
JWP     1
BNP-Awami     1
BNP-Mengal     1
BNM/H     1
Independents     4

National Assembly elections, October 2002 Party     Seats
PML     126
PPPP     81
MMA     63
PML/N     19
NAP     16
MQM     14
PML/F     5
PML/J     3
PPP/S     2
BNP     1
JWP     1
PAT     1
PML/Z     1
PTI     1
Mahajar Quomi Movement/H     1
PkMAP     1
Independents     3

At the national level, Pakistan elects a bicameral legislature, the Parliament of Pakistan, which consists of a directly-elected National Assembly of Pakistan and a Senate whose members are chosen by elected provincial legislators. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is elected by the National Assembly. The President of Pakistan is elected by the Electoral College of Pakistan, which consists of both houses of Parliament together with the provincial assemblies.

In addition to the national parliament and the provincial assemblies, Pakistan also has more than five thousand elected local governments.

Pakistan has a multi-party system, with numerous parties. Frequently, no single party holds a majority, and therefore parties must form alliances during or after elections, with coalition governments forming out of negotiations between parties.

General elections, 2008

General elections are due to be held on February 18th 2008.

Recent elections

Presidential election, 2004

On January 1, 2004, Gen. Pervez Musharaf won 658 out of 1,170 votes in the Electoral College of Pakistan, and according to ‘Article 41(8)’ of the Constitution of Pakistan, was “deemed to be elected” to the office of President until October, 2007. [2]
Electoral College Vote, January 1, 2004 Legislature     Seats     Absent     Abstained     Against     For
Senate     100     43     0     1     56
National Assembly     342     93     58     0     191
Punjab Province     371     110     7     0     254
Sindh Province     168     27     42     0     99
North-West Frontier Province     124     27     67     0     30
Balochistan Province     65     36     1     0     28
Totals     1170     336     175     1     658

Prime-Ministerial election, 2004

Shaukat Aziz was elected Prime Minister on August 27, 2004, by a vote of 191 to 151 in the National Assembly of Pakistan, and was sworn in on August 24, 2004.

Parliamentary elections and composition
Senate after February 2003 elections Party     Seats
PML/Q     40
PPPP     11
MMA     21
MQM/A     7
PML/N     4
NAP     3
PML/F     1
PkMAP     2
ANP     2
PPP/S     2
JWP     1
BNP-Awami     1
BNP-Mengal     1
BNM/H     1
Independents     3

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the October 2002 National Assembly elections     % of popular vote     Seats
Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam)     25.7     126
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians     25.8     81
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan

* Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (Islamic Assembly)
* Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Assembly of Islamic Clergy)
* Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy)
* Tehrik-e-Islami (Movement for Islam)

11.3     63
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif)     9.4     19
Muttahida Qaumi Movement     3.1     17
National Alliance

* Sindh Democratic Alliance
* Millat Party
* Others

4.6     16
Pakistan Muslim League (Functional Group)     1.1     5
Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo)     0.7     3
Pakistan Peoples Party (Sherpao)     0.3     2
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf     0.8     1
Pakistan Awami Tehrik (Pakistan People’s Movement}     0.7     1
Jamhoori Wattan Party (Republican National Party)     0.3     1
Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed)     0.3     1
Pakistan Democratic Party     0.3     1
Balochistan National Party     0.2     1
Awami National Party     1.0     -
Pakhtun-khwa Milli Awami Party     -     1
Independents     -     3
Non-partisans (most joined one of the above parties)     14.1     21*
Female elected members (included in party seats above)     .     60*
Minorities (included in party seats above)     .     10*
Total (turnout 41.8 %)           342
Source: Pakistan Electoral Commission & CIA Factbook

* Not included in total. Except for three independents, most of these are included in the party-seat numbers

Electoral history
[hide]
v • d • e
Pakistani presidential elections Flag of Pakistan
1965
Pakistani parliamentary elections Flag of Pakistan
1970 | 1977 | 1988 | 1990 | 1993 | 1997 | 2002 | 2008

Election of 1947 - 1958

In the period between 1947-1958, there were no direct elections held in Pakistan at the national level. Provincial elections were held occasionally. The West Pakistan provincial elections were described as “a farce, a mockery and a fraud upon the electorate” [3] The first direct elections held in the country after independence were for the provincial Assembly of the Punjab between March 10-20, 1951. The elections were held for 197 seats. As many as 939 candidates contested the election for 189 seats, while the remaining seats were filled unopposed. Seven political parties were in the race. The election was held on an adult franchise basis with approximately one-million voters. The turnout remained low. In Lahore, the turnout was 30 per cent of the listed voters and in rural areas of Punjab it was much lower.

On December 8, 1951, the North West Frontier Province held elections for Provincial legislature seats. In a pattern that would be repeated throughout Pakistan’s electoral history, many of those who lost accused the winners of cheating and “rigging” the elections. Similarly, in May, 1953 elections to the Provincial legislature of Sindh were held and they were also marred by accusations of rigging. In April, 1954, elections were held for the East Pakistan Legislative Assembly, in which the ‘Pakistan Muslim League’ lost, and Bengali nationalists won. [4]

1977 General Elections

On January 7, 1977, Prime Minister Bhutto announced snap elections, and the general elections to the provincial and national assemblies were held on March 7 and 10, 1977, respectively. To many, the quick election date was arranged so as not to give sufficient time to the opposition in order for it to make decisions and arrangements in regard to the forthcoming elections. The total number of registered voters in the country was put at 30,899,052.

On January 11, 1977, all major and some minor opposition parties had cobbled together an electoral alliance, the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), to contest elections against Bhutto’s PPP.

The official turnout figure was 63 percent – if 19 uncontested seats were discounted, the turnout was 80 percent (the ‘PNA’ boycotted the Balochistan elections because of an ongoing military operation). The ‘PPP’ won 58.1 percent of all the votes that were cast, and 136 of the 173 contested NA seats. The ‘PNA’ won only 35.1 per cent of the vote and 36 seats. ‘PPP’ had already won 19 NA seats unopposed including the home seat of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Larkana. The ‘PNA’ levelled allegations of massive vote-rigging and boycotted the provincial elections.

Seats Won in the 1977 Elections
Party     Punjab     Sind     NWFP     Balochistan     Islamabad     Tribal Areas     Total
Pakistan Peoples Party     107 (93%)     32 (74%)     8 (31%)     7 (100%)     1 (100%)     0     155 (77.5%)
Pakistan National Alliance     8 (7%)     11 (26%)     17 (65%)     0     0     0     36 (18%)
Independent     0     0     1 (4%)     0     0     8 (100%)     9(4.5%)
Total Seats     115     43     26     7     1     8     200

[5]

National Assembly General Elections of (1988-1997)
Party     1988     1990     1993     1997
Pakistan Peoples Party     93     44     89     18
Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI)     54     106     0     0
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)     -     -     73     137
Awami National Party     2     6     3     10
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)*     13     15     -     12
Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman)     7     6     -     2
Other Parties/Indepenents **     38     30     42     28
Total Turnout     43.07%     45.46%     40.28     35.42
Total Seats     207     207     207     207

N.B: All elections were contested under a separate electorate system, the 1990 elections had allegations of vote-rigging confirmed by foreign observers.[6] The ‘MQM’ contested the 1988 elections under the name Haq Parast group, it boycotted the 1993 National elections.