Obama sails to Guam caucus victory

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: Market Watch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Sen. Barack Obama headed to victory in the Guam Democratic Party caucus Saturday, leading his rival Sen. Hillary Clinton for the four pledged delegates at stake in the race for their party's nomination.

With 95% of the vote counted, according to a CNN tally, Obama had won 53% against Clinton's 47%, even as the two hopefuls were busy campaigning for the Indiana and North Carolina primaries slated for Tuesday.

The Western Pacific U.S. territory, three hours' flight from Japan, received unprecedented attention from the candidates. Both Obama and Clinton ran television and radio ads and conducted remote interviews with local radio stations, according to media reports from Guam, a place largely ignored in past national elections.


Obama even opened a campaign office on the island, the first such move for a presidential campaign, the reports said.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/obama-sails-guam-caucus-victory/story.aspx?guid=%7BBC5DD4DF-49EC-46D3-9D39-8A2379C056E3%7D&dist=msr_1

[gateley]

1. Congrats, Senator!

NC and IN, here we come!!

[polpilot]

53. Mr. President, well done!!

[Flabbergasted]

2. Good News nt

[Justitia]

3. Congratulations Sen Obama, and thank you good people of Guam! -eom

[Owl]

13. Yes!

[FVZA_Colonel]

4. How do residents of Guam feel about not being able to vote in the Presidential election?

Given the liklihood of such a small area, with such a small population, becoming a state in this day, I wonder if Hawaii ought to just annex all of the Pacific islands so their second-class status is removed.

[Pab Sungenis]

19. We ought to take all the territories and merge them into three states.

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Pacifica (incorporating Guam, the Marianas, American Samoa, and the other outlying islands).

Organize them, and give each an up or down vote: statehood or independence. No more second class territories.

[FVZA_Colonel]

24. I definetly agree, though in the case of the Virgin Islands

I imagine it a possibility that they might merge with Puerto Rico prior if statehood were to occur.

[Pab Sungenis]

27. Too different a culture.

The Virgin Islands are English speaking, British/West African influenced culture. Puerto Rico is largely Spanish speaking, and Spanish influenced culture.

Of course, there are distinct cultures on the Pacific Island chains, and I advocated merging them as one state, so it might work.

[FVZA_Colonel]

37. Ahh, I really hadn't considered that.

I suppose I was just thinking in terms of population size, though your reasons ultimately make much more sense.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Oguama!

(stolen)

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

6. louder... OGUAMA OGUAMA OGUAMA

.

[Cha]

9. Guam came through for us?!

You were there when it counted Guam! B-)

[Bumblebee]

7. Wow, that really bodes well for the GE!!! A Caucus, and in Guam to boot!

:sarcasm:

Congratulations to Obama and his supporters, but let's get real. "Sails through"? People here objected to similar verbiage when Hillary defeated Obama by much more, and in Pennsylvania, not Guam. Double standard? -- shocked, shocked!

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. You do realize I can't pick the headline?

Or do you not ever post a story in LBNs?

[Cha]

10. Too bad you're jealous by the Guam

headline. Quick, maybe hilary has some more lies for ya.

[sudopod]

14. LOL, caucus envy. nt

[satya]

74. ROFLMAO!

:rofl:

[grahamhgreen]

22. "Sails Through" - because it's an island - in the Pacific... and they're trying to be clever...

[cbayer]

11. Take my word for it, that's a long sail.

Can he afford to be away for that long? I mean with all that's going on right now?

[Clear Blue Sky]

12. What's that do for the delegate count?

[cascadiance]

21. I think it means they split the 4 delegates 2-2...

I think in order for either one of them to get 3 delegates they'd have to get 63% of the vote at least (if Slate's delegate calculator is accurate). Could also be some funky rules on precincts here too, but I think Obama probably pretty safely has 2 delegates, and if some rules, etc. break his way, perhaps 3. In other words, no change, but Clinton having to get an even higher percentage of what remains left to overtake him.

If Obama gets 66% of the votes in North Carolina, and has an even 50/50 split in Indiana and West Virginia, then he'd lock up the pledge delegate race with an insurmountable lead. That gives you an idea how close he is to sealing the pledged delegate race.

So, it's possible though perhaps not likely that he has it wrapped up by the May 20th races in Kentucky and Oregon, but if not, I think it would almost be gauranteed to be settled then.

Heck, even if they split the next three contests 50/50 (which we know won't happen), then she'd need to win 83% or more of the Kentucky/Oregon races just to say she's "mathematically alive" and would have to win 100% of the delegates in Puerto Rico, Montana, and South Dakota, which you know isn't going to happen.

[Muttocracy]

43. I think there were party official elected today who will be SDs, and the pro-Obama ones won. nt

[grytpype]

15. Guam doesn't count!!!!!!

It's not even a damn state!!!! It's a colony or insular possession or some such shiet!!

Look at how desperate the Obama supporters are, going nuts over a primary that DOESN'T MATTER!!!1
!!

[goclark]

16. It matters to the people of Guam and it matters

to me. :bounce:

[Hissyspit]

17. grytpype is being sarcastic, of course

[mattclearing]

51. But when Hillary wins Puerto Rico HRC supporters will party like it's 1992. n/t

[rocktivity]

18. Not so fast--there's one last precinct being counted

900-1400 votes, 27% of Guam's population.

:headbang:
rocknation

[goclark]

20. Wake me when it's over ~ it makes me too nervous

:scared:

[rocktivity]

23. It was a rough passage, but it's official now...

BREAKING NEWS 8:50 a.m. - Obama wins Guam caucus

8:50 a.m. — When all of the ballots were finally counted -- a process that lasted through the night until well after the sun was up -- Sen. Barack Obama had the most votes from Guam Democrats in the party’s caucus held yesterday.

Obama finished with 2,264 votes to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s 2,257 votes – a 7-point difference. Obama never trailed from the first vote count on.

Obama won 14 of 21 districts. Most districts that were won by Clinton were by small margins.

Obama got 37 votes in Ordot, 19 in Maina, 151 in Inarajan, 46 in Asan, 55 in Chalan Pago, 87 in Santa Rita, 102 in Mongmong-Toto-Maite, 28 in Hagåtña, 158 in Barrigada, 36 in Merizo, 49 in Piti, 131 in Sinajana, 108 in Agana Heights, 194 in Mangilao 192 in Tamuning, 27 in Umatac, 76 in Talofofo, 224 in Yigo, 104 in Yona, 127 in Agat and 313 in Dededo for a total of 2,264 votes.

Sen. Hillary Clinton took 18 votes in Ordot, 22 in Maina, 87 in Inarajan, 33 in Asan, 87 in Chalan Pago, 73 in Santa Rita, 81 in Mongmong-Toto-Maite, 29 votes in Hagåtña, 166 in Barrigada, 33 in Merizo, 51 in Piti, 89 in Sinajana, 105 in Agana Heights, 155 in Mangilao, 193 in Tamuning, 24 in Umatac, 52 in Talofofo, 211 in Yigo, 98 in Yona, 141 in Agat and 509 in Dededo for a total of 2,257 votes.


rocknation

[caseycoon]

28. He won by 7 votes?

Now that's what I call a real squeaker!
PARTY TIME!
:party: :toast:
:woohoo:

[Phoonzang]

25. And yet the top story on CNN is Wright. n/t

[cyndensco]

32. At about 5:00 CST, CNN was talking about the bush daughter's wedding

And at the bottom of the screen, had the Pennsylvania primary tally posted for at least 15 minutes. I had turned to see if Guam was a sure thing, and was horrified to see hillary was the projected winner with 55%. They had taken off Guam and put up Pa. They are so OBVIOUS with their game - is it to keep the race going so they have something to talk about, or are they just trying HARD to sink Obama? I don't get it.

[Barack_America]

26. Lucky staffers!

What a gig!

[Telly Savalas]

29. Why can't Hillary close the deal?

[marcus3xw]

30. the caucas system is stupid

the dnc needs to go to a winner take all system and get rid of the caucas system

[Diane R]

31. I guess your candidate can rig the count in caucus states, huh?

[marcus3xw]

39. who is my candidate?

the caucas system limits voter participation

go to a winner take all system with no caucases. it makes since to have a system similar to the general election system

[progressoid]

76. Caucus. Caucus.

Caucus, like marcus but with a cau instead of a mar.

[muryan]

42. Yea lets switch over the republican system

So that if a candidate loses with 49.9% of the vote to a candidate with 50.1%, then obviously everyone in that state will be represented by awarding all delegates to the winner right? Its an idiotic system that gave us Bush in 2000, why would we use it

[Zhade]

65. Fine, change the rules NEXT TIME. Doing so now would be cheating.

NT!

[dbmk]

33. 100% reporting

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5801063&mesg_id=5802194

[goclark]

35. Thank you Guam~ just think

if those 7 votes were not counted he would not have WON!

That is the story of Guam. :bounce:

[oberliner]

34. Winning by 7 votes is "sailing" to victory?

Not sure where they got that headline.

[goclark]

36. We are the Media, we don't have to wait for the SPINNERS

to define out candidate!

Yes he sailed over troubled waters in the USA and WON by 7 precious votes! :bounce:

Democracy in action.

[dbmk]

38. And by 7 votes

Guam has doomed itself into doesnotcountedness.

[Muttocracy]

44. I didn't get it either - someone above pointed out it's an island, boats, etc. nt

[LaStrega]

57. Uhm.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3295280#3295353

[oberliner]

70. Obama sails to victory in Dallas County district conventions

Barack Obama cruised to victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton in Dallas County's Senate district conventions Saturday, as Texas Democrats continued their arduous and sometimes frustrating process of choosing national convention delegates.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/DN-conventions_30pol.ART.State.Edition2.463133e.html

"Sails to victory" suggests an easy or comfortable win.

[BlueJac]

40. Way to go Obama!!!

:woohoo:

The end of this fight is coming soon!

[Hawaii Hiker]

46. He won by 7 votes, so that's seven woo's - LOL

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo::woohoo:

[rpannier]

79. I'd hate to see your post when he wins by 7000 votes

7000 woo's has gotta take a lot of time and space to do

[aquart]

41. Ah, the fair and democratic caucus system.

I'm sure everyone was given an equal chance to participate.

[dbmk]

45. Care to juxtapose caucuses with the SDs that Hillary seems to love so much?

4521 voters representing 4 delegate votes. Or 1 person representing 1 delegate vote.

And you start your objection at the caucuses?

[usregimechange]

47. Gauma Yo Mama!

[Bluebear]

48. "Sails to victory" by 7 votes and the delegate count is split evenly.

But whatever :)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080503/ap_on_el_pr/guam_caucuses

[Zachstar]

77. Kind of hard to get past a split in such a small area no?

[Window]

49. WooHoo!!

:woohoo:

[WoodyM]

50. Again Obama has proven

he can win those big industrial states that must be won to actually win the presidency.

[DFW]

52. "Sails to victory?"

From the article:
Results of the count completed Sunday morning Guam time show delegates pledged to Obama with 2,264 votes to 2,257 for Clinton's slate. That means they'll split the pledged delegate votes. Obama's slate won in 14 of 21 districts.

I like the guy fine, but if a 7 vote margin is sailing to victory, then he had better pray
that the Diebold company suffers a 100% malfunction rate with its machines before Election
Day, or else McCain will "sail" all over him.

[wisteria]

54. A win is a win as good ol Hil would say. n/t

[DFW]

80. Not in this case

He may have gotten 7 more votes, but they split evenly in delegates.
Just one more inconclusive event. I wish it had gone decisively one way
or the other. For that matter, I wish the whole primary process had gone
one way or the other by now. I don't mind either of them, as neither of
them were my first choice, but I just wish this whole thing were over and
done with.

[my3boyz]

59. You sound "bitter"! Sorry I could not resist! LOL nt

[DFW]

81. LOL!

Hardly. As my preference for the nomination was someone else entirely, I
really don't care which one of them wins the nomination, just as long as
it gets decided ASAP. McCain is SUCH bad news that I wish the party's efforts
could be solely concentrated on him rather than this intra-party fight.
Howard has already started to look beyond this, and the RNC yelps in pain
every time he makes a move. It would be nice if our candidate, whoever it
turns out to be, could start doing the same, and this ain't gonna happen as
long as the primary fight goes on.

[tandem5]

55. yup sailed to victory...

sure there were sea monsters, the ship is taking on water, more than half the crew is dead or lost at sea, but Obama has made it - he has planted his feet on that patch of terra firma known as victory isle - just south of pledged-delegato's cove!

[Egalia]

56. Obama paddled and they're still looking into his 7 vote majority n/t

[anticat]

58. LOL Recount will show Hillary wins... but what a sailing trip... 7 whole votes.

LOLZ at the Idiotic Obama shills

[Infinite Hope]

61. Did you read the article? At that point he was 6% up. No one said 7 votes was sailing. n/t

[anticat]

62. I read the article..... that's why the OP is so stupid

He/she made the title, not me nor the article.....

[uberllama42]

66. As has been pointed out numerous times, "sails to victory" is a pun

Guam, as you may know, is an island. You could sail there if you were so inclined. I don't know if you've ever written a headline before, but puns are one of the most common devices editors use. I make frequent use of puns, alliteration, and, because I'm in Philadelphia, replacing F's with Ph's.

The OP did not choose the headline. WSJ's web site picked it. Your insistence on getting bent out of shape about it is really not impressive.

[Bluebear]

73. No, "sails to victory" in the vernacular is an 'easy win'.

Personally, I am not "bent out of shape" about this at all, whoc cares? But to say that the WSJ was making a pun about somebody "sailing" in Guam is not really the most believable!

[uberllama42]

84. I'm aware of the phrase "sails to victory"

If it wasn't a fairly common phrase, the pun wouldn't work. I don't see why the Wall Street Journal is any less likely to make a pun than any other news organization.

I guess you don't have to believe it if you don't want to. You're right that it's really not that important. But your not believing it doesn't change the fact that they did it.

[Infinite Hope]

68. Apparently you didn't read my comment either. The OP headline = Obama ahead by 6%, 95% reporting.

So once again, it wasn't referring to him winning by 7 votes. It was based on the reasonable, although wrong, assumption at the time that he was going to win comfortably.

[Infinite Hope]

60. Looks like he won by 7 votes. n/t

[Zhade]

63. He will soon OFFICIALLY be the nominee. Nice.

NT!

[Rockholm]

64. Sailing by Seven. Right.

[rpannier]

67. He won by 7 votes and got 2 of 4 delegates

When you're winning a tie is still a good thing.

Kind of like in football. If I'm winning at half 21-14 and we each get one TD, I'm still winning.

Like it or not, it still benefits Obama more than Clinton

[Zachstar]

78. Agreed.

It puts a small roadblock on her momentum that she relies on so dearly.

[BrokenSocialScene]

69. Does Guam matter to anybody?

Seriously guys... Guam. Its just a post-imperialism holdover, it'd be worth more to take a public opinion poll of the two candidates in the Philippines.

[tandem5]

71. I like saying the name

GUAM... guAM... GUAM... guam! gwww--aammmm... until it loses all meaning

[knixphan]

75. that's hilarious.

[sueragingroz]

72. sails? He won by 7 votes. Gimme a break.

[Freedom Train]

82. Yeah, he "sails" to victory alright... It was a tie!

He won the vote count by seven votes, which means the election was a TIE, with the candidates splitting the delegates and neither one gaining anything from it.

With a 7-vote margin, wouldn't there be an automatic recount by the way?

[demobrit]

83. Big deal Obama won Guam: 4 delegates wow they will share them anyway

[harun]

85. Thank you Guam (n/t)