NC Election Results

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

It won’t fly until this evening, but the NC Board of Elections has a cool webpage set up (with graphs, piecharts, etc.) for the official results as they come in.

Early Voting Stats: NC

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

% of Early VotersMen 38.7%Women 60.8% White 56.5%Black 39.9% White Women 33.2%White Men 23.1% Democrat 84.1%Unaffiliated 15.8% *************** More info: Voter registration as of today (via State Board of Elections):Democratic: 2,633,381 Republican: 1,933,658 Unaffiliated: 1,244,739 Total: 5,811,778 Absentee Counts as of 05/06/2008 6:00am:Absentee Mail Ballots Returned: 24,900 Absentee Onestop Ballots Cast: 471,006

Primary Day [UPDATE: Heavy turnout]

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

I’m in North Carolina, and have already voted.  [UPDATE: If you are in NC, here’s some voting information]. [UPDATE:  Heavy turnout reported as of noon today,  More here] The eyes of the nation are on this state and Indiana, but my eyes are on Indiana.  If Obama can eke out a win there, even a minor one, it may be … Read More

An Open Statement Opposing Proposals for a Gas Tax Holiday

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Election 2008, Energy and ConservationLeave a Comment

Here: In recent weeks, there have been proposals in Congress and by some presidential candidates to suspend the gas tax for the summer. As economists who study issues of energy policy, taxation, public finance, and budgeting, we write to indicate our opposition to this policy. Put simply, suspending the federal tax on gasoline this summer is a bad idea and … Read More

My Predictions For Tomorrow

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

Obama wins North Carolina by 11. Hillary wins Indiana by 4. Hillary doesn’t drop out.  It goes to the convention. Recent Obama video in NC: The good stuff (in my opinion) starts at the 5:00 mark. MESSAGE FOR THOSE READING THIS WHO ARE NOT POLITICALLY INCLINED:  Take the time and go vote for Obama anyway.  Just trust me.  Or, if … Read More

Gas Tax Holiday Argument Not Being Bought By Public

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Election 2008, Energy and ConservationLeave a Comment

Well, well, well.  Who knew?  McCain and Clinton thought they could pander and buy votes by proposing a gas tax holiday over the summer months.  Doesn’t look like the winning side, as people kind of understand that it is a quick fix to a larger problem, that doesn’t put much many in people’s pockets anyway.  [UPDATE:  No economist agrees with … Read More

NC Polls

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

Rasmussen. 4/28. Likely voters. MoE 4% (4/3 results) Obama 51 (56) Clinton 37 (33) The demographic results in North Carolina are similar to the dynamics seen nationally and in most primaries—Clinton leads by fifteen points among White voters while Obama leads 80% to 11% among African-Americans. Clinton does well among White Women and older voters while Obama leads among those … Read More

McCain’s Gas Tax Holiday Plan

Ken AshfordEconomy & Jobs & Deficit, Election 2008, Energy and ConservationLeave a Comment

As a clear campaign ploy, McCain has proposed a gasoline tax “holiday” during the summer driving season.  Basically, it means that federal taxes will be cut from the cost at the pump, thus making gas cheaper. Senator Clinton has endorsed a similar plan. Good idea?  Nope: But economists and energy analysts say it would have little impact on mitigating the … Read More

Morons In South Carolina

Ken AshfordElection 20081 Comment

Ugh: A sign is causing heated arguments outside of a church in Jonesville. Pastor Roger Byrd of Jonesville Church of God put the sign up which reads "Obama Osama humm are they brothers?" Pastor Byrd says the sign is not meant to be racial or political but rather to make people think.  "His name is so close to Osama I … Read More

For The Love Of God, Stop It

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

The newest Election 2008 scandal?  Obama supposedly gave Hillary the middle finger. Here’s the clip: You see that?  He scratched his face while talking about Hillary yesterday in Raleigh, and he used his middle finger. This is going to be the controversy now for the next day or two. No wonder people get turned off to politics.  (Other versions of … Read More

Debate Wrapup

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

The New York Times: “Clinton did not let an opportunity pass as she repeatedly challenged Mr. Obama on his record and views — assisted, as it turned out, by vigorous questioning by the two moderators from ABC News, Charles Gibson and George Stephanopolous. The result was arguably one of Mr. Obama’s weakest debate performances. He at times appeared annoyed as … Read More

Clinton’s Lead In PA Shrinking

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

Time:  Clinton has a 6 point lead in PA, and adds: One in five Pennsylvania Democrats has yet to pick a favorite candidate; and roughly one in six voters who told TIME they favor either Obama or Clinton said they could change their minds in the next two weeks. Notes Stanley Feldman, the SUNY Stonybrook political scientist who analyzed the … Read More