What’s the meaning of Super Tuesday?
So what does it all mean?
Tuesday was the occasion of the Super Bowl of presidential
primaries. Elections were held in 24 states, including California.
As the last
”
Super Tuesday
”
votes were counted, the results
– at least for Democrats – were still inconclusive.
What’s the meaning of Super Tuesday?
So what does it all mean?
Tuesday was the occasion of the Super Bowl of presidential primaries. Elections were held in 24 states, including California. As the last “Super Tuesday” votes were counted, the results – at least for Democrats – were still inconclusive.
It appears the Republican Party nominee will be Sen. John McCain, a war hero, an Arizona senator, and the oldest man ever to seek the office at 71.
Things are less certain for Democrats. Hillary Clinton took New York and California, while Barack Obama scored convincing wins in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Minnesota. With Clinton claiming 803 committed delegates and Obama counting on 742, both are claiming victory. And both are a long way from securing the 2,025 needed for the nomination.
The national press has reported that San Benito County is the bellwether for the nation. The truism has been that as San Benito votes, so votes California and the United States.
Local voters turned out in lower numbers than the rest of the state, with just 47.4 percent casting ballots locally. We followed the state and nation in presidential elections. McCain was a convincing winner locally, with 48.3 percent of the vote in a crowded field of 11. Clinton received 60.6 percent of the county’s votes, compared to Obama’s second place 33 percent.
Four ballot measures were special interest bids to expand Indian gambling parlors in Southern California. All four passed statewide, just as they did in San Benito. We also followed the rest of the state on Proposition 91, which will require that gas tax revenues be spent only on transportation. The measure underscores a nearly identical earlier measure that is already in place.
We also followed the state on Proposition 92, which purported to increase funding to community colleges at the risk of siphoning funds from other institutions. Finally, we echoed the statewide rejection of Proposition 93, a bogus measure that purported to cut term limits while actually extending the influence of several entrenched politicians.
So we did it. Look no further than your neighborhood ballot box to understand how the state greets the candidates and issues.
But what does it mean?
First, it appears to mean that elections are still for sale. The state measures endorsing expanded gambling were heavily funded, as evidenced by wall-to-wall television spots and mailers.
Second, the GOP appears to be moving toward its most centrist candidate, even as the Democrats continue to try to define the candidate that best defines their issues.
