As predicted, Arizona went overwhelmingly to McCain with over one million votes to give him 54 percent. Obama pulled 45 percent with 870,883 votes. Of the counties that Obama won, he won them with a large margin:
Coconino county: Obama, 57 percent. McCain, 41 percent.
Apache county: Obama, 63 percent. McCain, 34 percent.
Pima county: Obama, 52 percent, McCain, 46 percent. (Tuscon is in Pima county)
Santa Cruz county: Obama, 65 percent. McCain, 34 percent.
The same pattern occured in counties that went to McCain:
Graham county: McCain, 70 percent. Obama, 29 percent.
Mohave county: McCain, 65 percent. Obama, 33 percent.
Maricopa county: McCain, 55 percent. Obama, 44 percent. (Phoenix is in Maricopa county)
As other states had record turnout in both early and election-day voting, Arizona's numbers fell short of the expected record. The Arizona Secretary of State estimated that 64 percent of the state's three million registered voters actually cast their ballots. In 2004 77 percent of registered voters made it to the polls. The relatively low voter turn out (in comparison to the rest of the country) in Arizona could be the reason why McCain swept the state.
More than 200,000 provisional ballots have yet to be counted, but these would not be enough to swing the state for Obama.
So why did McCain take Arizona? First of all, McCain is a veteran of the Senate. Arizonans have elected him cycle after cycle. Secondly, Arizonans lean Republican and have traditinally been a culture of independent, ranching westerners. They see themselves in McCain and support him for it. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, McCain hails from Arizona and the right-leaning culture of the state would not abandon their son. Even though McCain ran a scattered campaign of day-to-day tactics, Arizonans responded to him as though he were a member of their families, which essentially he is.
Arizona and California both put gay marriage on the ballots this year and both states voted to amend their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage, or rather they defined marriage as only between a man and a woman.
On the same ballot, Arizonans voted for another amendment to the state constitution which probits state institutions from discriminating based upon sex, gender, age, race, color or ethnicity when hiring employees. The amendment did not include any non-discrimination based on sexuality or sexual preference.
McCain has returned to his home to finish the rest of his term. There is the chance that he can return to the Senate and rise again as a leader in the Republican party as John Edwards did, but there is a greater chance that the tattered and defeated Republican party will turn on him as a scapegoat.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
And then there was one
The long-awaited day is almost here. After over a year of campaigning, we can finally put this old dog to rest in just one day.
Arizona will most likely go to McCain on Tuesday, but each candidate is not taking any risks.
Although McCain is up in the polls by seven percent, Obama's has achieved small gains each day.
The national Democratic campaign has not let go of Arizona as is evident in several recent and striking events. First, the Obama campaign launched the new "Something" ad state-wide.
Second, to get those lower ballot seats and to turn Arizona from a leaning-McCain state to swing state, DNC Chairman Howard Dean will begin a GOTV campaign in Arizona tomorrow. This is not the first time Dean has ventured into Republican territory. Last May he made a visit to Arizona to rally volunteers and target Democrat-leaning citizens.
Here are the rally details for tomorrow:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3
PIMA COUNTY GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY
Pima County Coordinated Campaign Office, Outdoor Parking Lot
4639 E 1st Street
Tucson, AZ
Event Time: 12:00 PM Local Time
The McCain campaign continues to hold rallies in Arizona to keep up morale and make sure that each and every supporter votes. This past Saturday, November 1, Senator Kyl held a rally for McCain and laid out a four-step plan for McCain to gain his desperately needed four points in the poles "one point Saturday, one point Sunday, one point Monday and one point Tuesday." Realistic? Not really, considering how many people have already made their choice through early voting and early voting has proven to favor Obama.
Popular, local newspapers provide an even spread of predicting his defeat and also building him up in last attempt to persuade readers. The Arizona Republic endorsed McCain again today along with Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick and Republican Trent Franks for Congress.
With just one day until the polls close, Arizona will still go to McCain but perhaps at a smaller margin than would have been if the election were held last week.
Arizona will most likely go to McCain on Tuesday, but each candidate is not taking any risks.
Although McCain is up in the polls by seven percent, Obama's has achieved small gains each day.
The national Democratic campaign has not let go of Arizona as is evident in several recent and striking events. First, the Obama campaign launched the new "Something" ad state-wide.
Second, to get those lower ballot seats and to turn Arizona from a leaning-McCain state to swing state, DNC Chairman Howard Dean will begin a GOTV campaign in Arizona tomorrow. This is not the first time Dean has ventured into Republican territory. Last May he made a visit to Arizona to rally volunteers and target Democrat-leaning citizens.
Here are the rally details for tomorrow:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3
PIMA COUNTY GET OUT THE VOTE RALLY
Pima County Coordinated Campaign Office, Outdoor Parking Lot
4639 E 1st Street
Tucson, AZ
Event Time: 12:00 PM Local Time
The McCain campaign continues to hold rallies in Arizona to keep up morale and make sure that each and every supporter votes. This past Saturday, November 1, Senator Kyl held a rally for McCain and laid out a four-step plan for McCain to gain his desperately needed four points in the poles "one point Saturday, one point Sunday, one point Monday and one point Tuesday." Realistic? Not really, considering how many people have already made their choice through early voting and early voting has proven to favor Obama.
Popular, local newspapers provide an even spread of predicting his defeat and also building him up in last attempt to persuade readers. The Arizona Republic endorsed McCain again today along with Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick and Republican Trent Franks for Congress.
With just one day until the polls close, Arizona will still go to McCain but perhaps at a smaller margin than would have been if the election were held last week.
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