by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

My neighbor didn't know there was a primary today.  I feel like I failed.

We'll have several threads going.  But here's one for early returns.  

The Secretary of State's office is tallying returns here.

by Bob Brigham [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Disclosure: MySpace paid is paying my travel

MANCHESTER-Following John Edwards and Barack Obama, tonight (7PM eastern) John McCain will be the first Republican candidate to participate in a MySpace/MTV interactive forum.

It should be an interesting night. On one had, New Hampshire's same day registration provision allows candidates on both sides of the aisle potential for a youth surge not showing up in the polls -- which could be a substantive boost in the expectations spin. For McCain specifically, he has been bleeding market share in the MySpace friends primary. I'll be looking to the interactive perspective as it fascinates me. What do you think I should be looking for during the event?

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Want to Vote? In Georgia, a law was passed requiring a “photo ID” be shown at the polls in order to vote. Most people could simply use a driver's license. But if you were too poor to own a car, you had to apply and pay for an ID at the state ID office – and pay a fee.

And who were the poor in Georgia who were asked for their “photo ID” at the polls? Why, they were African-Americans, especially elderly African-Americans who had been denied good paying jobs when young by the South’s system of social and economic discrimination in place at that time.

The purpose of the law seemed congruent with the Jim Crow laws that had been repeatedly struck down by Federal Courts as discriminatory in intent and effect. The Republicans that passed it argued it protected against “vote fraud”.

The Justice Department was asked to void the law as discriminatory. Career civil servants in the Justice Department reportedly agreed – but were overturned by the Bush-appointed Voting Rights Chief. In testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, John Tanner “declined to confirm that he reversed the recommendations of career staffers”, but took responsibility for the decision.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Can You Believe "It's Back?"

By Frank D. Russo

In a scene reminiscent of a grade B horror movie, a new set of characters have taken over the effort to put on the June ballot a change to California's award of Electoral College votes so they can win in June what they know they cannot win in November. Why they would be dong this for a measure that polls at 25% support and has been lambasted as a naked partisan power grab by newspapers up and down the state (including the Orange County Register!) is just one of the questions. It smacks of desperation--and a number of roads continue to lead back to Rudy Giuliani--who denies any connection with this.

This is what Democratic consultant Chris Lehane had to say about it:

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

California's real election for President may be in June next year

By Frank D. Russo

The ballot initiative to change California's allocation of electoral votes from winner take all statewide to winner take all by Congressional District, being circulated by a group of Republicans and designed to be on the June ballot has support from 47% of registered voters in California and opposition from 35%, according to a Field Poll released today.

There are several large grains of salt to take with these results from Field, but this should be a wake up call to all who want an even playing field in the November 4, 2008 Presidential election that our work is cut out for us. I interpret the results as indicating that a decent campaign--and getting voters to the polls in the June primary--should result in this measure's defeat. But a deeper analysis is in order and the main points are as follows:

• As in any poll, the questions asked are significant.

• The Field Poll was taken about the time that significant press accounts of the initiative were beginning to appear.

by blogswarm [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The polls have closed, you can view results here.

Discuss.