Big Fat Story
Atlanta’s mayoral campaign has caught national attention because the city seems poised to elect Mary Norwood mayor, making the city council member the first white person to be voted into the city’s top office in 35 years. And while race has taken a central role in this campaign, residents told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that their big concerns are like those of many city dwellers: crime, transportation, unemployment.
Photo: John Amis / AP Photo
National Republicans rallied round in open-seat race.
Dede Scozzafava shocked the political establishment days before the polls opened in upstate New York by announcing that she was dropping out of the race. Her exit left two candidates: Doug Hoffman, officially running on the Conservative Party ticket although embraced by high-profile Republican leaders, and Bill Owens, a Democrat. A poll on Monday found Hoffman leading Owens 41 percent to 36 percent. Although not normally the center of the political world, New York’s 23rd Congressional District became a battleground for the national Republican Party over the last few weeks as those from the GOP’s conservative wing backed Hoffman, pressuring Scozzafava out of contention.
Photo: Heather Ainsworth / AP Photo
Heading into Tuesday’s vote, Mayor Michael Bloomberg led his opponent Bill Thompson by 12 points. As Election Day drew near, Bloomberg’s schedule was that of a relaxed candidate, finding time to watch a Yankees game aboard the U.S.S. New York, while his rival urgently crisscrossed the city. As Bloomberg seeks his third term, apathy has ruled the day, with record low turnout expected on Tuesday. As a last ditch effort, Thompson, the New York comptroller, has tried to hitch his star to President Obama, who begrudgingly endorsed his fellow Democrat.
Photo: Mike Groll / AP Photo
Election Day 2009
The Daily Beast checks out the hot campaigns around the country: the GOP’s likely romp in Virginia, a crucial gay-marriage vote in Maine, and an historic moment in Atlanta.
Although troubled by high unfavorability ratings, the incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine is still within striking distance of another term in the statehouse—thanks in large part to a third-party candidate who is siphoning off votes from the Republican challenger Chris Christie. Over the weekend, President Obama visited Camden to stump for Corzine, the president’s second visit to the state in 10 days. A late poll found Christie leading Corzine 42 percent to 40 percent with the independent candidate Christopher Daggett garnering 12 percent of the vote.
Photo: Chris Hondros / Getty Images
Virginia has been a much-touted bright spot for the national Democratic Party over the last few years; their former governor is now the head of the Democratic National Committee. But this year looks to belong to the Republicans. GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell has pulled away from Democrat Creigh Deeds. Hoping for some 11th-hour momentum, Deeds invited Obama onto the campaign trail this weekend and blanketed the state with campaign literature linking his campaign to the Democratic presidency.
Photo: Don Petersen / AP Photo
Maine voter turnout is expected to be high for an off-year election with gay marriage and medical marijuana on the ballot. The get-out-the-vote efforts on both sides of the gay marriage issue kicked into high gear this weekend as volunteers and campaign staffers knocked on doors, called voter lists, and distributed signs. A poll out before Election Day showed 51 percent who said they would vote against gay marriage and 47 percent who would vote for it. The law permitting gay marriage is currently suspended, and Question 1 on the ballot will allow voters to uphold or overturn that suspension. If Question 1 is defeated, Maine will become the first state to allow gays to marry by statewide vote. Five other states, including four in New England, allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Maine citizens will also vote on a proposal to expand the list of illnesses treatable by medical marijuana and establish a regulated dispensing system.
Photo: Jae C. Hong / AP Photo
Atlanta’s mayoral campaign has caught national attention because the city seems poised to elect Mary Norwood mayor, making the city council member the first white person to be voted into the city’s top office in 35 years. And while race has taken a central role in this campaign, residents told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that their big concerns are like those of many city dwellers: crime, transportation, unemployment.
Photo: John Amis / AP Photo
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time to sweep out the trash
Chickens coming home to roost. May this and all future elections turn out exactly as they must.
Thank you.
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