NY 20 Obama Referendum – All Tied Up
So that special election that liberals said proved America (hearts) Obama’s tax and spend policies, is all tied up.
The special U.S. House election in an upstate New York congressional district is now exactly tied.
Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco have 77,225 votes each, according to the New York Board of Elections.
Murphy previously was leading Tedisco by 25 votes, but that lead narrowed as officials conducted a mandatory check of voting machine results.
This race was to replace the Congresswoman who was appointed to fill now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat. It was being dubbed as a bell weather by many as to how Americans would reject or embrace Obama’s policies since it was the first election since Socialism began it march from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
But don’t take my word for it, get t from the horse’s mouth. (via Obama.com) (emphasis mine)
UPDATED (11:08 PM): The official statement from DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, issued after Democrat Scott Murphy won the raw vote in tonight’s special election in New York’s 20th Congressional District:
Scott Murphy embraced President Obama’s message of change and his plans to fix our economy and create jobs, and as a result he stormed from more than 20 points down to winning a majority of votes cast tonight. Scott’s performance tonight in an overwhelmingly Republican district, where Republicans enjoy a registration advantage over Democrats of more than 70,000, represents a repudiation of the failed politics and policies that Republicans continue to embrace. We are confident that when all the ballots are counted, Scott will expand his lead and become an ally to President Obama in Congress who will help the President create jobs and turn our economy around.
Well, on Tuesday night, some liberals declared victory and even seemed to imply mandate. But upon further review, it appears that things are all tied up.
John Conklin, spokesman for the state elections board, told FOXNews.com the outcome of the race will not be known for “several weeks at least.”
“The lawyers are now involved, so everything will get much slower,” he said.
Conklin said officials probably will begin Tuesday counting the absentee ballots, more than 10,000 of which were sent out.
He said a recount, though not mandatory under New York law, is a possibility.
Seriously, someone find out if Marc Elias is still in Minnesota.
A quick review of NY 20’s election history might be in order.
In 2008 Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) won handily, 62% to 38%.
According to her website she handily beat a long time Republican in 2006. Although Wiki shows her opponent was less in turmoil and the results were 53% to 47%
What does this tell us?
That this is a huge referendum on Obama. Regardless of who ends up squeaking it out on the absentee count, this should have been a slam dunk for Obama and Democrats. I think we’re seeing the first of many pick ups for Republicans.
With out Obama on the ballot, but his policies on their minds, voters are no longer so fond of Obama’s “change”.
