[Updates below]
Once again we will be updating the results of the primaries and caucuses that will be held today, March 4, 2008 for the Republican and Democratic candidates.
The primaries and caucuses will be held in, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont, for both parties. Each Party will be listed below with the subheaders being the individual states and as the results come in later this evening, we will post the results and continue to update until 100% of the precincts have reported.
Below that will be some commentary that will be updated throughout the day with news and polls regarding each party.
EARLY NUMBERS are in.
GOP:
Ohio-McCain 59%, Huckabee 31% (Wapo is calling it for McCain)
83% reporting
Texas- McCain 52%, Huckabee 37%
79% reporting
Vermont- McCain 72%, Huckabee 14%
85% reporting
Rhode Island- McCain 65%, Huckabee 22%
98% reporting
DEMOCRATS:
Ohio-Clinton 56%, Obama 42%
83% reporting
Texas (primary)- Obama 48%, Clinton 50%
68% reporting
Texas (caucus)- Clinton takes Texas
(Note about Texas, Obama seems to be ahead in the caucuses)
Vermont-Obama 60%, Clinton 38%
85% reporting
Rhode Island- Clinton 58%, Obama 40% (Wapo reports that Clinton takes Rhode Island)
98% reporting
ALL FIGURES WILL BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL 100% HAS REPORTED.
Reports are coming in that Huckabee has dropped out.
LATEST POLLS: An interesting poll was conducted by ABC asking if Clinton should stay in the race or withdraw if Texas and Ohio doesn't go her way and the results are surprising.
Democrats by more than a 2-1 margin say Hillary Clinton should stay in the presidential race even if she loses either the Texas or Ohio primary on Tuesday. But if she fails in both, fewer than half say they'd want her to fight on.
This will give Clinton the excuse she will need to choose "self" over "party unity" given that many Democratic leaders have asked that she withdraw if she loses either Ohio or Texas, as we showed our readers yesterday.
The latest Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle Poll shows that "Clinton Rebounds as Closing Campaign Boosts Her Barely Ahead of Obama in Texas - Tied in Ohio!"
Question: Will Obama's recent tangle with the press hurt him in tonight's contests?
NEWS:
Rush Limbaugh is still trying to cause mischief by insisting Republicans vote for Hillary Clinton in the primaries tonight to keep her in the race so that the Democratic contenders can continue to tear each other apart.
[Update] Seems Rush is getting his wish, Republicans, for a variety of reasons are helping to determine the outcome in Ohio for the Democrats. (Rush, you cheeky monkey you!)
Americablog has an interesting piece out showing that Clinton, in her desire to win, might have just thrown the Democratic party under the bus by declaring that Mccain has more experience to bring to the White House than Obama does.
A case of "if I cannot have it, no one on my side can?"
[Update] Gallup Daily poll:
Gallup Poll Daily tracking finds Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tied once again, with 45% of Democratic voters nationwide preferring each as the party's 2008 presidential nominee.
I will update as things of interest come to my attention.
[Update] Washington Post projects wins in Vermont for McCain and Obama.
[Update] 8:20 pm CST Huckabee concedes to McCain, announces withdrawal from race, pledges support to McCain and the Republican Party.
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