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February 6, 2008

Super Tuesday's Super Turnout

A TFK special report from polling stations across the country



Voters in 24 states went to the polls in record numbers on February 5. In California, an estimated 9 million people cast their ballots. Four years ago, the state's Super Tuesday turnout was 6.6 million. Across the country in Connecticut, several towns scrambled to meet demand, photocopying blank ballots to keep from running out. And in Virginia, which is scheduled to hold its contest next week, confused voters called the board of elections by the hundreds, wondering why their polling places were closed.


Machaela Jensen reports from Barack Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, on Super Tuesday.

There was no clear winner for the Democrats. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, from New York, and Barack Obama, from Illinois, both had strong showings. Clinton is at 1,045 and Obama has 960, according to AP this morning. Both candidates will be vying for victories in upcoming contests, with an eye on the Democratic nomination this summer.

Republican Senator John McCain was the clear winner for his party. Scoring victories from coast to coast, McCain earned more delegates than his two rivals combined. According to nearly complete returns from Tuesday's vote, the Arizona senator had 703 delegates, while Mitt Romney came in a distant second with 260. Still, there is a long road ahead: It takes 1,191 delegates to win the Republican nomination. The nominee will be announced this September.


A voter in Fayetteville, Georgia, voices her opinion to Kid Reporter Virginia Lambert.

We Keep an Eye on the Contests

TFK Kid Reporters were at polling places in states with some of the biggest contests. Some held contests in their own classrooms. Kid Reporter Sade Kammen had the opportunity to listen in on a conference call with Barack Obama. He touched on such topics as energy and environmental issues, saying, "I will push aggressively to address climate change. My presidency will make the country a leader on protecting the climate by investing in companies [working to] solve the problem." Machaela Jensen attended a major event at Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

Here's a look at how people around the country are feeling as the 2008 Presidential race rolls on. In the U.S., votes are cast by secret ballot. You'll see that some voters asked our Kid Reporters to identify them by first name only, or not at all.



Kid Reporters Sade Kammen in Oakland, and Laila El Hasan in Laguna Niguel


STATE WINNERS

Democrats: Hillary Clinton; Republicans: John McCain

KIDS' PICK
Here's how Sade's fifth-grade class voted
Democrats: Barack Obama; Republicans: John McCain

Here's how kids in Laila's class voted
Democrats: Clinton; Republicans: McCain

OPINIONS AT THE POLLS
Sade interviewed voters leaving the polls at Montera Middle School in Oakland. Here's what a few had to say:

Katherine King:
"The thing I want to see in the new president is attention to health care and government spending. I voted for Obama. I think it is great that young people are getting excited [about this election]."

Robert McConnell:
"I think that our new President needs to have sensitivity to the people of the U.S. [The President] will need to work on social security. I voted for Obama."


OPINIONS AT THE POLLS
Laila interviewed voters in Laguna Niguel.

Eric Carrillo, 18:
"I voted for Hillary Clinton. She says that she's going to do a lot of things for Hispanics. It would be nice if there wasn't so much segregation between some Hispanics and people born in the U.S."

Alex, 31:
"I voted for Hillary Clinton because I think this country needs a change. I think it would be beneficial for us to have a woman as president. The time has come."

Cecilia Avery, 44:
"I voted for Barack Obama because he says a lot of good things about change. He says he's going to get Republicans and Democrats to work together for the country."

Destiny Knolls, 25:
"I voted for Barack Obama because I believe we need to make some changes in this country. And I believe he's the man who could make those changes happen."

Kid Reporter Virginia Lambert


STATE WINNERS

Democrats: Obama; Republicans: Mike Huckabee

KIDS' PICK
In Virginia's class, Obama was the winning Democrat, and Huckabee won among Republicans


OPINIONS AT THE POLLS
Virginia interviewed voters in Fayetteville.


Virginia:
"May I ask who you voted for?"

Gregory K:
"Barack Obama"

Virginia:
"Are you a member of any party? Which one?"

Gregory K:
"I am a Republican."

Virginia:
"Why did you change parties?"

Gregory K:
"I was inspired by Obama."



Virginia:
"May I ask who you voted for?"

Lori B:
"John McCain"

Virginia:
"How do you feel the election is different from the last one?"

Lori B:
"I feel a little more strongly this year than some others [because] there is a [Democratic] candidate that I really do not want to see elected."



Virginia:
"May I ask who you voted for?"

Harietta B:
"Barack Obama"

Virginia:
"How do you feel the election is different from the last one?"

Harietta B:
"[Americans] have gone through some really rough trials and I think we want something different. I think that this year people are more motivated."

Kid Reporter Machaela Jensen


STATE WINNERS

Democrats: Obama; Republicans: McCain

KIDS' PICK
In Machaela's class, Democrats: Obama; Republicans: Mitt Romney

OPINIONS AT THE POLLS
Machaela asked voters in Chicago what they were looking for in a candidate, and what issues were important to them.

"National Security, and if they had a business background, because the government is essentially a business. I voted for Romney."

"I was voting for someone that is against the war. I voted for Obama."

"How the next President will deal with the economic situation in the country."

"Education. I voted for Clinton."


AND AT OBAMA HEADQUARTERS...

The place was buzzing with excitement. Organizers expected more than 3,000 supporters. Whenever Obama won a state, cheering would erupt. It was history in the making. Supporters said that the percentages were greater than expected for Obama, making this night a true victory. "We have shown strength across the country. We feel good about how diverse our support was," Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, told TFK. Many voiced their confidence in his ability to win. "He is the most inspirational speaker of our generation," said Carrie Cook. "Just to hear him speak is amazing enough, and to see him hopefully win the presidency [would be] a dream come true." -By Machaela Jensen

Kid reporters Yunhee Hyun in New York City and Hannah Spicijaric in Nesconset


STATE WINNERS

Democrats: Clinton; Republicans: McCain

KIDS' PICK
Democrats: Barack Obama; Republicans: John McCain

Here's how the candidates did in Yunhee's class
Democrats: Clinton; Republicans: McCain

OPINIONS AT THE POLLS
Yun Hee talked with voters in New York City.


William Black:
"I voted for Hillary Clinton. I think she is the most qualified candidate. She has the best combination of experience, knowledge, character and strength that the President of the United States requires.

Stuart Belsky:
"I voted for Hillary Clinton. She is successful as a New York Senator."

OPINIONS AT THE POLLS
Hannah talked to voters at polling place 73 in Nesconset, Long Island.


Christine:
"I am a Democrat, and I support Barack Obama. We need a change in party. We need someone with fresh ideas to help us overcome our economic woes, our health care concerns and certainly where we stand on Iraq."

Tom:
"Republican, McCain. He is a hero and is going to be our next president. I think America will make the right decision come November. Stay the course."

Jennifer:
"Democrat, Clinton. We need a woman to straighten things out. History will be made in 2008."