Paul Hopes Blimp Gives Him a Lift

No blimp, but otherwise a steaming success

(NEWSER) - In an event dubbed "Boston TeaParty07," supporters of quirky GOP candidate Ron Paul rallied in the Boston snow yesterday while donations from across the nation dropped a record-breaking one-day "money bomb" of $6 million into the campaign. Most of the funds were donated over the Internet. To Paul's backers, the fundraising blitz demonstrated that he's a ''viable candidate," the Boston Globe reports. More»

The big question: How much will Romney win by?

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney is going to win the New Hampshire primary, and everyone ostensibly knows it. But that doesn't mean the results won't be interesting. Here are the contests the pundits are watching:

• Romney vs. expectations: With Romney's victory assured, pundits are speculating over his vote tally. One strategist tells Politico he has to hit at least 38%—John McCain's 2008 total. Romney himself managed 32% in that contest, but anything nearly that low would raise serious questions now.

They take 7 of 11 governor contests

(NEWSER) - Democrats captured a Republican governor's seat last in Missouri, where state Attorney General Jay Nixon defeated Rep. Kenny Hulshof, AP reports. And in the night's closest races, Democrats Bev Purdue won in North Carolina and Christine Gregoire beat her opponent in Washington. With all 11 races in, Democrats now control 29 statehouses, up one from the start of the night. The Dem tally came close to being higher: Incumbent Republican Mitch Daniels held off a tough challenge from Jill Long Thompson in Indiana. More»

Eleven states in play, four are close

(NEWSER) - Eleven states are choosing governors in a number of tight races today, with both Democrats and Republicans already crowing about victory. The closest contests are in Washington and North Carolina, reports MarketWatch. Neither state has elected a Republican in 20 years, but polls show candidates are neck-and-neck in both states. Three states—Delaware, North Carolina and Missouri—feature new candidates from both parties because incumbents aren't running. More»

Poll: Obama holds slim lead in Ohio; dead heat in NC; Mac's edge slim in Ind.

(NEWSER) - John McCain finds himself fighting to hold some states that went red in 2000 and ‘04—a bad sign for the Republican, Time reports. Polls show Barack Obama in real contention in once-solid GOP states like Indiana and North Carolina, and inching ahead in crucial Ohio. Obama has also opened wide leads in New Hampshire and Wisconsin, Democratic in ’04. More»