Hoosier Hoedown

Despite what has been hailed as a strong showing by Barack Obama in Indiana, his campaign claims he would’ve done better but for the sabotage of Rush Limbaugh, the Washington Post reports. Under his “Operation Chaos,” the conservative radio host urged Indiana Republicans to vote for Clinton in order to prolong the Dems' dogfight and "bloody up Obama politically." More »

Barack Obama romped to victory in North Carolina and almost fought Hillary Clinton to a draw in Indiana by relying on his most loyal coalitions: young voters, African-Americans, and liberals. He also did better yesterday than in recent races among white men, pulling about 40% of that demo in Indiana. That puts Obama back at the level of support he enjoyed on Super Tuesday, reports Politico. More »

A dozen nuns who lacked proper photo ID were turned away from an Indiana voting booth yesterday—by a fellow nun. None of the nuns, all over 80, had a driver's license because they don't drive, and some presented outdated passports, the AP reports. Their convent has launched a major push to arrange for proper ID in time for November's election. More »

Barack Obama's resounding win in North Carolina and fight to the finish in Indiana has left the Clinton campaign with one final strategy to win the nomination: move the goalposts and play for time. Team Hillary is now telling journalists that the winning candidate actually needs almost 200 more delegates than both sides had said earlier, reports the Los Angeles Times. More »

Hillary Clinton held on to beat Barack Obama by the slimmest of margins in the Indiana primary, CNN reports. Though Clinton led by double digits early in the night, Obama made a dramatic recovery late and closed the gap to 51% to 49%. Populous Lake County held up the results until after 1am ET. Having lost in North Carolina earlier, Clinton sorely needed an Indiana victory. More »

Though she lost in North Carolina and was locked in a race too close to call in Indiana, Hillary Clinton remained unbowed tonight while addressing supporters, NBC reports. Noting that Barack Obama predicted she'd win Pennsylvania, he'd win North Carolina, and that Indiana would be a "tie-breaker," she declared victory in the state and said the triumph would propel her "full speed" to the White House. She appealed for more money and echoed Obama's confidence that the party will unite behind a candidate. More »

In exit polling in both Indiana and North Carolina today, voters overwhelmingly said the economy was the No. 1 issue influencing their decision in the presidential primary. In Indiana, 65% said the economy was most important, compared to 60% in North Carolina. Asked if the recession had affected their lives, 89% in Indiana said yes, as did 81% in North Carolina, MSNBC reports. More »

With polls still seesawing as voters pull their levers, maybe it’s best to stop predicting results, and start figuring out what they’ll mean. Adam Nagourney takes a shot in the New York Times : A Hillary Clinton victory in both primaries could “change the world.” Indiana would be Barack Obama’s third consecutive loss due to a blue-collar gap, and the North Carolina result would be chalked up to Rev. Wright. Disaster for Obama. More »

Voters in North Carolina and Indiana go to the polls today in what many are seeing as the last major battle in the Democratic race. The Washington Post outlines the stakes. Has Obama put the Wright controversy behind him? Pretty much, say both sides; it's a media story now. How's the gas tax holiday playing? Economists hate it, but it was a smart strategic move for Clinton. Is the race going to the convention? At least until June 3, if Hillary wins one of today's contests. More »

Urbanites in North Carolina prefer Barack Obama, while rural voters side with Hillary Clinton—which is why she spent all weekend trying to sway mixed regions like small cities and far-out suburbs. Obama, meanwhile, is counting on a hidden strength with country folk and his far-reaching publicity machine to win tomorrow's primary, the Charlotte Observer reports More »

Barack Obama is trying his darnedest to shed the elitist vibe, writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times, ditching his dainty sips at a Pennsylvania brewery for big swigs of Bud at an Indiana VFW. But for a man of mixed race and a blue-collar upbringing, it’s proving a surprisingly hard image to shake. More »

Congress killed hopes of a “gas tax holiday,” but that won't stop Hillary Clinton from running on it. Her camp issued its second Indiana TV ad today blasting Barack Obama’s opposition to the measure, Talking Points Memo reports. Obama responded to her first ad by saying the holiday would save Indiana residents "only pennies a day," the AP reports. More »

Indiana is an especially hard state to suss out ahead of next week’s primary, because its recent fortunes lie somewhere between those of flush Connecticut and struggling Ohio. Racial factors aren’t significant, so the Democratic race likely turns on economics, with prosperous areas favoring Barack Obama and the less affluent helping Hillary Clinton, Politico reports in its analysis of the state's inclinations. More »

The Indianapolis Star endorsed Hillary Clinton today, saying that even though Barack Obama “offers an attractive vision for the way things could be,” the former first lady “offers a clear-eyed view of the way things are.” Four days ahead of Indiana' primary, the state's largest newspaper praised Obama but worried that his “inexperience in high office is a liability.” It was more impressed with Clinton’s “remarkable” depth of knowledge. More »

In the red state of Indiana, the GOP could have a major say in the fortunes of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Tuesday's primary, the Wall Street Journal reports. Republicans could account for up to 15% of voters in the Democratic race because of the state's open-primary system. As a result, both candidates are venturing into GOP stomping grounds to round up votes. More »

Given Barack Obama’s much-ballyhooed problems with white, working-class voters, it's instructive to remember that he clobbered Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin by 17 points in February, notes Mike Madden in Salon. If he can reconnect with those voters in Indiana—another state close to his Illinois home—he could wrap up the nomination. That is, of course, much easier said than done. More »

Democrats are attracting new voters in record numbers, even as the GOP's ranks dip or remain flat. In the seven states that most recently held primaries, more than 1 million new voters registered as Democrats; North Carolina and Indiana have seen triple the Democratic enrollment they did before the 2004 primaries. The Washington Post pays a call on some North Carolina newbies. More »

Despite the ubiquitous use of “change” as a rallying cry in the Democratic primaries, the New York Times notes, the candidates might want to reconsider using it ahead of Indiana's May 6 primary. Although they’re dissatisfied with the economic toll taken by the decline in manufacturing, voters generally expressed “queasiness” in response to both candidates' use of the mantra. More »

Barack Obama looked to the next primaries in his speech tonight, applauding his supporters for making inroads against Hillary Clinton in the Pennsylvania primary despite his loss, CNN reports. Obama pushed his theme of changing politics-as-usual, saying, "It's easy to get consumed by the tit-for-tat," when the country is beset by "two wars, an economy in recession, a planet in peril." More »

Indiana is poised to become a major battleground in the Democratic presidential race, but Indiana’s Democratic House representatives look like they’re ducking the firefight. Four of the five are in their first terms, seemingly unwilling to risk angering party brass or alienating voters. Indiana’s contest looks incredibly close, Politico reports, and no one can discern which horse is winning. More »