In Horry County due to the problems I noted below. The campaign is now trying to get the time extended by one hour so everyone has a chance to cast a vote:
A top backer for John McCain’s presidential bid tells CNN the Arizona senator’s campaign is seeking a court order to extend voting in Horry County by one hour, after learning voting machines in this eastern part of the state were malfunctioning on primary day.
State Rep. Tracey Edge, R-Myrtle Beach, said the campaign was trying to find a circuit court judge to issue the ruling.
“We are seeking an order to extend the voting time, because of reported and publicized information that people were turned away from the polls,” Edge said.
All polls in the South Carolina Republican primary are scheduled to close at 7 p.m. ET. Complicating matters for McCain, the county has just one resident circuit court judge, who they have not yet been able to reach. McCain won Horry County when he ran for president in 2000.
The McCain campaign Saturday was telling supporters residing in this county to make sure their vote was counted.
Earlier in the day, Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, said that he had confidence that the problem would be fixed.
“We expect a full and fair count,” Dawson said in a telephone interview with CNN. “In South Carolina, our citizens take the right to vote very seriously. We have full confidence in our state elections commission, which is running this primary. Any questions that have arisen are being addressed.”
Dawson noted that “there is always a backup in case there is an election machine malfunction and a ballot can’t be cast.”
Lisa Bourcier, public information for Horry County, said that 80 percent of the voting machines were back on-line as of 1:30 p.m. ET.
South Carolina was holding its Republican primary Saturday, a critical contest on the road to the GOP presidential nomination.
UPDATE: Horry County now has enough paper ballots on hand. According to the AP, 90% of the voting machines were down in the country his morning. 80% are working now. It’s good to hear that. The polls close in an hour. There’s no word on whether the judge granted an extension.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Please please please SC judge, allow McCain more time to squeak out a win!
January 19th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Bad move — shows signs of desperation.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
South Carolina ain’t Chicago, you can’t just change the rules as the game is going on
January 19th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
LJ- outstanding find…
McCain needs a big turnout from that county… Here’s why..
These links from The State newspaper (SC) sheds some light on what was going on in Horry County, earlier today. It appears that Horry County is one where McCain needed to do extremely well today. In 2000, McCain defeated GWB there by a resounding 53%-44% margin, despite being defeated easily statewide. So I can understand why the McCain campaign would be very unhappy, if there were difficulties in getting a big turnout out of Horry County…
Links: – the text quote and statistical info below is from The State’s interactive map, which I found very beneficial…
http://www.thestate.com/presidential-politics/story/289717.html
In addition, The State has an interactive SC primary map at this link-
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114628348347800710830.000441d140eb2233d34ec
Horry County
Last Updated by bguzior on Jan 8
The booming tourism and retirement communities of Horry have bolstered the county’s population the past decade. The county is traditionally more independent-minded than other parts of the state.
Population: 238,493
Registered voters: 127,000
Results from 2000 GOP Primary: 53 for John McCain; 44 percent for George W. Bush.
How much money given to Republicans (through 3rd quarter): $54,402
Top candidate: Mitt Romney, $30,100
This is me writing once more – thoughts, anyone?
January 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Wow. So much for everyone having a chance to vote. How on earth is wanting to get every vote counted “desperation” or “changing the rules”? Amazing.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
McCain shouldn’t mess with divine intervention. The machines broke for a reason.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Not a good sign for Mccain. If his team’s exit polling showed he was winning then he wouldn’t bother.
A narrow Huck victory would be nice for me.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Jeff,
Actually, the latest exit polling does show McCain ahead by a few points. But every vote counts.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Link please LJ?
January 19th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Y2YxNmYxNjQ5NjEzNTI4MjY3YjRjZjZhZDZiMmY2YWI=
January 19th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I’m actually fine with keeping the polls open in that county an extra hour. No one really benefits from it in an unfair proportion, since the polls are open longer to everyone, not just McCain’s backers. Besides, it shouldn’t really make much difference in numbers anyway. Really, how many of the people who were turned back weren’t going to return but now will with that extra hour? My guess is most of them already returned and voted. So, I doubt it’ll make much difference, but in the interests of fairness I’d say leave the county polls open for one extra hour.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I’m not sure I understand this. In most states that I am aware of, if you show up by closing time, you will be allowed to vote. They just won’t let any more people get into line after closing. So if McCain voters are in line before closing, their votes will count, will they not?
So if this is true for South Carolina then yes, I think attempting to change the rules in the middle of the game is a sign of desperation on the part of John McCain.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I wish that NRO and other media outlets would not leak these exit polls in advance of the polls closing. There were reforms instituted in the 2006 cycle to prevent these leaks – which is why they are less frequent.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
My money is on Huckabee to win in SC. McCain will need all the time & turnout possible to win in SC.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
The silver lining here is that as long as the SC polls are open FOX news will keep that banner with the Nevada results at the bottom of their screen. Those numbers look about right. Hopefully the judge will give a 5 hour extension and the SC results will only be known when everybody is asleep.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
marK,
So if McCain voters are in line before closing, their votes will count, will they not?
No. The machines were down for most of today and they precincts were out of polling places. A lot of people were turned away at the polls and told to return later. That is why the campaign is trying to get voting hours extended.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
So remind me again, the Romney fans want who to win in SC? Other than Romney, of course.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Team McCain’s a little concerned…Ambinder has some exit polls…
Yeah, it’s no wonder McCain’s asking for longer hours in the county he won in 2000…
January 19th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
So, only McCain’s County can be extended? 80% of the machines were back on line by 130pm and therefore the voters have had ample time prior to 7pm to get to the booths. No showing of irreparable injury for the issuance of an injunction.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I remember when Carnahan died and they replaced his name on the ballot with his wife a week before the election and then left Saint Louis City polls open until they had enough votes to beat Ashcroft.
I don’t mind leaving the precincts that had problems open. Leaving the entire County’s polls open is fishy.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
murphy, I’m not sure what that 79% vs 18% means.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Keep the dang polls open an extra hour. It won’t kill anyone and it certainly is more fair.
I hope South Carolina doesn’t turn into the Florida of 8 years ago.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
#20
I’m thinking the 79% means actual registered Republicans were 79% of the vote in the Republican Primary in South Carolina, 18% more than they were in 2000.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
See the update.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Or perhaps instead of being “registered” Republicans, it is “self-described” Republicans voting in the GOP Primary. I think it was a closed primary, meaning non-registered Republicans weren’t allowed to vote.
Anyone know more?
January 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Ah, somehow I read “up from” rather than “up.”
January 19th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I’m pretty sure indies could vote in this one too
January 19th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Oprepete, SC is an open primary, where anyone can vote in either party. It looks like 79% of votes today are from registered Republicans.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Duncan Hunter has received more votes that John Edwards in NV! Way to go Duncan! Edwards is on his way out..
January 19th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Ah, somehow I read “up from†rather than “up.â€
LOL. I read it like that at first, too.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Ron Paul now has more vote than Hillary Clinton in NV! Ron Paul!!
SC will determine if this race is a Romney / McCain race or a Romney / Huckabee race..
January 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Hmm, I wonder how long McCain’s camp has been planning this one.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I love how people like cwpete have been tricked into thinking Rudy isn’t in the running in FL.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
cwpete, those aren’t votes on the Dem side, those are state delegates.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Agh,
Thanks for the correction Metro, #33
And if Rudy has been running in FL like how many claim, I would expect him to be performing better since he really has not been working hard anywhere else.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Metro, it looks like those are state delegates on both sides:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NV
January 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
cwpete, he’s within the margin-of-error of winning the whole thing, and he has a massive presence in FL that no one else has.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
You just found a typo on CNN’s site. Check the Politico results, which refer to the GOP side as a straw poll and the Dem side as county delegates.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
16 I was thinking McCain but the “experts” say a Huck win is better for Romney because McCain is too strong. It’s a toss up I guess. Personally I would prefer McCain.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Metro:
“cwpete, he’s within the margin-of-error of winning the whole thing, and he has a massive presence in FL that no one else has.”
Couple things, I don’t think it is unreasonable to have a higher expectation for a candidate who has staked his bid on one state like Rudy in FL. Second, I don’t think FL is a winner take all contest. FL will only have 57 delegates up for grabs since half got yanked.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
MetroRepublican #37,
Figures, I get mis-informed reading CNN..
January 19th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTg0M2E5ZjhhZDc1YzdjMmQ3YmU2NDlkYzYwY2I4Nzk=
mcain is up 32-28
January 19th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
cwpete, The parties do not have the same number of state delegates. It looks like Republicans want more delegates at their next two caucus conventions than Democrats.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
cwpete, FL is winner-take-all for the 57 delegates. Whoever wins it will be the delegate leader.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
43, Isn’t Flordia winner take all by district?
January 19th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
#16: I think what we want is a very close race between Huckabee and McCain, and to beat Thompson. A Huckabee win is supposed to be bad because Huckabee and Romney overlap constituencies, while a McCain win is bad because he has more momentum and so there is a greater need for him to be stopped. I personally favor a slight Huckabee win, but I don’t know how much it’s going to matter. There’s relatively a lot of time before Florida, so campaigning will have more of an influence. Plus Romney defied all expectations in NV.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I read an exit poll that has McCain up 30-29% among Republicans with a late surge for him in the last couple of hours. Working on finding out where that poll came from.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
eljefe According to the TheGreenPaper.com, before the penalty, yes, Florida was Winner-Take-All by district and state. However, since they lost half of their delegates, they have decided whoever win the state will get all of their 57 delegates.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
17, Huck gets 41% of evangelicals, which comprise 53% of the electorate. (This was reported on MSNBC)
Lets guess that Huck gets 15% of the non evangelicals, averaging the 41% and the 15% leaves Huck in the 24%-26% neighborhood, NOT ENOUGH TO WIN.
A nail in the coffin of Huck the Decievered?
I just bought MCCAIN on InTrade.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
thanks sgs
January 19th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Man I really hope SC results come in quicker that Nevada’s have!
January 19th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
FWIW, ABC was saying something similar. The tone of the reporting made it sound like the Evangelicals were not making up the gap enough for the Huckster. We’ll see once the numbers come in.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
#43, no Romney has more than 57 delegates according to CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R
So if Rudy wins florida, that’ll put him in 2nd.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
On Campaign Spot on NRO
Next Round of Exits Shows McCain Up 6
Next round of exits: McCain 33 percent, Huckabee 27 percent, Romney 16 and change, Thompson just under 15 percent.
This isn’t the last round of exit polls, but I think it’s the next-to-last…
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/
January 19th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Metro,
CNN has Romney projected with 72 delegates already, and they’ve mistaken the way in which Nevada apportions delegates. After today, even if he gets nothing in SC, Romney will have between 75-80 delegates. Rudy has 1 so far. So no, the winner of Florida won’t necessarily be the delegate leader.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Why aren’t they just taking down everybody’s name they “turn away” if they are indeed turning people away at the polls, and make sure those people get a chance to vote?
January 19th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
After today, Florida might not have enough delegates to take Romney out of first place.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Huck the deciever is going DOWN.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Quack the upside of Huck going down would be you shutting up.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
58, there is a whole lot more upside than me shutting up for our country, the conservative movement and our party. I am not going to shut up though, not even for a baby economist.
January 19th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Fox has Carl Cameron at McCain HQ. I think that means they think he will win.
It looks like a long night ahead for us Huckanuts.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Huckabee can’t even pull off a win in the buckle of the bible belt – I can’t wait for his speech – maybe there will be a few funny stories and experiences from the road that will help his supporters keep their chin up from what is by all accounts an incredibly devastating loss.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hey CNN is now processing result!!!!!
January 19th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
CNN has SC exit polls posted:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/index.html#SCREP
January 19th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
What the hell kind of backdrop is that for hillary clinton on foxnews?
January 19th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Quack, if Huck goes down you’d be an ignorant boorish whiner to keep discussing him.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Exit polls show McCain winning Republicans by 1 (Take that Limbaugh and Rombots) and among Independents by 14.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
bjalder26 and Matt Miller, IA and NV delegates are not actually awarded yet. Those are estimates. Those delegates are not bound. Traditionally, if someone wraps up the nomination, all the caucus delegates switch to the winner.
January 19th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
#66 – If Huckabee goes down, there would be no reason or need for Quack to talk about him.
I would like him to go down and forget all about him as soon as possible.