As the results roll in tonight, and we begin to interpret them, I thought it'd be interesting to note a slight blip on the statistical radar screen:
52% of precincts reporting
Barack Obama 141,006 54%
Hillary Clinton 69,873 27%
John Edwards 48,007 19%
Dennis Kucinich 292 0%
Mike Gravel 27 0%
I won't go through the motions of trying to be ironic and say how this showing is the underreported political story coming out of S.C today. No, won't do that.
This diary is just making a note that, as of now, 27 people did show up and cast a ballot for Mike Gravel.
I don't think this is particularly funny, or sad, or noble, or indeed tells us anything about the race, but it is interesting. I like to think of the people who went out to vote for Gravel today...in the national political landscape, as the official results roll in, here are a hardy group of 27 showing up against hundreds of thousands of their fellow voters.
All efforts in the post-game will probably be directed to constituencies greater than 27, so I thought I'd put in a plug for the underdog, and his voters.
52% of precincts reporting
Barack Obama 141,006 54%
Hillary Clinton 69,873 27%
John Edwards 48,007 19%
Dennis Kucinich 292 0%
Mike Gravel 27 0%
I wonder what they ate this morning, whether they are right or left handed, what their favorite tv shows are, what kind of cars they drive, what issue brought them to stand and deliver for Gravel. A number so small, among numbers so large, what made them do it?
It's kind of fun to think about them, what they're doing right now as their ranks are listed so plainly on the national register.
Ooops, spoke too soon, Gravel has been dropped from the updates here at Daily Kos:
86% of precincts reporting
Barack Obama 229,352 54%
Hillary Clinton 114,351 27%
John Edwards 79,329 19%
Dennis Kucinich 460 0%
Do I sense some kind of censorship? A conspiracy at Daily Kos? Why are you assisting in the big media coverup of today's big story...Gravelmentum.
UPDATE BREAKING:
Unconfirmed reports in the comments suggest the Secretary of State now say 48 voters have been tallied for Mike Gravel! If this is true, this is big news, and raises more questions than answers about why Gravel is currently not being represented on the front page.
According to decembersue: "...in other news, 20 people who accidentally wandered into a polling place thinking it was their local landscaping center are now at home waiting for a truckload of gravel." DEVELOPING!
2nd UPDATE: Gravel voters reaching critical mass at 121, with 93% of the precincts reporting! WHERE'S THE MEDIA ON THIS??!? Hmm...