For all of you have been following these polls, I just wanted to let you know why there's no runoff for Sec. of Health and Human Services today. The problem is that thus far all polls were won by white men. It is as unrealistic as can be that we'd actually have a cabinet in which all the top positions were held by white men. It's not the 60s anymore. So the Obama Cabinet polls will have to change a little.

What I will do from now on:

I will still poll all positions and the initial polls for all positions are reopened. So you can still vote for State, AG, etc. In the end, I will look at all poll results and will compile five different cabinets including your favorite candidates from each poll (plus a wildcard where necessary). The diversity of the US population will be reflected in each cabinet. And you then get to vote on each cabinet as a whole.

Today's poll and the links to the other polls are below the fold.

The Secretary of Defense runoff poll between Chuck Hagel and Jim Webb was a real nailbiter. Results below the fold.

With the Obama Veepstakes poll now concluded and Gov. Bill Richardson as your chosen running mate (which was covered by the Santa Fe Reporter) it's time to take this a step further:

Who would you like to see in an Obama cabinet?

Thus far, Joe Biden won the Sec. of State poll and Michael Bloomberg won the Sec. of the Treasury poll (results below the fold). Today you can vote on the next Attorney General:

With the Obama Veepstakes poll now concluded and Gov. Bill Richardson as your chosen running mate (which was covered by the Santa Fe Reporter) it's time to take this a step further:

Who would you like to see in an Obama cabinet?

Thus far, Joe Biden won the Sec. of State poll and yesterday Michael Bloomberg won the Sec. of the Treasury poll (results below the fold). Today you can vote on the next Secretary of Defense:

         Is this the start of an "enemies list?"

Sometimes, when I take a stand on an issue, I incur the wrath of people who disagree. Some of the emails I’ve received are not fit for publication on a family blog like this and some of the voice mails have been saved for posterity (and possible court proceedings).

But never have I had someone think they could intimidate me by writing to my boss and demanding to know if I was speaking for my employer 24 hours a day. And never have I had someone write to my boss challenging my right to support or oppose any piece of legislation or government policy. And never have I had a high government official try to get my employer to silence my voice in the public square just because what I say challenges that official’s policy. Until ...

Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri sent this letter.

I am starting an electoral college projection, based on State polls. There are 10 designations that States can be given, as you can see by the key. The designations are determined by State polls, with a bit of judgment thrown in. The State polls ultimately dictate what a State’s designation will be, however instead of using a formula, designations will simply be changed whenever there seems to be sufficient reason to do so. This way, hopefully one outlier will not determine a designation, but at the same time we can be responsive to shifts confirmed in more than one poll.

Currently, the preponderance of State polls has John McCain at a slight advantage in the electoral college, mainly because Obama is having difficulty in the Industrial midwest. According to recent polls, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio are all leaning slightly towards McCain. In Michigan and Florida, the mismanaged Democratic primaries also seem to be helping McCain. If Michigan alone flips to Obama, the race becomes a 269-269 tie.

EI Electoral College Projection: 3/24/2008

The first round of the Obama Veepstakes is over. Including the wildcard round, there are now only 16 out of 45 candidates left to vote on. The results of round I are below the fold.

You can vote on the 5th matchup of Round II below the fold. Prior to that I'd like to address a few suggestions made in previous comment sections.

Regular Updates from Pat Crowley of

I will be broadcasting LIVE from the Anti-War March in Washington, DC today starting at 3PM.  Get the link at
RIFuture.org

Live Blogging

Yesterday's wildcard round featured 15 candidates and since no one came even close to 50% of the vote the top five candidates will square off in a 1st run-off today. If no one gets to 50% today, there will be second run-off between the top two tomorrow. As to what this is all about and who won the first 15 matchups, please check out yesterday's diary.

Check here for updates ....

After the initial 15 matchups, the first round of the Obama Veepstakes poll concludes with a wilcard round of less likely choices (in my very subjective opinion). They include people seldomly talked about yet associated with the Obama campaign, they also include members of the House of Representatives, and also Republicans and Independents and a few others. While putting the wildcard round together I tried to include your suggestions from previous comment threads.

Unless one of the 15 candidates manages to get more than 50%, I will conduct a first run-off tomorrow between those in the double digits or the top five, and if necessary hold a second run-off on Tuesday.

This weekend the New Organizing Institute is hosting a "Bloggers Summit" at the Center For American Progress in DC. There are some great blogs from all around the country here sharing stories and ideas.

This is the 13th matchup in the first round of the Obama Veepstakes poll with another two matchups and a wildcard round still to come. Today's matchup, previous results and an explanation on the why and how below the fold.

Yeah, I know it may still be a little premature but talk of a possible Obama running mate is already running high - in the blogosphere and in the traditional media.

Like me, you probably have already yelled at the TV/computer screen numerous times: no! not her/him or nodded your head in agreement with other choices mentioned. Well, I figured I'd devote all my diaries in March to veepstakes and giving everyone a voice. There are gonna be 15 initial rounds with 30 candidates in randomly drawn match ups plus a wildcard round for less likely candidates and suggestions by you, followed by another 8 rounds, the quarter and semi finals and the final match up.

Now, the initial 30 candidates are my choice and I've tried to include most names mentioned thus far, even those you probably will not like. They include Senators, Governors, Representatives, Generals and even non-Democrats. They will not include former nominees (Gore, Kerry) and those not eligible (Granholm, Albright).

This is the 12th matchup in the first round of the Obama Veepstakes poll with another three matchups and a wildcard round still to come. Today's matchup, previous results and an explanation on the why and how below the fold.

Yeah, I know it may still be a little premature but talk of a possible Obama running mate is already running high - in the blogosphere and in the traditional media.

Like me, you probably have already yelled at the TV/computer screen numerous times: no! not her/him or nodded your head in agreement with other choices mentioned. Well, I figured I'd devote all my diaries in March to veepstakes and giving everyone a voice. There are gonna be 15 initial rounds with 30 candidates in randomly drawn match ups plus a wildcard round for less likely candidates and suggestions by you, followed by another 8 rounds, the quarter and semi finals and the final match up.

Now, the initial 30 candidates are my choice and I've tried to include most names mentioned thus far, even those you probably will not like. They include Senators, Governors, Representatives, Generals and even non-Democrats. They will not include former nominees (Gore, Kerry) and those not eligible (Granholm, Albright).

On Monday, the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law released its 2007 Congressional Poverty Scorecard. The President of the Center, John Bouman, noted that in states with the highest poverty rates, their congressional delegations tended to score the worst.

"Poverty is everywhere in America, but it is interesting that in states with the highest concentrations of poverty, the Congressional delegations seem least interested in supporting initiatives that fight poverty," said John Bouman, president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, which released the study. "This appears deeper than simply opposing spending. A member could have opposed any of the measures we analyzed that called for new spending and still could have voted to support half of the poverty-fighting measures on our list."

What is Rep. Gablinske's record in the Private Sector?

Cross-posted at Project Vote's blog, Voting Matters

By Erin Ferns

At the age of 18, every American citizen is free to exercise his or her right to vote, as guaranteed by the Constitution. However, more than five million Americans in 48 states are denied access to this right due to an array of legislation barring former felons from the polls. This week, three states made headlines with starkly different takes on the voting rights of former felons. From an excited former felon who voted for the first time on Tuesday to a secretary of state who hopes to restrict the voting rights of all felons, the question of who gets to exercise their Constitutional rights is at the center of an expanding debate.

Funny; where were the Democrats when all the righties were attacking Hillary during the Democratic Primary to try to influence the Democratic election, to bloody and drop her numbers, so they could have a weaker candidate to run against?  There was hardly a day that the Republican candidates weren't talking about Hillary, or bringing up Hillary in every Republican debate.

The righties were doing everything possible to influence the Democratic primary, to select who they wanted to run against.  9 Republican (male) Candidates jumping on Hillary and 7 (male) Democratic Candidates attacking Hillary.  All the right wing talk radio and TV talking heads joining in on the fight.  Even having Republican strategists Karl Rove offering advice to Obama, Robert Novak  bating attacks and Republican Strategists (Frank Luntz) going on talk shows pushing Barack Obama.  All because they know Hillary was the candidate they feared most.  Hillary and a Clinton, so far the only Democrat who has consistently beat Republicans.