First, for a little clarification on crossovers:
Mississippi does not require voters to declare party affiliation when they register to vote. Therefore, residents who usually vote Republican can cast a ballot today for Obama or Clinton. But those voters would have to forgo voting in the Republican congressional primaries.
Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, said he doesn't expect much crossover voting. It would take an organized effort by Republicans and a lot of money, he said.
"I just don't see Republicans getting that stirred up about this," he said. "It's almost impossible, with an even tie, to see who would be most advantageous to the Republicans."
A few people approached state GOP Chairman Jim Herring at church, asking whether they should vote in the Democratic primary to skew the ballots toward one candidate or another.
"We shouldn't be fooling in (the Democrats') business ... because we've got enough to deal with," said Herring, adding that crossover voting also would hinder a two-party system that political leaders have tried to foster.
Clarion-Ledger
Here's some reporting on how Republicans are voting today. (While obviously not a fair sampling, it does show the "wiggle-room" and opportunity the Democratic party has, even in the deep south.)
At at least one Lamar County precinct this morning, it appeared that GOP voters were switching to vote for a Democrat.
Jamie Smith, 27, of Oak Grove, said he usually voted Republican but since John McCain had the nomination sewn up, he voted Democratic at the Bellevue precinct at Bellevue Baptist Church, U.S. 98 and Mississippi 589.
Smith, who works in construction, declined to say which Democrat he voted for. He said he would "most likely" support McCain in November.
A middle-aged woman who would not give her name said she was a Republican but was switching to vote for Sen. Barack Obama.
For her, though, it was more an anti-Hillary Clinton vote.
She said she did not want Clinton to win the nomination.
Linda Greer and Alice King, both pollworkers at Bellevue, said the morning had been very slow.
As of 10:45 a.m., 46 had voted in the Democratic primary compared to 19 in the Republican. Bellevue is normally a heavily Republican precinct.
Hattiesburg American
Another article:
Gabriel Bobbette said he voted for Sen. Barack Obama not because he’s African-American but because Obama can do the job.
"I don’t believe race should play a factor," Bobbette, 41, said this morning before he cast his ballot at Hawkins Elementary School in Hattiesburg. "We should vote for the most qualified person."
Bobbette said he tries to vote in most elections.
Meanwhile, L.G. Jones, 76, said he voted for Hillary Clinton "because there wasn’t nobody to vote for in the Republican primary."
Jones, a Korean War veteran and retiree, said he hasn’t made up his mind if he’ll vote for the Democratic nominee or Republican John McCain in November.
He said the campaign hasn’t been any more negative than previous ones.
"There’s just too damn much of it on TV," he said after voting at Hawkins Elementary. "They’re going to tell you what you want to hear, anyway."
Jones, who had a VFW 3036 button on his cap, said he knew of McCain’s military service, his time as a POW during the Vietnam War and the fact that McCain has roots in Mississippi.
"But I’m not overjoyed with his immigration policy," Jones said. "I think they should enforce the laws we’ve already got on immigration."
Hattiesburg American
Actually, it seems like the Republican "protest" votes are going to Huckabee.
Jimmy Grimes, 49, voted in the Republican primary and picked former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee over Sen. John McCain even though McCain already has secured the GOP’s nomination.
"I’m not a big McCain person," Grimes said. "I like Huckabee because of his Christian values."
Martha Stewart said she voted in the Republican primary even though she doesn't support GOP nominee Sen. John McCain.
"I think it is very important for every citizen of our country to cast a vote regardless of what it's for," she said. "I went on and voted for (former Arkansas Gov. Mike) Huckabee. I know that he tends to be on the liberal side — he was when he was governor. But McCain, to me, is more liberal."
Clarion-Ledger
They aren't in love with McCain! While the Democratic party struggles over its love affair with our nominees, the Republican party is showing signs of weakness - in Mississippi! And it seems MS voters aren't all that interested in screwing over the Democratic party - they're interested in the Democratic party talking to them, actually asking for their vote. It's obvious there's a lot of room for growth and improvement in Dem votes in the south. This primary, in my opinion, will be a vindication of those calling for the end of ignoring states that traditionally vote for the other guy. These states are nothing but opportunity!
What did these three things have in common in 1976: gasoline prices, recession fears and the Mississippi Democratic Party?
Answer: They all were soaring.
And 2008 is beginning to look a little like '76 - especially when it comes to Mississippians' passion in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
[...] People like Wilbur Colom of Columbus may offer Republicans a cautionary tale.
"They should look out for Obama," said Colom, 58. "Go back to June, and people were saying even then, 'It's a joke. You don't honestly think he's going to beat the Clinton machine?'
"I'm supporting him; I know him personally, and I told (Republican) Gov. Haley Barbour that I'm going to have to do this because of my personal commitment to Obama."
Why explain himself to Barbour? For one thing, Colom was a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976.
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