And the Nominees are . . .: Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY) lost any momentum she might have gained after her big win in Pennsylvania last month with an even bigger lost in North Carolina. Although she salvaged victory in Indiana, it only in the early morning hours that she was finally declared the winner. (Kudos to CBS which was alone in declaring her the winner at 8pm.) The delay in reporting results from Lake County had some late night political commentators making comparisons to neighboring Chicago where margins of victory were often "found" in late reporting precincts.
But it wasn't Barack H. Obama (D-IL) whose margin of victory came in Lake County, but former U.S. Representative Jill L. Long Thompson (D-IN) who found victory in the late reporting precincts. Despite leading architect Jim Schellinger (D-IN) in pre-primary polls, Thompson, who is considered an outsider among Democratic Party establishment, was trailing Schellinger for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination before the votes were counted in Lake County. Her margin of victory there gave her 50.2% of the vote statewide. Although a recount is possible, she will now face Governor Mitchell E. "Mitch" Daniels, Jr. (R-IN) whose popularity never recovered after his controversial decision to lease public roads to private companies in order to close a budget gap.
Elsewhere in The Hoosier State, two incumbent members of Congress fought off primary challenges. U.S. Representative André D. Carson (D-IN), who won a special election in March to succeed his late grandmother, topped a field of eight candidates. It was the first time that Carson had to face the voters in a primary. He was nominated for the special election in a convention. He will face in the general election state Representative Jon Elrod (R-IN) and Libertarian Sean Shepard (L-IN), the same candidates who ran in the special election.
U.S. Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) faced a year-long challenge from former county coroner John McGoff (R-IN) who alleged that the 13-term incumbent and lost touch with his district. McGoff touched a nerve with voters and held Burton to only 51.9% of the vote in a three way primary. Burton will likely have an easier time in the fall when he faces Mary Etta Ruley (D-IN) who won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.
Three other incumbents, Mark E. Souder (R-IN), Stephen Buyer (R-IN) and Baron P. Hill (D-IN) easily overcame primary challenges. Republicans offered Mark J. Leyva (R-IN) a third chance to defeat U.S. Representative Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN). In the 2nd congressional district, businessman Luke Puckett (R-IN) took 47.7% of the vote to win the Republican nomination to challenge freshman U.S. Representative Joseph S. Donnelly (D-IN).
In North Carolina, Barack H. Obama (D-IL) defied some polls which suggested that Clinton was closing the gap. In the end, last minute deciders pick Obama over Clinton providing him with a larger than expected victory. He margin of victory in the Tar Heel State wiped out any gain Clinton has made and helped cement the impression that the Democratic Presidential nomination is his to lose (or to have stolen.)
Voters also picked their nominees for Governor and other statewide office. Hard fought campaigns masked the relative ease with which Lieutenant Governor Beverly M. "Bev" Perdue (D-NC) and Charlotte Mayor Patrick L. "Pat" McCrory (R-NC) won their perspective nominations. They will be joined on the general election ballot by Libertarian professor Michael Munger (L-NC).
State Senator Walter H. Dalton (D-NC) will face state Senator Robert Pittenger (R-NC) to fill Perdue's Lieutenant Governor Office. State Treasurer Richard H. Moore (D-NC), who lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Perdue, will be succeeded by either state Senator Janet Cowell (D-NC) or state Representative William G. "Bill" Daughtridge (R-NC). Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry (R-NC) won't know her general election opponent for until June 24, 2008 after a run-off primary between former teacher Mary Fant Donnan (D-NC) and John C. Brooks (D-NC), although a recount is expected to confirm the run-off candidates. Less than 45000 votes separated the Donnan, who finished first and Tyrone "Ty" Richardson (D-NC) who finished last in the four candidate field.
State Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC), the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee's recruited choice, easier won the Democratic Senate nomination to face U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC).
Two Republican members of Congress fought off spirited challengers in the primary. U.S. Representative Patrick T. McHenry (R-NC) was in a spitting contest with former military trial judge Lance Sigmon (R-NC) in the final weeks of the campaign but ended by winning more than 67% of the primary vote. Assistant District Attorney Daniel Johnson (D-NC) hopes to accomplish in November what Sigmon couldn't do on Tuesday.
U.S. Representative Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-NC), who has been criticized by conservative for backing off his initial support for the Iraqi War, won 60% of the vote against former County Commissioner Joseph R. "Joe" McLaughlin (R-NC), whose campaign started with a bang but fizzled before the final curtain.
In other congressional primaries, meteorologist Craig Weber (D-NC) won the Democratic nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. Businessman William "B. J." Lawson (R-NC) will face U.S. Representative David E. Price (D-NC) in the 4th District. Teacher Roy Carter (D-NC) defeated former County Commissioner Diane Hamby (D-NC) is a close contest. Physician Teresa Sue Bratton (D-NC) topped a field of three candidates with more than 60% of the vote and will face U.S. Representative Howard Coble (R-NC) in the fall. Harry Taylor (D-NC) and incumbent Suellen "Sue" Myrick (R-NC) will face off in the 9th District. U.S. Representative Brad Miller (D-NC) crushed organic farmer Derald Hafner (D-NC) to win renomination.
And in the 11th Congressional District, once considered a top prospect for Republicans hoping to recapture a seat lost in the 2006 election, Asheville City Councilor Carl Mumpower (R-NC) was able to avoid a primary run-off by winning 48% of the vote over Charles Spencer "Spence" Campbell, Jr. (R-NC) and John C. Armor (R-NC). But it might be a hollow victory. Most political commentators no longer consider freshman U.S. Representative J. Heath Shuler (D-NC) to be vulnerable.
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IQ Test: In a testy exchange, Republican congressional candidate Joseph J. Carraro (R-NM) asked his primary rival Darren White (R-NM), known for being anti-drug, whether the later had ever taken a drug test. White was unable to respond on air because the show ran out of time. Off-camera, however, White responded to Carraro, "Have you ever taken an IQ test?"
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