In the week before Tuesday's primary, Del. Lionell Spruill Sr., D-Chesapeake, patched together a self-described "Band-Aid" effort to help Hillary Rodham Clinton carry his Chesapeake precincts.
Spruill, who has held elected office for 20 years, has a long-standing record of helping Democrats for governor or the U.S. Senate carry the vote on his home turf in northern Chesapeake. He hoped for no less for the New York senator when he helped arrange a Chesapeake visit last Saturday by former President Bill Clinton.
That rally at Indian River High School "was just too late," Spruill said.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama swept through Spruill's district, racking up more than 80 percent of the Democratic vote in several precincts.
"We came in at the last minute," Spruill said Wednesday. "You can't take Virginia for granted, and it shows."
A closer look at voter returns reveals that turnout was much stronger in South Hampton Roads than in the state as a whole - particularly in the Democratic primary.
Statewide, about 31 percent of registered voters cast ballots compared with Portsmouth, where 39 percent went to the polls; Chesapeake's turnout was 35 percent; Norfolk and Suffolk were 36 percent each and Virginia Beach was 32 percent, according the State Board of Elections' unofficial results.
Obama made a clean sweep, carrying all five cities in the Democratic primary.
Spruill said Obama won here because he showed up in Hampton Roads several times, including at a Virginia Beach rally Sunday that drew an estimated crowd of 18,000.
"He was there to talk to the people, and we didn't do a good job of that," Spruill said. "No one had a chance to see my candidate and ask questions."
In the Republican primary, Arizona Sen. John McCain won a statewide victory, defeating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee by
9 percentage points. But McCain didn't fare as well in South Hampton Roads.
The GOP front-runner carried Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Portsmouth, but Huckabee won the popular vote in Suffolk and Chesapeake.
Republican Party chairmen had different interpretations of Huckabee's local success.
Stephen G. Trent, the chairman of the Suffolk Republican Party, who talked with election workers in five precincts, said longtime Republicans were getting Democratic ballots so they could vote against Clinton.
"People who never voted for a Democrat in their lives said they were going to vote in the Democratic primary," Trent said.
"But if the Democrats think they've got something going here in Suffolk, they're whistling past a graveyard."
Trent pointed out, for example, that in the largely Republican Driver precinct, Obama picked up 757 votes compared with 387 for Huckabee and 370 for McCain.
The precinct's voting pattern could show that Republicans who would have voted for McCain crossed over to help sink Clinton's chances in Virginia, Trent said.
"A lot of people want to make sure Hillary Clinton doesn't get in there," he said.
The large amount of McCain crossovers could have secured the victory for Huckabee in Suffolk, Trent said.
Chesapeake Republican Chairman Delmon Quesinberry has a simpler theory about Huckabee's success in his suburban city:
"Perhaps voters felt like they wanted to go ahead and give McCain a message, maybe that he needs to pay attention to conservatives."
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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Did you see
Katie Couric interview with Michelle Obama? Did you hear Mrs Obama say "ask-ed it"? The Obama's know they are trying to reach the low income and poor African American vote even their words are planned to reach that level. It's just like Obama's, "This is our moment. This is our tine" speech. Just who is the "our" he is speaking to? I think we all know! With Obama as president this country will see the worst racial divide in history.
Ps.
I found this on another site. Do I need to spell out the support this man is offering republicans?
"Obama/Ron Paul in 2008. Russians can be cool too. We should just leave them alone. Big mean greedy corporations ruining our poor world. We just need a cool, trendy, government. We need "change".
Posted By: ObamaMania | February 15, 2008 at 11:40 AM "
Except
If the republican party needs a breath of life, then Obama is it. Some of us who have voted Dem for president are not willing to elect a man based on what he says and nothing more. A man who offers "change" but provides more of the same in unsupported promises. Honestly, if you were to wear blinders, there is no difference in his speeches and those of Bush in his first run for the seat. The fact that he would critique someone for votes he did not attend really bothers me. What scares me is that many people don't care or care enough to look this info up. They just want to vote for "change" when the only change provided is pigment. I will not writing anybody in. I will be jumping ship for this one if he is the choice. The man has no chance of winning. This may be the idiotic decision that is the last nail in the democrats coffin. Need proof? Ask yourself why the Drudgereport touts Obamas wins. The do not support Democrats. Obama is a distraction.
Too Little Too Late
I like this quote, from the delegate who's most recent newsworthy legislative activity was his failure to have bovine testicles banned from being displayed on bumpers of vehicles. Yes, I suppose you would arrive late, if you are spending your time with issues as important as that. I guess when you represent an area as tranquil & peaceful as South Norfolk, you would have time for such worthy pursuits.
"talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand"
Interesting
We can sit and lie even slander a white woman running for president, but we don't say negatives about an African American candidate. Wonder why that is? For those of you who want to end the war in Iraq immediately and bring all our troops home, then vote for Obama, for those of you who want to remain in Iraq forever and consider bombing Iran, vote for McCain. For those of you who feel it will take time, diplomacy, exit stragedy, and hard work to end this war and SAFELY bring our troops home vote for Hillary. Everyone I know with the exception of one did vote for Hillary, and if it gets to the end with Obama as the nominee, we will be writing in Hillary Clinton. Say whatever you want to about her, but if Obama is president, and it will be a Democrat elected, this country will turn into a racial divide bigger than we have ever seen.
Or just maybe....
The Republicans realize we need a strong military to protect the freedom that you (yes-me-again) enjoy, with your ability to protest and state your opinion openly. Maybe you would prefer the freedom the people of Iraq had under sadam?
Maybe..
The people of Virginia and Hampton Roads don't want Hillary to be the democratic nominee.
Hillary
Hillary needs much more than a band-aid! She is nothing but a self-serving manipulator who has no interest in anyone but herself. And her "35 years of experience" means nothing - because the only thing she ever ran was Bill.
Military
The republicians need a strong military because all they think about is starting new wars that kill more americans.
Band-Aid?
Or maybe the clinton campaign just decided to blow off the entire military-based tidewater area. Their total disgust for the military is well known. And the democrat voters acknowledged that fact, and voted as such.
Need Change
What has been scary is Bush! People are thinking about what they want and looks like it is Obama.
Promises Are Comforts To Fool's Heart's
American Embassy-Tehran 1978, Beirut Marine Barracks 1983, WTC 1993, USS Cole 1997, WTC/Pentagon/Three jetliners/Thousands of people murdered/One trillion dollars of American equity detroyed 2001. You've been lied to? You are only lying to yourself. France and England connected by a chunnel and six million Muslims lying in wait. We will be witnesses.
The same old sanctimonious crew
I find it rather amusing as I picture a bunch of cellar dwellers just waiting to pounce on a Clinton/Obama-centered article. Heaven help the person who disagrees with you. You people are nothing if not predictable.
So...Bush had all of these things that Obama lacks?
Yeah, I guess! A man that can't speak an elementary sentence. Policies that scream "hope nothing else happens before I leave office". A President so bad, any alternative is better. The GOP is self-destructing. The Limbaugh's and Hannity's of the world didn't realize half their army had deserted before they charged up the hill, and those still with them don't realize they are alone. I was Republican for years, voting for both Reagan and Bush I. Somehow, I knew in my heart Bush II was an idiot. I, as many of my other Republican friends, could not believe how the party turned on John McCain eight years ago. No longer is that old saying true, "Dems fall in love, Republicans fall in line.". I'm gone, and so are a lot of others. Oh and here's an extra - Reagan's dead...and he's not coming back!
"I'll take a great speech and roll the dice."
Another sheep in a VERY large flock...
Our political process in action:
"I'll take a great speech and roll the dice."
Easier than researching the candidates and learning where they stand on the issues, I guess.
*sigh*
jmo
Oh Wow
I love reading these post. Obama has no ideas just great speeches. I guess we had 8 or should I say 7 years of great prosperity. Wow a war that we were lied to. Hurricane that left a city devestated a slow federal response. Wow High gas prices (can't beat that). Jobs moving overseas. A president approval rating at 30 percent most of the time (heck of a job!!). I'll take a great speech and roll the dice. I figure americans can vote a person twice with that resume, I figure what to we have to lose can't get no worse.......Go Obama
Glad he got one thing right
I'm glad to see Del Spruill has a firm grasp on the obvious; he sure doesn't seem to have a grasp on much else. As for Billary, well, "too little too late" pretty much describes the Clintons in all they do. Thankfully for the USA, she is sticking to form.
Both Dem candidates are dangerous for this country, but I'm not sure the Obama train can be derailed at this point. There are just too many people in this country that can't think for themselves. He has no message, no position, clear goals, no platform, and little experience. Yet, folks think he's up to the task. That would be hilarious if it weren't so scary.