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Close to 36 percent of voters turn out for primaries in Adams County
Published Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Natchez — With the Democratic nomination for president still up for grabs and an exciting congressional race on the Republican side, voters surprised election officials Tuesday with a robust turnout.
“We had expected somewhere around 5 percent of the voters to show up,” Election Commissioner Larry Gardner said Tuesday night.
Instead, close to 36 percent of Adams County registered voters cast votes in a race that had no local contests.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Poll clerk Donna Laurant assists 100-year-old Alley Moody as she votes from her car outside the Adams County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon.
“The close race for the Democratic presidential nomination and a good congressional race on the Republican side made for a good turnout,” Gardner said. “And the weather held off. If we had the storms that were predicted, that would have dampened it.”
Everett Sanders, city attorney and superdelegate, said this is because of the excitement this election has brought.
“I think that’s an absolute reflection of interest that has been generated around the country,” he said.
Beverly Merrill, member of the Adams County Democratic Executive Committee, said she believes it was a slow day and would like to see more turnout.
“I’d like to see 50-plus percent,” Merrill said. “I can only hope that more show up in November.”
She said she was content with Obama’s lead and that she will support either Democratic candidate.
She said she couldn’t decide who to vote on in the primary since both choices would be making history.
“I did literally kind of close my eyes and poke at the screen,” she said.
Merrill said no matter what the election is, there should always be a good voter turnout.
“Every race you have is important because it’s up to the voter to decide who’s going to be spending your money, making decisions for you,” Merrill said.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Jane and Marion Stewart cast their votes Tuesday afternoon at the Adams County Courthouse.
In the Democratic race for president, Barack Obama took 74.04 percent of the votes in Adams County. His challenger, Hillary Clinton took 24.15 percent of the votes cast.
Sanders said after the Mississippi primary it would take something extraordinary to keep him from voting for Sen. Barack Obama.
And it will come down to the superdelegates, he said.
“I believe that ultimately the superdelegates will determine the nominee,” Sanders said.
He said in the current situation, neither Obama nor Sen. Hillary Clinton will get enough delegates to get them the nomination before the Democratic National Convention.
But for right now, he said Obama does have a decent lead.
“I think he has a commanding lead,” he said. “He’s leading the number of pledged delegates, the number of primaries won and in the overall vote, so he’s leading in all three categories that you could measure.”
He said he believes that Mississippi’s primary was important but so are all the remaining primaries.
“I think that every primary or caucus that’s left is important because of how tight the race is,” Sanders said.
On the Republican side, John McCain took 77.18 percent of the votes in Adams County for the nomination for president. Challengers Mike Hucakabee and Ron Paul came in second and third in the county with 10.29 percent and 8.33 percent of the vote.
In the race for the 3rd Congressional District vacated by Chip Pickering, Charlie Ross took 43.98 percent of the votes over Thomas Landrum’s 36.11 percent in the Republican Primary. On the Democratic side of the race, Erik Fleming won 43.98 percent of the vote over Shawn O’Hara, who took 32.18 percent of the votes.
The Democratic race for the U.S. Senate was a close race in Adams County between Joel Gill and Randall Eads. Gill beat Eads in the county with 55.79 percent of the vote.
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran ran unopposed on the Republican ticket.
Comments
Posted by Username (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2+2=4
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
?
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you are correct on your math there username....
Posted by consider_reason (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
36% is robust?
How completely apathetic and disgusting.
One in three people, more or less, have enough interest in the electoral process.
Unfortunately not one in three complain about things - and if you haven't voted, you haven't earned the right to gripe.
Posted by JDR (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 4:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Obama had been expected to win resoundingly in Mississippi, a state where 36 percent of the population is black, the highest percentage in the nation.
The surveys found that roughly 90 percent of black voters supported Mr. Obama, but only a third of white voters supported him, suggesting a racially polarized electorate in the state.
-copy and paste from the new york times.
thankfully i no longer call mississippi home.
Posted by JDR (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 4:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i also like how they wrote "suggesting a racially polarized electorate in the state" hahaha we know what that is a nice way of saying.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Apathy is killing this country. It is so sad that a small percentage of the voters get to determine the all the decisions made at the polls for everybody.
This country needs an enema. If people want to make a difference, read, study and know what the real issues are and get up off the sofa and VOTE.
36% IS PATHETIC..WAKE UP PEOPLE. You do not have to agree with me, but you do need to get out there and exercise your right, your privilege, your perogative as a citizen of this great country...ARGHHHHHHHHH
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
JDR, we knew that was going to happen going into the election. I voted republican and since we now have primaries that are split, you could see the very difference at the polls even before the vote.
I guess some things have not changed very much.......
Posted by cborum (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to commend everyone who got out to vote in the Republican and Democratic primary. The right to elect our own leaders is one of the great things about our country. As a Ron Paul supporter I would especially like to congratulate everyone who was brave enough to get out and cast a vote for Ron Paul. In Mississippi the votes for Ron Paul hit 4% but in Adams county those votes were closer to 9%. Please stay tune to the growing movement supporting constitutional government by going frequently to www.ronpaul2008.com This is not just a race to win the Presidency but a movement to restore sound money and constitutional government.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dr. Borum, I appreciate your view, but I still am sick when I see only 36% of my hometown got out to vote. The percentage where I live was higher, but anything under 95% means that people are not caring enough to get off the sofa.
To clarify, we have 5% of the population in nursing homes, homebound or sick at any given time in Mississippi. So anybody else that does not vote is just plain lazy.....
Posted by youneverknow (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't understand, i really don't understand how people care so little about their own future. It took maybe 30 minutes from one day if that .
Posted by hellcat (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't hear about the vote until I was at work yesterday and then I was told it was a democratic primary. I do not align myself with just one party because I would like the choice to vote for the most competent, no matter what the party. The staff at my office also looked in ND to find out what time the polls closed..hmmm? Never did find out. Everyone at my office lives in the county and didn't have time at lunch to get to our appointed voting establishment. Now that it's electronic you would think that any location could take your vote. If you want more people to vote, make it more convienient and make sure the correct information is available.
Posted by Username (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted,all else follows."
Orwell-1984
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Morning All,
Run Obama, Run!!!!!
Posted by rangerover (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You's think that after what Hillary said in Iowa about Miss women that all Democratic women would have voted for Barack. Anyone that watched Shep Smith on TV yesterday had to be hacked off at being put on a lower level of "quality" than Ohio women. Maybe Baracks 27% of the white vote was women.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say is, people's view of Mississippi is still backwoods. Sad to say, some mentalities and thoughts I have read here, perpetuate that.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach, even though you and I voted for different people yesterday, I am still glad that you got up and voted. My wife and I voted for a different person on the congressional race. But we still got out and voted.
Thanks to everyone who voted. Yes, even those who voted differently than I did.
Posted by loneconservative (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The congressional information here is inaccurate. Charlie Ross(33% of votes) and Gregg Harper(28%) are the ones who will be in the runoffs, and the other guys name is David Landrum not Thomas.
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO ADAMS COUNTY GOOD VOTE TURNOUT
Posted by katdaddy (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know if you can find the voter turn out for each polling station?
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am surprised the turnout was that low??
I thought people cared more about what's going on in our governments- city,county,state, and federal.
if you don't vote you can't complain, too many people have died and fought for our privelidge to vote, I don't take that for granted.
No matter who wins, this land will still be OUR country and we will still agree to disagree and debate over our various views and civilly work things out for the BEST of ALL. That's the way I look at it. Challenge those you know who take our GOOD LIFE for granted to get off their lazy, apathetic butt and go vote in May and again in Nov. The political status of gov't will oscillate, that is the nature of human thinking and our history, so us conservatives have to endure that. I agree with cborum - we should respect the original Constitution more, retain our freedoms, and restrict gov't to the services as per the Constitution., but Ron Paul seems eccentric from my observation, and doesn't seem to grasp the real danger of global terrorism.
The Democrat could do a better job of laying out voting days and candidates I think, oh I forgot the name of the paper indicates a certain bias doesn't it, otherwise the paper might be named differently like the Natchez News or something that would lead you to believe their reporting might be more fair and balanced with the objective of communication rather than propaganda. (not that I think they do that, but calling yourself Natchez
DEMOCRAT certainly is not ethical for a newspaper in my mind)
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have voted faithfully since 18, even when I felt there was essentially no one to vote for. I do it because for my people, we were not allowed to be a part of that process. I'm not thankful, because I don't feel it should have been that way, but you live on! I think ANYONE who's too lazy to vote, to full of apathy to vote, should not have anything to say, when this country keeps going down the tubes, as it is now.
Posted by kayce (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It disturbs me that Adams County had such a low turn out. My hat off to those who took the time to vote yesterday!!! As a little girl, my mom would take me to vote with her. I can remember going behind the curtains with her and pressing those levers down, then going to school the next day telling all my friends that I voted. I couldn't wait until my 18th birthday so that my vote could really count. Yesterday, my husband and I had both kids with us. They had that same excitement in their eyes that I had so many years ago.
Posted by kayce (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach..I do it for the same reason. I think of my grandmother who was arrested for attempting to register to vote and today refuses to vote absentee eventhough she has health problems. She would rather get up and go to the polls. I think of those who were murdered because they wanted the right to vote and now we actually have the nerve to sit our ____ at home. That doesn't sit well with me at all.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach - how can you say the country is down the tubes?
I don't see it that way
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great, for you everything is bliss, but for me and the majority of the people I know and associate with, and happen to dialog with, seem to know that it is going down the tubes, unless we change some major things!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Changing attitus\des is a real good place to start.
I guess Natchez does not have an Optimist Club anymore, but maybe a local one to your area might be a good place, huh Teach?
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mississippi will be a "red state" after the vote in November...guaranteed.
The turnout will be double what it was Tuesday.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
teach- such as??
can you talk specifics?
other than complaining in general do you have any specifics?
I'm sure you want more money for less work, more healthcare and keep living a reckless lifestyle, etc.
You want everyone in the world to love you?
You want world peace and all disease to disapear?
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers, too many to name, hun, you all enjoy your conversation, the whole mess is exhaustive. I'm moving forward with the things that make me happy. Ciao!!!!
Posted by The_Punisher (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Clinton, Obama or McCain. Lets start with McCain: he's a Vietnam veteran who had his plane shot out from under him & captured by the North Vietnamese. As a veteran I respect him, I never got captured by the enemy and if I did I wonder if I could hold it together in a P.O.W. camp and take the routine beatings that he did for several years. Seen as"too liberal" for some Republicans I admire the way he's running his campaign, clean so far, it's hard to believe this guy is a Republican.
Obama: What is it about him? He has the charisma that the world of politics hasn't seen in decades. One can't help but to be moved by one of his impassioned speeches. He speaks like a Baptist preacher on a roll, seen as a cross between Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy this man has many people who are fed up with the current administration wanting to believe in America again. His momentum is definitely scaring some folks because a lot of lies are being distributed on the net about him. He's not a Muslim nor he didn't swear in on the Holy Koran. The fact that he as a black man have managed to get this far in the race just scares the hell out of some people.
Clinton: Senator from New York, wife of Bill (who's still getting blamed for everything from the bubonic plague to the New England Patriots losing the Super Bowl ) she's stepped out on her own to run for the nation's highest office. Seen by some as calculating, manipulating, and the real president during the Clinton administration she has gone further then any female who's desired to sit in the oval office. Claims to posess vast experience when it comes to making tough decisions, meeting and making relationships with world leaders and getting legislation passed.
I don't want more money for less work, I'd like to have the ability to afford gasoline these days. Gas prices are outrageous, and there's not a gas shortage which makes one wonder why fuel is so high. I also like to think that there is option for a BETTER healthcare system than what's out there now.
I don't want a "dynasty" in the White House, this country needs to head in a new direction because the direction we're going now 'ain't workin'. The fact that we are borrowing money from a Communist China to fight a war is repulsive, didn't we fight these folks back in the 50's? I remember when Communisim was the great enemy, Gen. Douglas MacArthur is spinning in his grave. And personally I'd rather be respected more than being loved, unless it's Vanessa Williams who loving me, but this is the only exception.
The Democrats are lame and the Republicans are self-righteous, sex crazed perverts. If one is going to climb on the "soapbox or morality" please walk it like you talk it. Some of those who condemed Bill Clinton for "getting his freak on" in the White House and demanded that he be impeached were later caught in sex scandals(heterosexal and homosexual) or bribery cases themselves.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The_Punisher, I liked your comment. They all have "pro's and con's". It seems that everyone is looking for only the bad things that Obama has done. It is proven that when you run for any kind of public office, your whole life will be analyzed. I don't know anybody who will ever run for anything that don't have something bad that will come. Overall, I liked your last comment.
Posted by kayce (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So true..drawpaintsing!!!
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
((The_Punisher)) has spoken . . . NUF SAID!!
You just can't argue with the truth and facts (even though I know some will try when they catch their breath and google a few things)!!!!!!!
Posted by toby (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was watching the news this evening and race factors are coming BIG TIME in play> Let me ask one of you a? How can race be a factor when all of us come from the begining of GOD'S CREATION? Who was it that named the races? What color is yor blood? For those of you that see colORSIS is absent of sight,what you should do is look in the heart of any one (WHOM YOU DIDN'T CREATE).I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE. START WITH GENESIS.[ BE GOOD CHANGE IS ON THE WAY]
Posted by trulyblessed (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was also surprised at the turnout on yesterday. I thought that everybody was ready for a change, whether it be Clinton Or Obama. People claimed that they knew nothing about the election held on yesterday. They claimed to have not known what time the polls closed. I thought polls always closed at 7. Let's not come with excuses. The same people who don't vote, are the same ones who have something to gripe about. To my black people, you can get mad if you please, but so many of other ancestors were beatened, lynched, and killed for the rights that you have but don't use. Come November 2008, exercise your right because your vote does count.
Posted by toby (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
to trulyblessed, I would like to ask,WHAT IMPACT DID YOU YOU HAVE ON HELPING OTHERS TO GET OUT TO VOTE,especially the elderly people with no transportation that wanted to go but could'nt? STOP SAYING WHAT AND SHOW THEM WHAT YOU GOT
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My family voted, we all went together as always!
I am with the rest of you that dont understand WHY people wont take a few minutes and cast a ballot. It is sad and not to mention dangerous.
If everyone voted, I wonder who would win, or if the outcome would be the same...hmmm.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers, In response to your uneducated statement about the democrat being biased b/c of its name, the democrat has been around since 1865. And if you knew any history you would know that the south used to be all democrat. Eve heard of dixie-crat? You have the web at your fingertips, please think and research before you type stuff on here. So I have to ask you, are you even from the south?
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i dont want to hear any whining and complaining about the way politics are ran from you no-voting, couch potato, cell-phone huggin idiots that didnt vote. Congrats....we have put the country on auto-pilot to hell....enjoy!
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ghost, how would you know if someone posting did or didn't vote?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ghost many of us that post here voted Tuesday. If you read the forum about hillary and obama and mccain from the last few days, you will see that many voted and even those of us that voted for different candidates said our piece and moved on without major arguments.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think probably everyone who posts regularly on here voted - we are too passoniate a bunch not to. But I think a lot of people who didn't vote didn't because they thought it was only a Democratic primary, didn't know who or what else was on the ballot, and thought it didn't matter. We are preaching to the choir here, there needs to be a way to get others out to vote in Nov.
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ghost, how would you know if someone posting did or didn't vote?
close to 36% of REGISTERED VOTERS voted....36 percent of Adams county!?!....im not directing this to any on here....im aiming at the county as a whole. So out of 33,000 people in the county....only 36% of registered voters voted. my guestimate would mean 6-8,000 people acutually voted
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tell em that FEMA is setting up shop at the voting facilities handing out gubment complimentaries and watch that 36% turnout shoot up to about 106%. Society is a "my name is Jimmy, I will take all you gimmie" aspect.
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
100-year-old Alley Moody should be an inspiration to everyone!
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