OWH: Breaking News: Obama wins electoral vote in Nebraska (Update with Senator Nelson's Response)

Nov 07, 04:01 PM CST

This is truly historic:

The Democratic presidential candidate claimed an electoral vote in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District — the first time in more than four decades a Democrat won any of Nebraska’s electoral votes.

The Omaha World-Herald is calling the race after Obama won 8,434 out of 15,039 early votes that arrived too late to be included in Tuesday’s results. They were counted today by Douglas County election officials.

Those ballots give Obama a 1,260-vote lead over Republican John McCain in the 2nd District.

Thanks to everyone involved for making this possible.

– – –

Update:

Senator Ben Nelson released this statement:

“Today, Nebraska’s 2nd District voters added an ‘Obamaha’ shaped exclamation point to Barack Obama’s historic election. It really is a new day in America when he even picks up an electoral vote in Nebraska.

“The excitement generated in the 2nd District during the presidential contest arose only because of the Nebraska law awarding three electoral votes by congressional district. It shouldn’t be tampered with by those with partisan motives. And Nebraska voters shouldn’t lose their vital role in our our democracy.”



– by vanhorn | Send this to a friend

  1. Excitement like Nebraska’s could be shared by the whole country with the enactment of the National Popular Vote bill.

    It will make every vote in every state politically relevant and equal in presidential elections.

    The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

    The National Popular Vote bill has been approved by 21 legislative chambers (one house in CO, AR, ME, NC, and WA, and two houses in MD, IL, HI, CA, MA, NJ, RI, and VT). It has been enacted into law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These states have 50 (19%) of the 270 electoral votes needed to bring this legislation into effect.

    see http://www.NationalPopularVote.com
    — susan    Nov 10, 11:30 AM CST #
  2. Why isn’t this being reported nationally and why doesn’t CNN and others change their maps?
    — JV    Nov 10, 01:10 PM CST #

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