memeorandum: Was Florida a Closed Primary Or Not? (Flip/Suitably Flip)

9:50 AM ET, January 30, 2008

Top Items:

Krooney / The Page:

THE “STOP ROMNEY” COALITION — Giuliani to endorse McCain Wednesday in California — Now that the Sunshine has set, two old friends come to an understanding. — McCain topper Rick Davis quietly negotiated the agreement. — Giuliani, in Florida concession speech …

New York Times:

For Giuliani, a Dizzying Free-Fall — As Rudolph W. Giuliani ponders his political mortality, many observers point to the hubris and strategic miscalculations that plagued his campaign.

Discussion: Political Radar, NY Daily News, Norwegianity, New York Post, LiberalOasis, Liberal Values, TalkLeft, AMERICAblog, Brendan Nyhan, American Power, Daniel W. Drezner, Attytood, The Anonymous Liberal and Roger Ailes

John Hood / The Corner:
The Huck Factor — Looking at the exits, it seems clear …

Discussion: Commentary and Weekly Standard

Mark Finelli / Newsweek:
Coming Home — A Marine and 9/11 survivor on his journey back to John McCain.

Discussion: Associated Press

The Corner:

It's All Over — Assuming there is no shocking revelation or health issue, the GOP nomination is over. Conservatives need to start practicing the phrase “Nominee presumptive John McCa....." — Sorry, I can't say it. Not yet. — But it's true. When the campaign comes here to Massachusetts …

Michelle Malkin:

20% of GOP votes cast by non-Republicans? Updated — Update: Ed Morrissey has your answer: … Yesterday afternoon, I noted reports of independents voting in the closed Florida Republican primary and pointed out the state law requiring that voters establish party ID by registering 29 days before an election.

Discussion: RushLimbaugh.com, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, The Field, Right Voices and Outside The Beltway

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:

On Closed Primaries — A number of commenters in my threads from Florida's primary seem confused about what a closed primary means, and what its limits are. Michelle Malkin and Flip Pidot also blogged about this overnight, but miss the point of exit polling showing voter inclinations and not actual registration.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and Sister Toldjah

Flip / Suitably Flip:
Was Florida a Closed Primary Or Not?

Discussion: The Campaign Spot, The XX Factor, Hot Air and michellemalkin.com

Nedra Pickler / Associated Press:

John Edwards to quit presidential race — DENVER - Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' sympathies, The Associated Press has learned.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, michellemalkin.com, Minnesota Monitor, Gateway Pundit, 2008 Democratic … and Outside The Beltway

CNN:

Edwards quitting presidential race — (CNN) — Former Sen. John Edwards is dropping out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, CNN has learned. — Edwards has told top advisers about his decision. It is expected he will announce it at a speech in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Discussion: TalkLeft and PoliBlog (TM)

Dick Morris / The Hill:
McCain may win, Romney can't

Discussion: Open Left

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
Why Is Obama Popular With 527s?

Discussion: New York Times

Associated Press:
McCain Wins in Fla., Giuliani to Quit

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times, About.com US Conservative …, Redstate, Wall Street Journal and Wizbang

Rasmussen Reports:

Election 2008: Connecticut Democratic Presidential Primary — Connecticut: Clinton 40% Obama 40% — The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Connecticut's Democratic Presidential Primary shows the race couldn't possibly get any closer. New York Senator Hillary Clinton attracts 40% …

Discussion: TPM Election Central, politburo diktat 2.0 and Pollster.com

HillaryClinton.com:
MEMO: A Significant Victory in Florida

Discussion: The Fix, Taylor Marsh, Comments from Left Field, Outside The Beltway, The Democratic Daily, Ben Smith's Blogs, Donklephant, Democratic Strategist, TalkLeft and New Hampshire Union Leader

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Much Ado About Not Much — Cheering supporters? Check.

Discussion: The Caucus

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
For McCain, Momentum That May Be Hard to Stop

Discussion: TIME

Eric Boehlert / Media Matters for America:

Fox News is in for a very rough 2008 — My guess is that Fox News guru Roger Ailes has been reaching for the Tums more often than usual early in the New Year, and there are lots of reasons for the hovering angst. — Let's take an extended multiple choice quiz.

Discussion: Outside The Beltway

The Big Trunk / Power Line:

A MULTILATERAL CONVERSATION WITH IRAN — This past Saturday United States Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad spoke on a panel with two Iranian officials at Davos (video below). Khalilzad's participation was apparently unauthorized. Today's New York Sun and the Los Angeles Times have interesting articles on the event.

Discussion: New York Sun and Los Angeles Times

Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
What Part Of Not Authorized Did Khalilzad Not Understand?

Discussion: At-Largely

Philip Shenon / New York Times:

Mukasey Offers View on Waterboarding — WASHINGTON — Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said Tuesday that the harsh C.I.A. interrogation technique known as waterboarding was not clearly illegal, and suggested that it could be used against terrorism suspects once again if requested by the White House.

Discussion: The Newshoggers, JustOneMinute, CNN, The Politico, The Crone Speaks and At-Largely

Danny / Beltway Blogroll:

All Good Blogs Must Come To An End — OK, ya'll get to decide whether Beltway Blogroll has been a good blog, but it is coming to an end. — My tenure at National Journal ends tomorrow with the final issue of Technology Daily, where I served as the managing editor for six years …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Tapscott's Copy Desk

Ramesh Ponnuru / The Corner:

How McCain Won — Rich, you may recall that we talked about McCain's chances in early December. I said that he could still win the nomination, but that if he did, we wouldn't be saying, Wow, what a brilliant strategy. We'd be wondering just how the heck that happened.

Discussion: Vox Popoli and INSTAPUTZ

The Politico:

Rudy defeat marks end of 9/11 politics — Rudy Giuliani's distant third-place finish in Florida may put an end to his bid for president, and it seems also to mark the beginning of the end of a period in Republican politics that began on Sept. 11, 2001. — Giuliani's national celebrity …

Discussion: Comments from Left Field

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Seeing Red Over Hillary — Even newly armored by the spirit of Camelot, Barack Obama is still distressed by the sight of a certain damsel. — It's already famous as The Snub, the moment before the State of the Union when Obama turned away to talk to Claire McCaskill instead of trying …

Discussion: Brilliant at Breakfast and Whiskey Fire

Douglas A. Blackmon / Wall Street Journal:

Carter Stays Neutral in Race, But Praises Obama's Oratory — PLAINS, Ga. — Former President Jimmy Carter lavished praise on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama during an interview at his home on Monday, though he won't formally endorse any candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination.