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First Glance At The Exits: Democratic Party Cracking Up? — Here's what jumps out at me from the first wave of exit polls that have been released to the Edison-Mitsofky consortium: — Forget the horse race numbers for a moment: if the surveys are accurate, the polarization within the Democratic Party has reached critical levels.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The New Republic, Gallup, BackyardConservative, Washington Post, Comments from Left Field, The Strata-Sphere, American Street, Salon, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, TPM Election Central, Northman's Fury, Spin Cycle, Stop The ACLU, Don Surber, Pajamas Media, RIGHTWINGSPARKLE, Viking Pundit and Commentary
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Obama Solidly Routs Clinton in N.C. — Democratic Senators Battle for Potentially Decisive Victory in Indiana — As expected, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has solidly won the North Carolina primary, ABC News projects, while he and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, remain locked in a tight race in Indiana.

Clinton, Obama In Battle For Indiana, N.C. — Heavy Turnout In Crucial Primaries That Could Bring Clarity To Democratic Presidential Race — (CBS/AP) Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama battled in the Indiana and North Carolina primaries on Tuesday, the last big-delegate prizes left …

‘Hardcore’ Republicans voting Democrat — 10:51 AM — ‘Hardcore’ Republicans voting Democrat — The two precincts at Broad Ripple Family Center selected Republican Jon Elrod over Democrat Andre Carson in March's special election for U.S. Congress. But by 9 a.m., just 21 voters …
Discussion:
Reason Magazine, Comments from Left Field, The Caucus, The Other McCain, Spin Cycle, On Deadline, The Page and The Primary Source

Exit Polls: Limbaugh Effect Seems To Rear Its Head — Did Rush Limbaugh actually impact the Democratic primary? — The loud-mouthed radio talk show host has been encouraging Republicans to vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton to continue the “chaos” in the Democratic race.

WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMY — The economy was on voters' minds in Democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. Two-thirds of Democratic primary voters in Indiana and nearly as many in North Carolina said the economy is the most important issue facing the nation.
Discussion:
The American Conservative, Eunomia, Pollster.com, Wonkette, Open Left and FiveThirtyEight.com

Measuring the Limbaugh Effect — Some reporters have speculated about the impact of the “Limbaugh effect” — partisan Republicans crossing over to vote fr Hillary Clinton solely to help weaken the Democrats against John McCain. The sieze of the effect is hard to measure.


EXIT POLL: Wright Controversy Casts Shadow on Ind., N.C. Races — In Both States, Three-Quarters or More Say They Decided Before Last Week — Preliminary exit poll results indicate that just under half of Democratic primary voters in Indiana and North Carolina alike call the controversy surrounding …
Discussion:
Fox News, The Page, CNN, michellemalkin.com, MSNBC, TownHall Blog, The Daily Dish, TalkLeft, Pollster.com, Pajamas Media and Gateway Pundit

The Limbaugh-Clinton Axis — Is it a factor in Indiana? A reader writes: … MSNBC is also reporting huge Republican turnout in Indiana. I wonder if the Clintons have considered switching parties? In so many ways, they already have.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post

Exit polls: Half of Clinton's supporters won't back Obama — (CNN) — Just how badly is the Democratic Party divided? — According to the exit polls, half of Clinton's supporters in Indiana would not vote for Obama in a general election match up with John McCain.
Discussion:
DownWithTyranny!, Firedoglake, Democrats.com, Talking Points Memo and TPM Election Central

Team Hillary warns of Obama “October surprise” — The early results are suggesting a healthy win for Barack Obama in North Carolina and a much narrower win, maybe 52-48 or so, for Hillary Clinton in Indiana. That won't end her campaign — nuclear obliteration wouldn't do that at this point but it makes Clinton's mission even harder.
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Two GOP Losses That Validate a National Pattern — These two special elections validate a national polling pattern that is bad news for Republicans. According to a New York Times/CBS Poll, Americans disapprove of the President's job performance by 63 to 28 (and he has been below 40% job …
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FBI Agents Raid Work, Home Of Special Counsel's Bloch — WASHINGTON — Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the Office of Special Counsel here, seizing computers and documents belonging to the agency chief Scott Bloch and staff. — More than a dozen FBI agents served grand jury subpoenas shortly …
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report, Law Blog, DownWithTyranny!, At-Largely, Majikthise, The BRAD BLOG, Prairie Weather and Think Progress
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FBI Searches Office of Special Counsel Building
Discussion:
Washington Blade, Firedoglake, The Moderate Voice, Mercury Rising, TPMMuckraker and The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Indiana nuns lacking ID denied at poll by fellow sister — About 12 Indiana nuns were turned away Tuesday from a polling place by a fellow bride of Christ because they didn't have state or federal identification bearing a photograph. — Sister Julie McGuire said she was forced to turn away …
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Key Voting Blocs Boost Obama in Indiana — So Barack Obama is back. The results on Tuesday did not provide the “game changer” Hillary Clinton so desperately needed. Instead, Obama built on his leads in delegates and the popular vote. His aides pointed to May 20 as the day when he will clinch …

FOX NEWS FOLLIES — Watch as the Fox News political team dissects class in America during tonight's election coverage: — I watch Fox so you don't have to — but I lose a little piece of my soul every time. — Late Update: They just can't let it go! The Fox News crew refines its class stereotypes:

Another Clinton loan? — I asked Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe just now whether Clinton had given or loaned her campaign more money in the run-up to North Carolina and Indiana. — “Might be. Might not be,” McAuliffe said, adding that the campaign would release more fundraising details tomorrow.