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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



No major voting irregularities

Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:50 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
According to Leslie Amoros, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania State Department, there have been no major voter irregularities in the state.

"It's just been minor, normal kinds of stuff," she said. "Nothing major, nothing widespread."

She said polling places do not report turnout numbers throughout the day, but that anecdotally she has learned it is high, aided by the nice weather.

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Why is no one in the press reporting on the massive voter fraud orchastrated by the fundamentalist right to have Republican voters vote for Clinton in the primaries???

I know this to be a FACT.

Where is the press? Aren't they supposed to investigate and root out this kind of fraud?
Why have we never heard anything else about the 0 vote for Obama in Harlem?  Is there an investigation going on or what?  Do they use the new computers over there?  Can some one please let me know if they know anything about this?
The way Democrats vote, this is a major milestone.
I am just glad that PA does not have a caucus system.

I would have voted for Obama if Senator Clinton had not made it to the Democratic convention but then I worked at the Primary and Caucus in TX and this changed my mind. Today I would never vote for Obama. The way the Obama supporters handled business was underhanded, pushy and unethical. There was no need for all this negative stuff-they had so many voters coming out for them, there was no need at all. The Obama people told lies, locked clinton people out of their caucus, Obama people from other states showed up and tried to take over the sign-up tables, they used so many dirty tricks it was pathetic. If this is the way his foot soldiers are with the opposition I wouldn't want to see him in as President.
Not so fast, I am sure somehow Clinton supporters have been disenfranchised at least a little!  Obamas folks have had to be upto something, right Hill?
as a former PA resident i can say thatPennsylvania always did run a very smooth above-board voting day wether it be primary or general
Except for all of the people who are losing their votes thanks to the screwed up electronic machines.  Diebold has those things rigged from day 1!
The ONLY major voting irregularity would be if Barack Obama actually won the PA primary.
Then another part of America loses.
Please post my comments MSN.

MSN, why are you not reporting on the provisional paper ballots at voting stations that have machine errors that DO NOT HAVE OBAMAS NAME ON THE BALLOT! Only Hillary shows up. This is a serious concern for voters!

There are photos of these ballots all over the internet. Obama supporters and those concerned about voter rights need to be concerned and need to take action.


Don't delete this MSN, like you do any other posts that don't favor Clinton! The public needs to know about this.


Philadelphia Inquierer's Sam Wood reporting Obama's name not on some ballots.
Guess Ohio needs to come over and take some notes about how to do an election right.

Why is no one in the press reporting on the massive voter fraud orchastrated by the fundamentalist right to have Republican voters vote for Clinton in the primaries???

Because it is not true.....

No voting irregularities??  Seriously???  http://www.runhardmedia.com/hrc.jpg
Independent,

It's called an open primary. Democrats are free to do the same thing in the Republican primary if they so choose. It's perfectly legal and is definitely not fraud. If you don't like it, then maybe you should petition the DNC and the states with open primaries.
Irregularities or not, if Clinton wins she still looses.  At this point she is campaigning for the Republican party.
I was just watching MSNBC and achorwoman Tamara Hall was chewed out on live tv by Fred Voight Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner regarding complaints brought by the Obama camp about how the machines are not working in the African American communities. He first said that there were no problems and then retracted his statement to say that there were earlier problems but were corrected. When Ms. Hall tried to tell him that it seems to be continue problems, Mr. Voight went on a tirade and start accusing the Obama camp of fear tactics. You could see how Ms. Hall was astounded by Mr. Voight behavor and so was I. To say he was defensive is an understatement!!.
Independent in TN:

You are only partially correct.  The conservative talk show hosts have been encouraging republican voters to register to vote in democratic primaries since as early as Jan. & Feb.  However, in those months, the push was to encourage their listeners to vote for Obama.  Now, because Obama is in the lead and the Repubs want the race to continue, they are doing what they can to keep the contest going.  

Obama supporters may not want to recognize this, but conservative radio was a big fan of his before he started winning.  I suspect they know that he is a much more vulnerable candidate to go after in the general than HRC, who, admittedly, has weathered a lot of criticism, but the American people know what they're getting with her (I'm a Hillary supporter).  Obama is much more ripe for attack ads, because since the American people do not know much about him, they will be able to distort any little thing, whether it's true or untrue.  Just my observation.
I think one of the main issues is how Obama has handled his campaign organization.  He has had record fundraising, pays his bills on time and his campaign is not in debt - operating firmly in the black. He has only had one non-paid advisor leave his organization and has the money in hand to move forward.  Hillary's campaign has been in trouble for months with top staff being fired, bills going unpaid and general chaos.  I vote the the candidate who is running the best organization.  Our country is already in trouble, we need a candidate who can manage finances and organizations!!  I vote for Obama!
New Independent TN
Mayor Bloomber has reported on this but NOT ONE person in the media will cover the story.
80 districts in NY and Obama did not get a single vote.
I hope there are organizations on the groud monitoring his campaign like Black Box.
I also hope there are a lot of independent organizations doing exit polling.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192008/news/regionalnews/mike_bloomberg_claims_vote_fraud__98367.htm
Here in the mid-state in Middletown 12 miles from the capital of PA, Harrisburg, there were no lines at my polling station at nine a.m. and everything went smoothly. It could be that this is Republican territory.  I put in my vote for Obama.  Through thick and thin he has seemed like the right candidate for me.  I voted for Bush last time and at least am glad that he brought some balance to the Supreme Court re issues of concern to Christians. Now I am free to vote for improved civil rights, universal health care, save the environment and a new kind of politics. The fact that Obama was able to spend more money just means he had more grass roots support.  Change from the bottom up !
can you verify these accounts below? they don't sound minor to me at all.

http://www.electionjournal.org/
Tony, TX:

We heard you say it before.  We also heard several people say otherwise and suggest that you are and were a Hillary supporter "from day one."

So are you like Hillarious: a liar,
or Obama:                   telling the truth?

Inquiring minds want to know.
there have been malfunctions & in some Philly areas Baracks name is not on the ballot!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/22/131217/799/568/500823

I don't know what to make of this but this seems really scary to me.  

Please look at the following image of an "Official Democratic Ballot" issued by the "Democratic Executive Committee of Philadelphia" and tell me if you don't think that this is seriously scary stuff.

What I see is an official ballot, put out by an official Pennsylvania body, which people are encouraged to "take...into the voting booth", that only has Hillary Clinton's name on it!
"Why have we never heard anything else about the 0 vote for Obama in Harlem?  Is there an investigation going on or what?  Do they use the new computers over there?  Can some one please let me know if they know anything about this?
New Independent (Sent Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:58 PM)"

My thoughts exactly, swept under the carpet. Sad but true.

MSNBC, can somebody find out what happened?!?!?

Frank
Chicago
Obama '08
Voter Fraud: Plain and Simple

MSN, why are you not reporting on the provisional paper ballots at voting stations that have machine errors that DO NOT HAVE OBAMAS NAME ON THE BALLOT! Only Hillary shows up. This is a serious concern for voters!

There are photos of these ballots all over the internet. Obama supporters and those concerned about voter rights need to be concerned and need to take action.


Don't delete this MSN, like you do any other posts that don't favor Clinton! The public needs to know about this.

I knew Clinton and Rendell would try something like this.

The Democratic City Committee, which has not endorsed either Obama or Clinton, appears to be distributing multiple sample ballots today, causing some confusion as City Committee is trying to cater to individual wards.
The way it seems to have worked is that ward leaders who support Obama requested sample ballots with Obama's name at the top and Obama delegates listed below, and vice versa for ward leaders supporting Clinton.
There have been complaints, though, of Clinton ballots being handed out in Obama wards.
OBAMA'S NAME ISN'T ON SOME BALLETS?  SOUNDS FISHY TO ME!!  But with HRC running, I'm not surprised at all.  Billary are not the most ethical folks around town, or did you miss that over the past many years?????????  Operation Chaos - YEA!!!!!!
Pay your Bills first Hillary! You owe us! - UC Davis
Some morning radio stations have reported that Obama's name was not even on the ballot in an African American community precinct.

Why is this not on the mainstream news?!  What's going on here
PA. Democrat Ballot w/o Obama's Name (w/ Image)
by monitor
Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:20:07 AM PDT
I don't know what to make of this but this seems really scary to me.  

Please look at the following image of an "Official Democratic Ballot" issued by the "Democratic Executive Committee of Philadelphia" and tell me if you don't think that this is seriously scary stuff.



What I see is an official ballot, put out by an official Pennsylvania body, which people are encouraged to "take...into the voting booth", that only has Hillary Clinton's name on it!

monitor's diary :: ::
Potential Problems at the Pennsylvania Polls

http://thepage.time.com/

MSNBC reports Obama campaign claiming that some voting machines were breaking down or not working, particularly in Philadelphia’s African-American precincts.
Hey MSNBC,
Your bias is showing. Every article online right now is negative toward Hillary. Where is your fairness??????????This is election day  and you should not be doing anything to influence votes. Have you no ethics?????? Why is Obama getting the better press????? Are you finally admitting that you have been biased against Hillary from the start and have done everything possible to make her look bad?????? Shame on you MSNBC your license should not be renewed.
OMG, I have heard that most of the "irregularities" are occurring in the Philadelphia area, which was predicted to be an Obama stronghold. Hill would no doubt benfit from a suppression of the vote there in order to get her much needed BIG WIN in Pennsylvania. It is also not lost on me that Rendell, the ex mayor of that city and the present governor of the state, is now her staunchest supporter there. Hmmmmm!!! If this is true, it smells like a big old nutria rat, as we say down here in Louisiana. Geaux ( Go in Cajun) Obama!!
The problen is that the Harlem vote is one of at least 3 stories the MSM overlooks. All 3 relate directly to HRC.

If no one airs voter fraud, Farrakhan endorsements and now in Philly. Is it not a conspiracy? Especially in the contrast of a taped conversation in California that got too much press.
LOL, Obamanites.  The so called provisional ballot is a Campaign ad, not an actual ballot.  Look at the bottom of the thing.  This is not what's being handed out as a ballot so stop whinning already.    There is no fraud, your candidate just isn't strong enough to win.
Why is no one in the press reporting on the massive voter fraud orchastrated by the fundamentalist right to have Republican voters vote for Clinton in the primaries???

I know this to be a FACT.

Where is the press? Aren't they supposed to investigate and root out this kind of fraud?
Independent in TN (Sent Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:58 PM)

-------------
Its not called fraud, it's called politics, but then again, maybe its just semantics.  My biggest complaint with the Dem. Primary system, is that some states have open primaries.  The system should be changed so that only people who registered as democrat 6 months before the primary, may vote in the dem. primary.  None of this party switching at the polls, none of this republicans voting in dem. primaries garbage.  
The reason why you don't hear about 0 votes for Obama in Harlem, is because it's not a true.  
Jill F.,
Sorry but your information is incorrect, apparently biased by your support for Ms. Sniper Fire.  Please see the hundreds of articles on Rush Limbaugh urging dittoheads to support Clinton as early as the South Carolina primary.  The urging for dittoheads to cross-over and keep the weaker candidate, Hillary (according to Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingramham, Bill O'Reilly, Laura Coulter, Sean Hannity, etc.) going is well documented.  The GOP is praying that Hillary becomes the nominee because she already had more baggage than samsonite BEFORE she ever even declared her candidacy.  

However, yes, you are correct about all the distortions, the lies spread by the Clinton camp, about Obama.  The Clintons have a life-time of experience is lying.  That is "experience" we don't need in the White House.
How can there be any irregularities?  There are no vast right wing conspiracy republicans on the ballot.  Oh, my bad.  You Dems believe someone is always cheating you, even your own.
I don't know what the Secretary of the Commonwealth  of Pennsylvania considers "nothing major," but if the reports are true that Senator Obama's name is ABSENT from the ballot in some areas of Pennsylvania, there is everything major about this.

http://agonist.org/schecter/?p=9160

Is Mr. Cortes (Pennsylvania's secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) on the record as supporting either candidate?  This information might constitute real reporting.  I know Mr. Cortes was appointed by Governor Rendell in April 2003.  Mr. Cortes' record appears sound and above board, but isn't an inquiry in order?  It also might be real reporting to discover where Senator Obama's name was left off the ballot and who had control over the ballot's printing.

There may be nothing to this, but if Senator Obama's name is absent from ballots, this is a major occurrence.
MSNBC PLEASE CHECK ON THIS... IS THIS TRUE??? HIS NAME IS NOT THERE????

No voting irregularities??  Seriously???  http://www.runhardmedia.com/hrc.jpg
I predict a HUGE Clinton victory.

at least by 20 points.


Obama go back home and eat your waffle.

Clinton 08
Wow....as biased as MSNBC is for Obama, you people think that there would not be blood drawn if your worries were legit?????
Consider the source Doreen. Consider the source.

Who do you predict will win the Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential Primary?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=2127

.
"Why have we never heard anything else about the 0 vote for Obama in Harlem?  Is there an investigation going on or what?  Do they use the new computers over there?  Can some one please let me know if they know anything about this?"

I am a New Yorker and have heard nothing about anyone investigating this. Probably because Rangel is in Clinton's dirty pocket and doesn't want the fraud exposed  !!!!!
I'm a registered republican but I refuse to vote for McCain. I cast my vote for Mike Huckabee. It's better to vote for someone you believe in even if they don't have a chance than to compromise and vote for someone like McCain.
Jeez, usually the voting fraud doesn't begin until the Republicans become involved! Now we may be seeing the Clinton Machine using GOP tactics to insure she wins by more than 5%.  When did we stop becoming a democracy?  Did we just give up on that little concept after the 2000 Presidential Steal?
there have been malfunctions & in some Philly areas Baracks name is not on the ballot!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/22/131217/799/568/500823

I don't know what to make of this but this seems really scary to me.  

Please look at the following image of an "Official Democratic Ballot" issued by the "Democratic Executive Committee of Philadelphia" and tell me if you don't think that this is seriously scary stuff.

What I see is an official ballot, put out by an official Pennsylvania body, which people are encouraged to "take...into the voting booth", that only has Hillary Clinton's name on it!

Doreen Rice Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, April 22, 2008 1:26 PM)

--------------------------------------------------

It's not really an official ballot. But to an untrained eye, it could be I guess. Notice the fine print below. Either way, don't you get your ballots from inside and not outside?
Rush Limbaugh today on the radio said that around 180,000 republicans have registered late to vote democrat for Hillery in PA- MSNBC and CNN better get on this story fast.
I was at the Galveston County (Texas) Democratic convention and YES we Obama supporters were better organized than Hillary's feckless minions!!

So if it comes to it, I think McCain is a better Democrat than Hillary: At least he won't be suffering from "sleep deprivation" at 3 A.M. when the "big call" comes in. HAHAHA


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