Lake County Holds Up Indiana Primary Results

At 10:40 PM EDT, 85% of the precincts in the state of Indiana have reported. Cinton has won 52% of the vote, Obama 48%. But there's one little problem. Lake County (Gary, Hammond, East Chicago etc.) has not reported anything. Nothing. Not a vote.

Officials are saying that a lot of last minute of absentee ballots came in and they were being counted. This is not a good sign at this point. Trying to come with the votes you need to propel Obama into the win column isn't easy at this late hour, after the polls have been closed for almost three hours now.

Hillary is giving a victory speech anyway. But this could get ugly if Obama pulls this out on these votes that have yet to be released.


UPDATE (11:30 PM):

88% of the precincts reporting. The percentage gap is the same. But Obama has picked up a few votes.

The interesting thing is this from the Gary Mayor.

As the fate of a nailbiter Indiana primary -- and possibly the course of the Democratic race -- hung on his city, Gary Mayor Rudy Clay said just now that it might take a while yet to finish counting the vote in Lake County, which includes Gary, and said tonight his city had turned out so overwhelmingly for Barack Obama that it might just be enough to close the gap with Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"Let me tell you, when all the votes are counted, when Gary comes in, I think you're looking at something for the world to see," Clay, an Obama supporter, said in a telephone interview from Obama's Gary headquarters. "I don't know what the numbers are yet, but Gary has absolutely produced in large numbers for Obama here."

Well golly gee, I thought they were COUNTING the votes. This implies that the totals are NOT known. But the Mayor is sounding like he knows the outcome of the vote.

Update (11:45)

91% of the precincts have reported. The gap is now 51% to 49%. Gary appears to be delivering big for Obama.

Those last minute absentee ballots sure are coming in handy. My guess is they should have been counted yesterday and any further submitted absentees should have not been accepted. But if you search the court house well, I am sure there's no telling what you may find lying around at this late hour.

Update (5-7-08, 12:00 AM):

No change. Reports at a standstill. Going To bed.


Update (5-7-08 5:50AM)

Hillary's numbers held up. It goes to show that it will be harder for Democrats in Lake County to steal elections in the future, due to the new Indiana voter ID law. But those pesky absentee ballots will always be a source of hanky panky.

Final tally: Hillary 51% - Obama 49%. Not the blowout she had hoped for. The writing is on the wall. Her ability to raise money is now severely crippled.