Tue, March 11, 2008 - 10:50 PM

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 9:50 PM CDT

With Obama’s victory, the supporters at Hal & Mal's figure they can rest easy and the crowd is starting to dwindle.

Those cute Obama-kids we took pictures of earlier? It looks like they’ve been taken home and put to bed.

At its peak, the crowd was a mixture of all ages and races. Now it’s turning into a crowd of 20-somethings and 30-somethings, many celebrating with beers in hand.

Update: The few remaining are rowdy ones too. Lots of cheers of "Yes, we can!" and "Obama!"

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 9:33 PM CDT

Speaking of race, Geraldine Ferraro is taking a lot of flack for her comments about Obama.

Along with the Mississippi, her remarks seem to be dominating the news cycle.

In an interview last week, she said: "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

Ferraro, a fundraiser for Clinton and a vice presidential candidate in 1984, has continued to defend her comments and said Clinton has been the victim of a “sexist media.”

What do you think? Do you agree with Ferraro?

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 9:04 PM CDT

Much of what’s being reported online is how racially polarized this vote in Mississippi is.

According to the AP:

Obama was winning roughly 90 percent of the black vote but only about one-quarter of the white vote, extending a pattern that carried him to victory in earlier primaries in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana.

At least one blogger notes that this says more about race relations in Mississippi than it does the race as a whole.

But what do you think this mean for Mississippi? What does this mean for the rest of the country? Share your thoughts in the comments field below.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 8:46 PM CDT

Looks like Mississippi is in the rearview mirror for the Clinton campaign.

We just got this statement from campaign manager Maggie Williams:

"We congratulate Senator Obama for his win in Mississippi and thank our supporters and volunteers there for their support, hard work and long hours. Now we look forward to campaigning in Pennsylvania and around the country as this campaign continues."

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 8:39 PM CDT

Top Obama supporters in the state have taken the stage, including former Gov. Ray Mabus.

Several hinted they are proud of Mississippi's vote tonight, given the state’s tumultuous history of race relations.

“Tonight is Mississippi’s night, because tonight Mississippi has helped pick the next president of the United States of America,” Mabus said.

Kevin Griffis, a campaign spokesman, spoke and thanked Mississippi for supporting Obama.

He also warned supporters to stay the course.

“This campaign is going to get rougher,” he said. “It’s going to get more divisive.”

Griffis urged supporters to get ready to help Obama take the state in November.

That may be tough, since it’s been decades since the state’s electoral votes went to a Democratic candidate.

Superdelegate Johnnie Patton also got onstage and said she’s looking toward the future.

Clearly she's ready to use her superpowers: “When I go to Denver, I’m taking your vote with me, because guess what? I’m a superdelegate!”

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 8:18 PM CDT

Some faces in the crowd here.

Two-year-old Gia Hollins waves her Obama sign.

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Gene Sandifer, center, with his son Joshua, 5, left, and his son Matthew, 9, right.

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And take a look at the shirts the boys had on.

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-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 8:05 PM CDT

Silence among the crowd here as Obama speaks live on CNN.

And then boos and "nooo" as Obama is asked if he would consider Clinton as a running mate.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 7:25 PM CDT

MSNBC just called Mississippi for Obama and this is one happy crowd at Hal & Mal’s as the anchors talk about how unlikely it will be for Clinton to pull ahead in the delegate count.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 7:00 PM CDT

With the polls closing, MSNBC just showed the first results of their exit polling, showing Obama ahead in the state’s primary.

The growing crowd was not shy about showing their support and let out a cheer.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 6:53 PM CDT

Tonight, I’ll be coming to you from what Obama supporters hope is a celebration party at Hal & Mal’s in Jackson.

Campaign workers are taping up Obama signs and the first supporters are beginning to show up. Here, from left to right, is a picture of Nadina Henderson, her 11-year-old daughter Breanna and her 5-year-old niece Chloe Atkins.



The trio is dressed for the night in red, white and blue with Obama stickers placed prominently. Henderson she has been going door-to-door campaigning for Obama. And she wants to see the primary through to the end.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 6:24 PM CDT

Contrary to popular belief, the primary isn’t all about the Democratic presidential candidates.

Don’t forget there are also primaries for congressional seats happening today.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 – 6:11 PM CDT

Be like Demetrious Young and send us your pictures!

Here’s a picture of Demetrious and WJTV anchor Linda Allen at the Obama event last night.

The Jackson youngster came out with his family to hear the senator speak.



Did you meet with a candidate? Were you out campaigning today? Send your pictures to pictures@wjtv.com and adominello@mediageneral.com.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, March 11, 2008 - 5:46 PM

As I search the Web for the latest news on Mississippi’s primary, what’s striking to me is the number of foreign news organizations that are following the Democratic race.

On my flight here to Jackson from Washington, I sat next to a producer from an Italian news organization who was headed here to cover the primaries. And if you follow these links, you’ll see people all over the world are watching to see what Mississippi will do.

That likely indicates just how popular the current president is overseas. But get out and vote Mississippi. Because the world is watching.

-- Amy Dominello

As we’ve said before, Mississippi is considered Obama-friendly country.

The most recent polls are predicting double-digit leads for Obama tonight.

It appears Clinton has closed the gap slightly, but not enough to make it a tight race. It would be a real upset if she won tonight. But it wouldn't be the first time this race surprised us.

-- Amy Dominello

In case you missed it on WJTV’s broadcast yesterday, check out the clip of anchor Linda Allen and I talking about Barack Obama’s appearance at Jackson State University.

-- Amy Dominello