Trenches of Democracy

The Guardian reports in Philadelphia:

Barack Obama has been warned that his refusal to pay the traditional “street money” to local operatives to help get the vote out in Philadelphia today could cost him the crucial percentage points needed to knock Hillary Clinton out of the race for the White House.

In many of the city’s poorer wards, the recipients look forward to these bonuses from Democratic officials - a hangover from the days of the party’s old-fashioned machine politics - even though the amounts are relatively small, ranging from $50 to $400.

But as in other contests, Obama is relying on his own army of unpaid
volunteers to get the vote out. The Clinton team, meanwhile, is not saying whether it will pay out “street money”.

There are 69 wards in Philadelphia and estimates suggest it would cost Obama $400,000-$500,000 to pay the 14,000 people normally required to help get the vote out… (read full)

Tags: Democrat Organization, Obama, Philadelphia, primary

Letter appears to come from Aurora’s Board of Election Commissioners
16th Judicial Circuit

An Aurora lawyer who lost the Feb. 5 primary for a judicial subcircuit seat has received an anonymous letter suggesting more than 1,000 faulty ballots influenced the outcome of the election.

A copy of the letter, postmarked Monday and mailed in an envelope from Aurora’s Board of Election Commissioners, has been given to the Kane County state’s attorney, who is investigating. (read more)

(”Kane County election complaint under review,” Daily Herald, 3/1/08)

Tags: Aurora, Ballot Fraud, Judicial Race