Do you want to chat live about the battle in Ohio?

[ray of light]

Come to the Democracy Cell Project and click on the "live chat" tab. You must have java for it to work. But you're welcome to come and visit if you'd like.

http://www.democracycellproject.net

[ray of light]

1. wow...close battle!!!!

Who is watching to see if it's a fair and non-fraudulent election?

[katinmn]

2. ok I signed on. Looks to be about a dozen people

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3. a dozen? I thought it looked like more! but they seem to be having fun!

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4. keep in mind the demographics of the counties with the votes recorded

It's important to remember it's not over until later. Most people chatting in the irc chat remember the disaster of the November election--the euphoria--the exit polls and probabably the tabulator fraud. It's a sad memory for all of us.

[ray of light]

5. some stats from the irc...

here are the numbers you are looking for:
<21:21> <C Adams- 64-36 - 50 (7 points over)
<21:21> <l> Brown co 7076 votes - hackett 3950 (55.9%) / schmidt 3100 (43.8%)
<21:21> <C> Brown- 64-36 - 50 (7 points over)
<21:22> <C> Clermont- 71-29 - 43 (4 points short)
<21:22> <C> Hamilton- 70-30 - 52 (3 points short)
<21:22> <C> Pike-52-48 - 62 (1 point short)
<21:22> <C> Scioto- 52-48 - 62 (4 Points over)
<21:22> <C> Warren- 72-28 - 42 (3 points over)
<21:22> <C> Jesus, that's close.
<21:23> <o> decipher for me please
<21:24> <b> Clermont just reported final results 7869 Schmidt 6099 Hackett
<21:24> <l> cinci .com reporting - hackett 25,920 (52%) / schmidt 24,527 (49%)
<21:24> <o> is clermont a suburb?
<21:24> <b> No its a county

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6. more stats...

Clarmont isn't finished that's with absentees and 100 of 191 precincts
<21:26> <l> pike co - hackett 965 (61%) / schmidt 611 (39%) w/ 50% repo
<21:26> <o> the little piker
<21:26> <l> adams co - hackett 721 (57%) / schmidt 551 (43%) w/ 12/35 prec rep

<21:27> <l> brown co - hackett 2,279 (57%) / schmidt 1,692 (43%) w/ 100% rep

<21:28> <l> clermont co - scmidt 1,158 (61%) / hackett 750 (39%) w/ 0% rep
<21:28> <o great news l

<21:28> <b> the good news is that these are almost all punchcard counties so we can prove if it was stolen
<21:28> <l> hamilton co - hackett 14,726 (51%) / schmidt 14.301 (49%) w/ 195/342 prec rep

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7. Final results in Clermont

JEAN SCHMIDT 1158 6711 0 7869 56.24%
<21:35> <k> PAUL HACKETT 750 5349 0 6099 43.59%
<21:35> <k> Write In Votes 3 22 0 25 0.18%
<21:35> <l> hackett 2,379 (66%) / schmidt 1,213 (34%)
<21:35> <V> Hackett's message obviously resonated with a lot of Repub voters, we have to find some way to capitalize on that even if Hackett doesn't win

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8. more live chat

<d> In order to understand what these numbers mean, you need to see them next to the returns from 2004 for Bush/Kerry. Then you could see whether Hackett was outperforming Kerry, or not.

<21:48> <l> Here's the 91% report.

<21:48> <M> 66:33 bush:kerry

<21:48> <c> just 700 down
<21:48> <l> just 700 down...
<21:48> <l> that's correct. Waiting for site to load. It's slashdotted.


<21:48> <l> just 700 down...
<21:48> <l> that's correct. Waiting for site to load. It's slashdotted.


<21:50> <d> If Bush woln 66/33, then Hackett is doing extremely well so far.
<21:50> <C> The idea here is for the RNC to KNOW that the Dems mean to compete EVERYWHERE, and in EVERY district and EVERY race next year.
<21:50> <j> 662 precincts of 753 reporting
<21:50> <k> Schmidt lives in Clermont County and has most of her life. She probably knows half of the county residents and is related to the other half.
<21:50> <k> Posted by: maha
<21:50> <j> hackett leading
<21:50> <l> Result is so far within recount margin

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9. a reason to hope?

All i can say is I am really glad i drove down to canvass and it will NOT be the last time I do it. Congrats to all who donated, watched, encouraged, or helped on the ground. Whatever the results, this is truly inspiring. To have a chance to win it is just incredible!
<22:03> Posted by: ericv
<22:03> That's the spirit!
<22:03>
<22:03> Schmidt would appear to be running about 15 points behind Bush. Usually when you're talking about targeting seats, you look at races where, say, Bush won by 5 points or less. Opening it up to 15 means there are more vulnerable Republican seats to go after than there were in 2004.

<22:04> agreed k, the hope was inspiring and uplifting
<22:04> --if that'd true, there is a tide that has turned
<22:04> - thanks for the great analysis
<22:05> interesting
<22:05> good news to hear

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11. Possible new information

<s> US HOUSE Ohio 2nd Dist
<22:32> <s> 662 precincts of 753 reporting JEAN SCHMIDT 49,681 50%
<22:32> <s> PAUL HACKETT 48,811 50%

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10. Bored? Wondering what can be taking the update so long?

Well the live chat is discussing an action plan for 06 and even 08. Lot's of interesting ideas in how to get progressives elected and how to become a part of our democracy. Come join.

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12. less than 900 votes difference

they're counting by hand and Schmidt's hometown is still being counted.