BREAKING NEWS; CHESTER COUNTY VOTES AGAINST TIDE

UPDATE--7:40 a.m.--Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) won Pennsylvania decisively last night by a 10 point margin, 55 to 45 percent. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won several counties in Southeastern Pa.--including Philadelphia, with a 30 point margin--and counties in central Pa., but lost heavily throughout the rest of the state. Obama won in Chester, Lancaster, Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Southeastern Pa., including a 55-45 percent margin in Chester County.

The next contests are in Guam on May 3 and Indiana and North Carolina, together on May 6. --HENRY ROME

POLLS CLOSED IN PENNSYLVANIA

Henry Rome/The SPOKE

Henry Rome

Managing Editor

WAYNE - Pennsylvania voters flocked to the polls today for the state's critical primary, a primary that has been called by some analysts the deciding force in determining the Democratic presidential nominee.

Polls close at 8:00 pm.

Polling stations were busy today across Chester County. At one polling station in Devon, roughly 70% of the precinct's Democrats voted with still over an hour left for voting, according to party and election officials, reflecting the intensity and anticipation of the race, especially among the Democrats.

Analysts say today's Democratic primary between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will decide who wins the nomination. Harrisburg-based political analyst David La Torre said in an interview with The Spoke that the primary is do-or-die for Clinton.

"This primary means everything for Hillary Clinton. If Hillary Clinton loses, she's done. If she wins, there's a good chance she can take the nomination," La Torre said.

"Typically, Pennsylvania has been a foregone conclusion. Now all Pennsylvania voters really have an opportunity to select the eventual nominee."

Both candidates have focused heavily on Pennsylvania over the past few weeks, making dozens of visits to the state. Tonight, Hillary Clinton will host an election results party in Philadelphia. Barack Obama will move on to Indiana, where he, along with his wife, will hold a rally with singer John Mellencamp.

After weeks of hard campaigning in a primary that could mean everything in the presidential race, the campaigns today sent out last e-mails to supporters pleading for volunteer support or votes.

"Everything we've worked for together comes down to what we do in these next few hours," Obama Pa. State Director Paul Tewes said in an e-mail.

"This race is close, and we need every last vote in Pennsylvania," Clinton Pa. State Director Mary Isenhour said in an e-mail.

At the Baptist Church in the Great Valley, in Devon, the warm spring weather and calm atmosphere at the polling place belied the intensity of the past weeks. Party officials earlier tonight offered sample ballots to those about to enter the voting area, which was inside a cramped room in the lower level of the church.

"We have all the excitement," Rochelle Rabin, the precinct Democratic Committee person, said. "There's a lot of anticipation."

Rabin, along with other officials, manned the Democratic table, which featured literature from both the Obama and Clinton campaigns. The Tredyffrin Democrats have not endorsed either candidate.

Inside the polling place, voters did not touch screens or punch ballots but instead circled in holes--not unlike the SAT.

"It's been a long time" since I've taken the SATs, voters could be heard saying as they filed through the voting lines.

"I was sorry I didn't bring my reading glasses," Rabin said.

News Copy Editor Seth Zweifler contributed to this report.

###

Stay tuned to stoganews.com for complete election results.

Obama pulls into Paoli

Jonathan Yu/The SPOKE

By Sonia Khandekar
Managing Editor

PAOLI—As the train pulled into the station, Obama stepped onto the Paoli Train Station for his whistle-stop railway tour aboard the “change train,” amidst chanting of “Yes We Can” and “O, B, A-M-A, he’s going to change the USA.”

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama boarded a patriotic train car, heading from Philadelphia’s 30^th Street Station towards Harrsiburg, as part of his “Track for Change” campaign. Obama addressed a crowd of 3,000 supporters in Paoli Station’s parking lot, touching on subjects ranging from the economy to the need for political change.

Obama noted the importance of the approaching Pennsylvania primary, emphasizing that Pennsylvania voters have the opportunity to make history.

“We’ve got four days before we bring change to America,” Obama said. “This is now our moment, this is now our turn.”

The speech included familiar Obama campaign statements, especially the need to change the way politics works and how business is done in Washington.

“We’ve got to look forward, not backwards,” Obama said. “Unless you’re willing to bring about change, change won’t happen.”

Obama also used the train platform to note the differences between his platform and that of Hillary Clinton, as well as the flaws in John McCain’s policies.

“We [the Democratic Party] are going to be unified in November, but [right now there is a choice],” Obama said.

Obama criticized the Bush Administration, highlighting that a McCain presidency would be “another Bush term.” He stressed that “the name of [his] cousin Dick Cheney would not be on the ballot.”

“We [Cheney and Obama] have not gone on a family hunting trip yet,” Obama jokingly added.

By the end of the speech, cheering supporters could be heard shouting “You’re the man,” and “I love you.”

Obama emphasized that he is the best candidate running and under his presidency, “we can have a government of and by and for the people.”

“I will always tell you what I think, I will always tell you where I stand,” Obama said.

At the end of the speech, Obama walked around shaking hands and signing autographs of supporters, thanking them for their backing.

“Thank you Paoli, I love you,” Obama said.

John McCain at Villanova

Henry Rome/The SPOKE

By Henry Rome

Managing Editor

VILLANOVA - In a race that has drawn incredible interest among young people, it was no surprise that two young people stole the show as presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews, live from Villanova University.

    The first questioner from the audience asked McCain if he thought he was a "typical white person," a question that was met with laughter.

    The second questioner, a junior at Villanova, asked if McCain thought Democratic contender Hillary Clinton was finally "hitting the sauce," referencing the New York senator's recent shot-drinking episode in Indiana.

    "I was wondering if you would care to join me for a shot after this," the student, Peter Doocy, said.

    "Whatever makes Senator Clinton happy," McCain said to laughter. "You know, I've had two of the best questions, or the toughest questions that I have ever had."

    The crowd at McCain's appearance on April 15 was largely students who enthusiastically waved signs and hats that were provided by Hardball.

Michelle Obama Rally

Meghan Morris/The SPOKE

By Meghan Morris and Erin O'Neil

Staff Reporters

HAVERFORD—Michelle Obama, wife of presidential hopeful Barack Obama, spoke to crowds of college students and community members at Haverford College on April 15, one week before the critical Pennsylvania primary.

Michelle Obama, amidst calls that her husband is an "elitist" after he made controversial comments at a fundraiser in San Francisco, stressed their less-than-privileged childhoods and struggle to achieve financial security. Michelle Obama also assailed the No Child Left Behind Act, saying it is "strangling the life out of the education system."

As her speech came to a close, she reminded the crowd why she feels Barack Obama is different.

"There's something special about Barack," she said. "If we are going to thrive and change this nation, we need a whole lot of inspiration."

Video from Democratic Dinner

By Dan McKinney
TETV

TETV Interviews Barack Obama

By Dan McKinney
TETV

Teens phone bank for Obama

Jonathan Yu/The SPOKE

By Sanjana Bijlani

Staff Reporter

ARDMORE—Many teens are always hooked on their cell phones, but instead of gossiping with friends this group of teens clicked open their phones in the name of presidential politics.

Fueled with pizza and the hope of making a change, the twenty-or-so students--many of whom can't vote in the upcoming election--sought to garner support and recruit volunteers for presidential candidate Sen Barack Obama. They met at the candidate's Montgomery County headquarters in Ardmore on the evening of April 3.

"If you can't vote, you have to do something," said Bea Abbot, a sophomore at Lower Merion High School. Most of these teens seemed excited and believed that they were making a change.

Some came to show their support for a change that they believe they haven't seen for the past eight years. When talking about why she came out to support Obama, Friends' Central High School senior Isabe Friedman said it was the first time she hadn't seen politics as "just a sterile machine." Lower Merion junior Emma Saltzberg believes that "electing Obama will send a message to the world that we're willing to cooperate with the international community and not just pursue our unilateral goals."

Obama visits Strath Haven High School

Henry Rome/The SPOKE

By Seth Zweifler
News Copy Editor

WALLINGFORD—It all started as a rumor. The word in the halls was that Sen. Barack Obama, a leading candidate to be the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee and possibly the next President of the United States, would be speaking to students, faculty and community members at Strath Haven High School.

For once, this was a rumor that proved to be true. Obama held a town hall meeting in the Strath Haven gymnasium on April 2, speaking to a group comprised heavily of high school juniors and seniors.

After a brief policy speech, Obama answered questions ranging from topics about AIDS research to the war in Iraq, but made news at the very end of the meeting by saying that he would consider former Vice President and environmental activist Al Gore for a cabinet level position if he were elected to the White House.

"I would," Obama said. "Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He's somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I'm already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now."

According to Strath Haven senior Sam Hargrove, Obama’s visit, which marked the culmination of a six-day Pennsylvania bus tour, showed the increase in attention this primary has garnered, especially from those who are young, first time voters.

“I think there’s been a major shift in the political climate here. [...] People are definitely starting to pay attention more, because this is the first time many of us will actually have a say in the future of our country.”

“I’m amazed by how my students, especially those who can vote, are getting involved this year,” said Strath Haven politics teacher David Waldman. “It’s really something I don’t ever remember seeing. There was a time when young people didn’t think that politics had an impact on them, but now it seems [that time] has come and gone.”