Live Blog: Texas Primary
7:09 p.m. On the Democratic side 126 delegates are tied to Texas’ primary while another 67 delegates are tied to the Texas Democratic caucuses – also held tonight.
8:05 p.m. CNN, NBC News, and Fox News characterize the Democratic race in Texas as ‘too close to call,’ and call the Republican race for John McCain. Fox News is reporting Mike Huckabee will drop out of the GOP race.
8:15 p.m. Democratic (2% reporting)
Obama = 54%
Clinton = 45%
8:15 p.m. Republican (2% reporting)
McCain = 56%
Huckabee = 32%
Paul = 5%
8:42 p.m. Democratic (4% reporting)
Obama = 53%
Clinton = 46%
8:42 p.m. Republican (4% reporting)
McCain = 56%
Huckabee = 33%
Paul = 5%
8:55 p.m. Some news networks are reporting that Hillary Clinton’s campaign is lodging complaints regarding irregularities during the caucuses that took place after the primary in Texas today. It is expected that Obama will carry the caucus portion of the contest in Texas today. Obama has won 11 of 13 state caucuses to date.
9:00 p.m. Democratic (9% reporting)
Obama = 51%
Clinton = 48%
9:00 p.m. Republican (8% reporting)
McCain = 55%
Huckabee = 33%
Paul = 5%
9:21 p.m. Democratic (17% reporting)
Obama = 50%
Clinton = 49%
9:21 p.m. Republican (18% reporting)
McCain = 55%
Huckabee = 34%
Paul = 5%
9:35 p.m. Democratic (20% reporting)
Obama = 49%
Clinton = 49%
9:35 p.m. Republican (20% reporting)
McCain = 54%
Huckabee = 35%
Paul = 5%
9:46 p.m. Democratic (24% reporting)
Clinton = 49%
Obama = 49%
With nearly a quarter of precincts reporting, Clinton has now taken the lead in the Lone Star State by approximately 1,300 votes.
9:46 p.m. Republican (27% reporting)
McCain = 54%
Huckabee = 35%
Paul = 5%
9:54 p.m. Democratic (32% reporting)
Clinton = 50%
Obama = 49%
9:54 p.m. Republican (33% reporting)
McCain = 54%
Huckabee = 35%
Paul = 5%
10:17 p.m. Democratic (40% reporting)
Clinton = 50%
Obama = 49%
10:17 p.m. Republican (43% reporting)
McCain = 53%
Huckabee = 36%
Paul = 5%
10:38 p.m. Democratic (49% reporting)
Clinton = 50%
Obama = 48%
10:38 p.m. Republican (55% reporting)
McCain = 52%
Huckabee = 36%
Paul = 5%
10:55 p.m. Democratic (55% reporting)
Clinton = 50%
Obama = 48%
10:55 p.m. Republican (65% reporting)
McCain = 52%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 5%
John McCain’s 24-point advantage early in the Texas primary returns has been reduced to 15 points with about two-thirds of the results counted.
11:05 p.m. It took more than 5 hours into the election return coverage but MSNBC has at last referenced Hillary Clinton’s Saturday Night Live appearance last weekend in the context of her strong performance tonight. The reference was made, appropriately, by NBC News anchor Brian Williams – who hosted one of the strongest episodes of SNL in recent memory in 2007.
11:20 p.m. Democratic (64% reporting)
Clinton = 50%
Obama = 48%
11:20 p.m. Republican (74% reporting)
McCain = 52%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 5%
11:45 p.m. Democratic (73% reporting)
Clinton = 51%
Obama = 48%
11:45 p.m. Republican (80% reporting)
McCain = 52%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 5%
11:48 p.m. Fox News and NBC News have projected Hillary Clinton the winner of the Texas primary. Clinton has now won 14 states.
11:51 p.m. CNN has now projected Clinton the winner of the Texas primary.
12:15 a.m. Democratic (79% reporting)
Clinton = 51%
Obama = 47%
12:15 a.m. Republican (85% reporting)
McCain = 52%
Huckabee = 37%
Paul = 5%
12:21 a.m. Democratic (82% reporting)
Clinton = 51%
Obama = 48%
12:21 a.m. Republican (89% reporting)
McCain = 51%
Huckabee = 38%
Paul = 5%
McCain’s lead is now down to 13 points after starting out in the early returns at 24 points. The final polls of Texans, released Tuesday by Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby and American Research Group, had McCain up by 28 points and 24 points respectively. Perhaps some Republicans heeded the advice by conservative radio talk show hosts and abandoned McCain to ‘raid’ the Democratic primary and vote for Clinton.
9:17 a.m. Democratic (99% reporting)
Clinton = 51%
Obama = 48%
9:17 a.m. Republican (100% reporting)
McCain = 51%
Huckabee = 38%
Paul = 5%
Uncommitted = 1%