NPR: Candidates Battle in the Bellwether State of Missouri

Candidates Battle in the Bellwether State of Missouri

In Missouri, where elections tend to be close, NPR has declared Hillary Clinton the winner for the Democrats and John McCain for the Republicans. Clinton's win came despite the efforts of the state's junior senator, Claire McCaskill, who endorsed Barack Obama from neighboring Illinois.

Clinton did well in the rural, more conservative parts of the state, while Obama won the urban areas. Both campaigns stopped there in recent days, as did the three Republican candidates. Missouri will be the site of a big battle in the fall as well, if for no other reason that only once in the last 100 years has the winner of the state not wound up in the White House.

Now that's a bellwether.

-- Brian Naylor

Update: The Associated Press has pulled back from its projection of a Clinton win in Missouri, and several of the TV networks are now calling the state for Barack Obama. NPR is holding back until we can get a more accurate count of the returns. Stay tuned.

12:21 AM ET | 02- 6-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Why did Hillaty win if Obama is winning the majority of the votes right now?

Sent by rob dupree | 12:25 AM ET | 02-06-2008

MO still too close to call...and NPR should retract its
prediction that Clinton has won this one and not follow the AP.

Sent by hardwick | 12:27 AM ET | 02-06-2008

NPR, are you even looking at the data?!

98 % reporting, Obama up 49%-48% over Clinton. NY Times tallies.

Somebody's reporting is utterly shabby here. Have we learned nothing from 2000?

Sent by JT | 12:32 AM ET | 02-06-2008

Obama's going to win! When will NPR stop saying Hillary won Missouri? She's behind in the votes!

Sent by charlie | 12:38 AM ET | 02-06-2008

Care to change that? Obama wins Missouri. Just in case you missed it.

Sent by Blue Leaf | 12:52 AM ET | 02-06-2008

Recheck the stats for Missouri. For the past hour, with 98% reporting, Missouri has been showing Obama in the lead, but NPR is still announcing it as having been won by Clinton!

Sent by Elizabeth Owen | 12:52 AM ET | 02-06-2008

So, I get when Sen Clinton win the most vote in Nevada, but Sen Obama win the most delegate then you declare Clinton the winner. Now in Missouri, Sen Obama wins the most votes and Sen Clinton wins the most delegates, you folks say Sen Clinton wins.
You are consistent in "your" declaring the same winner, but you are NOT consistent in your (?) "standards". Talk about flip flopping, look in the mirror.
SLOW down and let then run the race. Remember, everyone said New England was the winner of the Super Bowel, before the first play was called. You ought to know by now the real winner was, New York Giants. Come on lets call the balls and strikes, and WAIT until the last out is made before calling out the winner. Then we ALL will know at the same time. Get over yourselves.

Sent by L. Norman | 12:53 AM ET | 02-06-2008

This race has been called on other networks as well. Unfortunately for NPR they've correctly called it for Obama. With 2% left to count, Barack has abbout a 5,000 vote lead. Wow, big mistake, NPR.

Sent by Scott | 12:54 AM ET | 02-06-2008

NPR's pro-clinton bias is showing again.

Sent by cody | 12:54 AM ET | 02-06-2008

Finally! Missouri Sen. Claire McGaskill just nailed NPR live over the radio for missing the MO call. Yet still no acknowledgement from NPR commentators that they blew it. Just poor, poor reporting. The figures have been out there for over 45 min.

Sent by JT | 12:55 AM ET | 02-06-2008

Its taking NPR too long to update the MO. data. At the very least they should say its still too close to call.

Sent by Byron Crites | 12:57 AM ET | 02-06-2008

" Clinton's win came despite the efforts of the state's junior senator, Claire McCaskill, who endorsed Barack Obama from neighboring Illinois."

Care to take that back? Missouri goes to Obama, and according to your post: "Missouri will be the site of a big battle in the fall as well, if for no other reason that only once in the last 100 years has the winner of the state not wound up in the White House." Why does NPR seem so anti-Obama?

Sent by Blue Leaf | 12:57 AM ET | 02-06-2008

for an accurate count try: http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/allresults.asp?eid=203 or cnn.com.

Sent by charlie | 1:32 AM ET | 02-06-2008

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