A conspicous absence in the (Raleigh) N&O as to the uncertainty surrounding North Carolina's 15 electoral votes and where they will go. The only information available is a short piece by Associated Press' Aaron Beard. The article includes a statement by State Board of Elections Director Gary Bartlett saying that provisional ballots are currently in the process of being counted.
With Obama holding a razor thin lead over John McCain of about 12,000 votes, according to unofficial election results, it is perhaps within the realm of possibility that provisional ballots will make a difference. But is a possible recount in order?
Missouri with its eleven electoral votes is the only other state that most news sources have not called.
Although Obama has decisively won the election and transformed the electoral map since 2004 (beautifully illustrated on the home page of the NYT), North Carolina residents at yesterday's Democratic celebrations indicated that they would still like to know the results in their home state. It would mark a significant shift in N.C. politics. If you somehow missed this fact, included in every article and broadcast regarding its new swing state status, no Democratic presidential candidate has been able to carry North Carolina since former president Jimmy Carter's win over Gerald Ford.
The Chronicle's own news editor, Shuchi Parikh, is in the process of investigating. Stay tuned to The Chronicle's election blog and www.dukechronicle.com for updates.
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