Anti-Proposition 8 Protest, Boston

Via Chris B.

How Boston Voted

BMG:

The city of Boston voted overwhelmingly for President-elect Barack Obama in last Tuesday's election. The Hub of the Universe gave 184,320 votes to the Illinois junior senator (who gained national recognition with a speech at our iconic Gahden just four years ago). Senator McCain - who actually beat our own somewhat native son Mitt Romney in Boston during this year's GOP presidential primary - received just 45,280 votes. These numbers represent a 78.91% - 19.37% Obama victory.

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John McCain was able to win three precincts out of Boston's 254. His best showing was in Ward 6 Precinct 9 (South Boston's St. Matthew's) where he beat Barack Obama by a vote of 530-467 (52.37% - 46.15%). McCain also took W16-P9 (Dot's Adams Corner/Neponset) by a vote of 508-476 (50.35% - 47.18%) and W7-P2 (South Boston's L Street Bath House) 560-544 (49.69% - 48.27%).

McCain earned the most votes in W3P1 (the North End) where 643 people filled in the oval next to his name. In that same precinct, Obama received 1,529 votes, or 69.28% of the vote.

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The President-elect's best win percentages were in the aforementioned W12P9 where he took 99.5% of the vote (to McCain's .5%). Obama earned the most votes in W3P7 (South End's Cathedral High) where 1,982 people (87.54%) cast their votes for him. In that same precinct, 253 people voted for McCain (representing 11.17% of the vote).

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Turnout citywide was a healthy - but not extraordinary - 61.57% of registered voters. West Roxbury's own W20P12 (the Lyndon School) bested all other polling locations in the city with an 80.38% turnout. There, Obama beat McCain with a vote of 500-327 (58.82% - 38.47%).

The most people came out in W5P1 (Downtown's Franklin Institute) where 2,275 cast their ballot. This represents a sub-par 53.58% of the vote. At the Franklin Institute, Obama won with 1876-359 votes (82.61% - 15.81%).

The lowest turnout citywide (next to the Harbor Islands) was W21P2 (Fenway's BU) where an anemic 37.87% of registered voters cast their ballot. There, Obama beat McCain with a vote of 573-63 votes (89.11% - 9.8%). For what it's worth, this precinct sometimes boast single digit turnout numbers in municipal races, so the 643 ballots that were cast here does represent an improvement of sorts.

Local Landmarks: Washington Street

Boston's Washington Street makes the list of great streets in America. Use this link to see if your local street or neighborhood made the list.

"When an elevated rail line was erected over Washington Street in 1907, the noise and shadows drove out families and rooming houses began to replace apartments. Suburbanization also took its toll. From 1950 to 1970, the South End lost two-thirds of its population. Entire blocks were vacant and prostitution and drugs were commonplace."

"By 2007, $600 million in targeted investment had transformed the street. Sixty-three new shops have opened, making the corridor a destination for local services, home furnishings, art, and dining. Today, historic Federal-era and Victorian structures, many listed and designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and 1983, are intermixed with contemporary loft developments." (Image Source)

News Briefs, 10/4/08

A leaked cable suggests that US strategy in Afghanistan will fail.

Reports link Afghan President Karzai's brother to heroin trade.

Opposition leader accuses Georgian President of human rights abuses and stifling democracy.

The Biden-Palin debate draws 70 million viewers, or 40% more than the first Presidential debate.

Local hits: The Boston market had the third highest viewership for the VP debates.

Troopergate: Alaska Supreme Court agrees to hear an emergency appeal from lawyers seeing to shut down the investigation.