The kick-off, Hollywood-style

January 19, 2009 1:35 am Leave a Comment

By Clark Xue

WASHINGTON, 1:00 a.m. — Tom Hanks’ invocation of Lincoln, Tiger Woods’ tribute to the military and Forest Whitaker’s appraisal of the American artist all drew polite applause in comparison to the wild cheers that met Jamie Foxx’s impression of President-elect Obama’s victory speech. Yet, this paled in comparison to the wild jubilation given to Obama himself.

Yesterday afternoon, 37 renowned celebrities, 12,000 portable restrooms, and an estimated 400,000 Americans from all over the country attended “We Are One,” the official opening ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.

The two-hour event, held at the Lincoln Memorial at the National Mall here in Washington, was broadcast live by HBO and included performers such as Bruce Springsteen, U2 and the Black Eyed Peas. President-elect Obama, Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and their respective families were also in attendance, creating a cornucopia of stardom that drove the crowd into a frenzy and made the Washington cold a little more bearable.

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Kenyan heritage

January 18, 2009 11:00 pm Leave a Comment

By Jessica Letchford

NEW HAVEN, 11:50 p.m. — With all of the excitement and patriotism surrounding the inauguration events in the U.S., it’s easy to forget about the rest of the world. But, in fact, the events leading up to and concluding in the inauguration of America’s first black president have a significant impact not only on Americans, but on everyone else too.

This is particularly true for Kenyans, given Obama’s heritage. After spending three weeks in Kenya over winter break, I can say firsthand that Kenya is extremely proud and excited about Obama’s victory. T-shirts, kangas (pieces of printed cloth used as skirts), and countless other trinkets with Obama’s face on them are everywhere.If the souvenirs aren’t enough, the creation of a government holiday on November 6, two days after Obama won, definitely expresses Kenya’s enthusiasm for Obama. (more…)

Reporting on the inauguration, from Washington to WLH

5:12 pm Leave a Comment

Dear YaleDailyNews.com readers,

As the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama draws near, the Yale Daily News will offer in-depth, behind-the-scenes coverage from Washington and around campus. Just as News reporters traveled on Election Day to report with the Obama and McCain campaigns and with Yale students canvassing all over the country, more than a dozen News reporters will be posted in Washington this week, with many more reporting from around the Elm City.

Look for dispatches from Yale-chartered buses barreling down I-95 in the wee hours of Tuesday morning; from the U.S. Capitol as Yale professor Elizabeth Alexander prepares to recite the poem she wrote for the inauguration; and from the National Mall, where hundreds of Yale students will brave the cold to watch Obama’s inaugural address.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

Thomas Kaplan

Editor in Chief, Yale Daily News

editor@yaledailynews.com

Election Day round-up

November 5, 2008 6:00 am Leave a Comment

Election ’08 coverage from the print edition of the Yale Daily News:

Merchandise for change

3:40 am Leave a Comment

By Margy Slattery

CHICAGO, 2:00 a.m. — Over the course of the presidential campaign, the face president-elect Barack Obama has become something of a graphic-design fetish, gracing posters, T-shirts and buttons, among other paraphernalia.

Tuesday night the senator’s signature visage could be found on nearly every visitor at his Grant Park election rally.

The campaign’s iconic sunrise within an “O” was a common design on shirts, hats, shoes and buttons. “Barack your world,” some shirts said, or “Mama for Obama.” Another depicted the senator as Superman, his shirt parted to reveal not an “S” but an “O.”

Hours before Obama’s victory, it was clear from shirts for sale on the sidewalk that confidence in Obama was high.

“Commander in chief,” one shirt featuring Obama’s face said. Another depicted the front page of the Chicago Tribune announcing news of Obama’s win.

“Listen,” an Obama keychain vendor shouted to potential customers early in the night. “Wake up tomorrow and tell your friends you got the keys to the White House.”

Surprising victory for Yale alum in Virginia

November 4, 2008 10:55 pm Leave a Comment

By Victor Zapana

ALEXANDRIA, Va., 10:47 p.m. — In Virginia, a Yalie congressional hopeful has won the largest upset in recent state history.

With 97.4% of districts reporting, Tom Perriello ’96 LAW’01 has beat six-term Republican incumbent Virgil Goode Jr. for House Representative of the 5th Congressional District, 50.1-49.8. The humanities major won in an astonishing upset; only three months ago, polls had Goode beating Perriello by two-to-one.

Perriello, with the help of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, broke records for fundraising in the area.

As of 10:43 p.m., Fox News declared that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama won Virginia.

Kleeb loses longshot bid for Senate

10:54 pm Leave a Comment

By Andrew Mangino

LINCOLN, Neb., 10:47 p.m. — Scott Kleeb GRD ’06, the Yale scholar turned rancher turned politician, has been defeated by former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns in his bid to succeed Chuck Hagel in the United States Senate, according to network projections.

At the Kleeb headquarters here, the news hardly generated a buzz, as Lisa Hannah, Kleeb’s chair in Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District put it, “I’m kind of not surprised.”

Initial polls had placed Kleeb upwards of 20 points behind his opponent.

Martha Davies, a volunteer from Lincoln, said she has always known after observing Kleeb’s career at the Yale Graduate School, where he earned his master’s and doctorate in history, that he was right for the job and will still go on in a future election to win. But she’s not counting out tonight’s election, either.

“I’m still hopeful,” she said. “Numbers do funny things, and i wont believe it until the last vote in nerbaska is counted.”

Neither candidate has emerged to speak as the western districts of Nebraska — which tend to lean Republican — have largely not yet been reported.

The mood, meanwhile, was upbeat five blocks away at Johanns’ headquarters at the Embassy Suites hotel. Even before the projections of the former governor’s win, his campaign appeared confident. In an e-mail to the News early Tuesday morning, a campaign spokeswoman called Tuesday night’s event a “victory party.”

Obama approaches victory in Virginia

10:42 pm Leave a Comment

By Victor Zapana

ALEXANDRIA, Va., 10:16 p.m. — Obama has done it! As of 10:11 p.m., he has passed McCain 49.7 percent to 49.3 percent, according to the Virginia Board of Elections. Although the TV stations may not call it yet, Obama may have stolen the Old Dominion from the Republicans.

No convention to revise Connecticut Constitution

10:33 pm Leave a Comment

By the Yale Daily News

NEW HAVEN, 10:19 p.m. — Connecticut voters have decided against holding a convention to revise the state Constitution. With 45 precincts reporting, a ballot initiative asking to hold a convention failed 61 percent to 39 percent, according to The Associated Press.

Projection: Kleeb loses Senate bid

10:20 pm Leave a Comment

By the Yale Daily News

NEW HAVEN, 10:16 p.m. — Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary and Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns has defeated Scott Kleeb GRD ’06 in the race to succeed Chuck Hagel in the United States Senate.

Himes and Shay, a tight race continues

9:19 pm Leave a Comment

By Zeke Miller

NORWALK, 9:00 p.m. – Returns are beginning to come in for Connecticut’s contested 4th congressional district. The New York Times is showing challenger Jim Himes leading Republican Rep. Chris Shays with 63.7% over Shays’ 35.4%. But with just 23% of precincts reporting a lot can change.

Here at Shays headquarters, they are predicting a much tighter race. According to their figures, with 24% of precincts reporting, Shays was leading with 52% of the vote.

9:20 p.m. — We have some more information about those Shays polling numbers. According to Sean Phillips, the campaign’s communications director, they are tallying numbers reporter by volunteers in each precinct. At latest count, the Shays campaign says it is winning with 52.2 percent of the vote over Himes’ 47.7 percent with 46 percent of precincts reporting.

9:49 p.m. — The mood at the Shays’ returns watching party is turning blue. Internal campaign figures are showing the incumbent Congressman trailing Democrat Jim Himes. With 85 percent of precincts reporting, Shays’ campaign is showing itself behind with 47.6% of the vote to Himes’ 52.3%. Supporters are crossing their figures as the last of the results begin to filter in.

Tag Archive: Yale on the Trail