Limbaugh effort has muted effect

May 7, 2008

Yesterday's Democratic primary in Indiana was not only a big test for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but also a test for talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, the self-proclaimed commander in chief of "Operation Chaos."

The primary was open to Republicans and independents, as well as Democrats. Limbaugh urged Republicans to cross over and vote for Clinton to extend the Democratic nomination fight and, he hopes, further damage the eventual nominee.

But according to exit polling in Indiana, Limbaugh's impact appeared muted.

While Republicans made up 11 percent of the primary voters, Clinton won only 52 percent of those Republicans, and 58 percent said that Obama was more likely to defeat John McCain.

On his program yesterday, Limbaugh said that he had received e-mails from GOP voters that they had not been challenged at the polls as he said some Democratic Party officials had threatened. He read one e-mail from one who voted for Clinton: "It was tough. I showered twice . . . but I did it."

FOON RHEE

Lacking proper ID, nuns are told they can't vote

A dozen Indiana nuns were turned away from a polling place by a fellow sister yesterday because they didn't have state or federal identification bearing a photograph.

Sister Julie McGuire said she was forced to turn away her fellow sisters at St. Mary's Convent in South Bend, across the street from the University of Notre Dame, because they had been told earlier that they would need such an ID to vote.

The nuns, all in their 80s or 90s, did not get one but came to the precinct anyway. Some showed up with outdated passports. None of them drives.

They were not given provisional ballots because it would be impossible to get them to a motor vehicle branch and back in the 10-day time frame allotted by the law, McGuire said. "You have to remember that some of these ladies don't walk well. They're in wheelchairs or on walkers or electric carts."

Nonetheless, she said, the convent will make a "very concerted effort" to get proper identification for the nuns in time for the general election.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Edwardses decline to give coveted endorsements

Despite entreaties from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, John and Elizabeth Edwards opted to stay on the fence before yesterday's North Carolina primary.

The couple, who hold two of the most significant endorsements yet to be had in the Democratic presidential race, stayed similarly straight-down-the-middle in their first joint interview since Edwards dropped out of the race in late January.

The interview will appear in the new issue of "People" magazine.

FOON RHEE