Each election year, a lottery is held to determine the order each party’s candidates will be listed on the November ballot. That lottery was held last week, and here in Champaign County the order will be as follows:

1. Democratic
2. Green
3. Republican

That means in every race on the fall ballot, the Democratic candidates will be listed ahead of the Republican (and/or Green Party) candidates. Many campaign watchers believe the candidate listed first on the ballot garners a few extra percentage points due to ballot order. In a close race, that could mean the difference between victory and defeat!

In 2008, local Democrats will have excellent candidates, compelling issues, enthusiastic volunteers, energized voters, and now first-place on the ballot, too!

Please join us! Make your reservation today!

Spring 2008 Democratic
Unity Dinner

Sunday, April 6th
5:00 - Social Hour
6:00 - Dinner Program

Laborer’s Hall
108 E. Anthony Dr., Urbana

$35 with advance Reservation/$40 at the Door

To reserve your seat now, e-mail Matthew Gladney at dinner@champaigncountydemocrats.org and tell us how many tickets you’d like reserved. Then either mail your check to Dinner Committee, Champaign County Democrats, P.O. Box 1455, Champaign, IL 61824; or use your credit card on-line at:

champaigncountydemocrats.org/help/#donate

Any questions? E-mail Matthew at dinner@champaigncountydemocrats.org .

WHAT: Primary Results-Watching Party
WHEN: Tomorrow, Tues. March 4th, starting at 6:30pm
WHERE: Rock’s in Champaign

Voters in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island are going to the polls tomorrow, and could determine our party’s presidential nominee in November. Will Obama consolidate his lead, and secure the nomination? Will Hillary stop his momentum and fight on to the convention? We’ll find out tomorrow night when the results come in from these four key states.

Gather with local Democrats at Rock’s to watch the results as they come in tomorrow, Tuesday March 4th, starting at 6:30pm. Rock’s is located in Champaign on Springfield Ave., near the railroad tracks, between First and Neil Street. Join us for good company, food & drink, and MSNBC as we watch the results come in from Dayton to Dallas!

Regardless of the election results, Democrats are going to have a lot to celebrate on Super Tuesday! Join fellow Dems after the polls close for the Democratic Victory Party at Rock’s in Champaign. Gather with friends, enjoy food & drink, and watch the results come in from Illinois and around the country (Yes, I asked — they do have MSNBC at Rock’s!).

WHAT: Democratic Victory Party
WHERE: Rock’s (between campus and downtown Champaign, on Springfield Ave., between First Street and the railroad tracks)
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 8:00pm - ?

If you have any questions, e-mail Tony at tonyfabri@hotmail.com or call at 355-1693. Hope to see you there!

The Champaign County Democrats have moved to a new Party Headquarters, and you’re invited to check out our new home!  An Open House for the public, the media, and all interested Democrats will be held this Saturday, Feb. 2, from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

The new Dem HQ is located at 110 S. Neil Street in the heart of downtown Champaign.  It’s just south of the intersection of University Ave. & Neil St., across the street from Christie Clinic.

Volunteers put in countless hours of work to make this move possible, and now we want to show off our new digs!  Stop by for a few minutes on Saturday to see the new HQ, enjoy a snack, meet with other local Dems, and maybe pick up a yardsign or two in time for the Feb. 5th primary.

Hope to see you there!

If you’re excited about watching the results from the New Hampshire Democratic primary on Tuesday night, you’re not alone!

Champaign County Democrats are gathering to watch the N.H. primary results come in, and you’re invited to join us!  Whichever Democrat you support for president, join local Dems for the fun & excitement of the first-in-the-nation primary!

WHERE:  Fiesta Cafe, 216 S. First St., Champaign

WHEN:  Tuesday, January 8th, 6pm - ??

We’ll be in the back room at Fiesta Cafe, watching results come in on their big screen TV, enjoying good company and great Mexican food & drinks!  No matter how it turns out, Democrats will be celebrating!  Hope to see you there!

While most political pundits are awaiting tonight’s results from the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, an even earlier contest has already been won by Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

That’s right — results are in from the Champaign County Democrats’ Presidential Penny Poll, and Sen. Obama has been declared the winner by a wide margin.  Obama’s penny “vote” total came to $26.23, which beat Hillary Clinton, the next closest candidate, by almost a 4-to-1 margin.  Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich came in third place, with former Sen. John Edwards a close fourth.

The Penny Poll was a featured attraction at the Democratic booth at several community events this past year, including the Champaign County Fair, Taste of C-U, and Urbana Farmers’ Market.  Participants were asked to place a penny in the bottle of the candidate (or candidates) of their choice.  Yes, it’s a completely unscientific poll, but it’s still a great sign of support in Champaign County for Barack Obama, as well as for the entire Democratic field, and the local Democratic Party.

Here are the results, in order, listed in total dollar amounts:

1.  Barack Obama … $26.23

2.  Hillary Clinton … $6.07

3.  Dennis Kucinich … $5.47

4.  John Edwards … $5.20

5.  Bill Richardson … $2.86

6.  Mike Gravel … $0.63

7.  Joe Biden … $0.58

8.  Christopher Dodd … $0.09

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Penny Poll, and thanks also to everyone who helped staff the Democratic booths where the Penny Poll was conducted!