Vermont primary

Vermont Democratic Party executive director Jill Krowinski says she detects “great energy” at the polls today.

Krowinski says she has heard reports of heavy voting in Montpelier and Burlington and that she expects a large wave of voting at 5 PM as people begin filtering out of their offices for the day.

She predicted that election watchers wouldn’t be waiting late into the night for a winner of the Vermont contest.

“I’m pretty sure we won’t be up late,” she said.

Voting in the state is going smoothly at this hour, the Vermont Secretary of State's office says.

Vermont Elections and Campaign Finance Director Kathy DeWolfe says she has received “very few calls” of complaints from voters so far today.

Lines have been manageable, likely in part owing to the heavy absentee voting that has already taken place, De Wolfe said.

Vermont Democratic Party executive director Jill Krowinski tells PolitickerVT.com she expects Democratic turnout to hover in the 30% - 40% range.

Krowinski says that would be an uptick from the 2004 primaries, when former Vermont Governor Howard Dean was on the ballot and turnout was at 21%.

The Clinton campaign advises that it is planning final primary day activities today.

It will be holding visibilities in Brattleboro and Burlington. Phone banking operations will be held in Rutland and Burlington. Also, surrogate appearances will be made by former Governor Madeleine Kunin, Speaker Gaye Symington, State Senator Sara Kittell, and State Representatives Daryl Pillsbury, Shap Smith, Johanna Donovan and Allison Clarkson.

The Clinton Vermont campaign is outlining its final 24-hour push in the state.

It is planning visibilities in Bennington, Rutland, Manchester, Norwich, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, White River Junction. Phone banking will be taking place in Burlington and Rutland.

Appearing on Clinton’s behalf at campaign events will be surrogates Madeleine Kunin, Sara Kittell, Daryl Pillsbury, Shap Smith, Johanna Donovan and Allison Clarkson.

The Clinton campaign advises that it will be holding its primary night event at Sweetwaters in Burlington.

The event will be open to the press.

With Vermonters heading to the polls in 48 hours, the Clinton campaign says it is remaining upbeat despite being vastly outspent by Democrat Barack Obama in the state.

The Vermont Woman Newspaper has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The paper’s editors write:  read more »

The Clinton and Obama campaigns are gearing up for their final pushes in Vermont.

On Thursday, 43 Democratic legislators endorsed Barack Obama.

The list of endorsers includes Senator Susan Bitter Smith, Senator John Campbell, and Senator Bill Carris.

“After years of a bitterly divided nation, Senator Obama offers the hope of uniting us behind a common purpose. He's reminding us of the good we can accomplish if we all work together. He is engaging the young people of this nation in a way that inspires new hope,” said Senate president Peter Shumlin.