It's Election Day, and we're bringing you all the latest news on voting issues from across the nation, including what's happening in the swing states, at polling places, and more. If you're looking for a little musical refuge from the presidential election coverage, five-time Grammy-Award-nominated conductor Michael Feinstein joins Larry in studio to discuss his new book “The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs.”
Voting in the swing states
It’s no secret that this election comes down to what happens in seven key states. The candidates have been bombarding the citizens of Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Nevada and Iowa with TV ads, town halls, stump. speeches and handshaking. So what’s happening in those embattled states today? How does the responsibility of choosing our next president weigh on their citizens? We’ll get an update from polls across the country
Guests:
Corey Moore, KPCC reporter, reporting from the polling location at Tom Bradley Youth & Family Center in mid city Los Angeles
Marc Caputo, political writer, Miami Herald
Matt Laslo, freelance reporter who covers Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court for NPR, The Atlantic and other outlets. He joins us from Richmond, VA, where he is reporting on the election.
Elizabeth Fiedler, news reporter, WHYY in Philadelphia
Anjeanette Damon, Senior politics editor for the Las Vegas Sun; political analyst for KRNV News 4 in Reno
Jeff Hastings, Republican chairman of the board, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
Barry Horstman, reporter, Cincinnati Enquirer
Where California goes, the nation follows, except when it comes to presidential politics
With 55 electoral already conceded by the Republicans, California isn’t exactly a state that is up for grabs, in fact no Republican has carried it since George H.W. Bush in 1988.
So when President Obama and Mitt Romney visit the golden state it’s for our money, not for our votes. As of yesterday the two candidates and their running mates had made a record 83 trips to Ohio, a battleground state with 18 electoral votes at stake. Living in a state that is decided long before election day has some advantages and disadvantages; it depends on how you look at it. On one hand, we are not overwhelmed by constant mudslinging up to election day. But we also miss out on all of those high energy rallies that you see on television, and the great performances by Kid Rock or Bruce Springsteen. We also miss the more colorful of the television campaign ads. But imagine what 83 visits from presidential campaigns would do for the traffic in Southern California.
Since California is already decided, do you feel left out? Do you wish our state was more competitive? How do you feel about the candidates coming here, but not wasting any time with public rallies?
Guests:
Ruxandra Guidi, KPCC reporter, reporting from a polling location in a Coldwell Banker realty office in downtown Alhambra
David Mark, editor-in-chief, Politix
Henry Gomez, politics writer, The Plain Dealer
What’s the proper polling place etiquette?
Election day is finally here, and after a heated race, things are no less fraught in the race’s final hours. People heading to the polls today may be in for some last minute campaigning at the polling place, but not from the Obama or Romney campaigns: from fellow voters. Though many states have laws banning “passive electioneering,” the rules don’t stop everyone from making themselves heard – or seen – on election day.
Whether it’s a campaign button, a slogan-ed t-shirt, or a bumper sticker on a car parked less than 100 feet from a polling place, small signs of rule breaking are commonplace at voting booths. In states with hours-long lines, political discussion is a natural soundtrack at the polls.
Is it unethical to advertise your political preferences at the voting booth? How far is too far when it comes to polling place promotion? Would “passive electioneering” sway your opinion on the day of the election? If you’ve voted already today, what kinds of things did you see and hear?
Guest:
Corey Moore, KPCC reporter, reporting from the polling location at Longwood Manor Convalescent in mid-city Los Angeles
Dean Logan, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Round-up of hot-button issues at the state level
While all eyes are on the presidential race, there’s also some sideline activity worth checking out this election cycle. Several states have included some hot-button issues on their ballots.
In response to President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, Alabama, Florida, Montana and Wyoming put up proposed laws prohibiting individuals and businesses from being required to participate in the health care system. Then, the more traditional topics of marriage equality and the legalization of marijuana have popped up across the country as well. Union issues, which recently played out in the Wisconsin recall election, will also be prominent in Michigan and here in California.
What’s the lay of the land across the country? What are the chances of some of these propositions and measures passing or failing? Will any of these choices at the state level have a major impact on the presidential race?
Guests:
Aaron Blake, political reporter, Washington Post
Josh Goodman, reporter, Stateline, a nonpartisan news service of the Pew Center on the States
Jose Martinez, KPCC reporter
Michael Feinstein on conducting and composers
Michael Feinstein is a celebrity in the music world for his revivals of the classic American songbook, and has been nominated for five Grammy awards for his conducting. His new book, “The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs,” explores the legacy composers George and Ira Gershwin, and is interlaced with personal anecdotes: Feinstein spent six years working for Ira Gershwin, cataloging Gershwin materials.
Kirkus calls the book, which comes with accompanying audio, the 12 songs the title mentions, “Frisky, affectionate, lushly illustrated, deeply informed and profoundly respectful.” Feinstein, the new lead conductor of the Pasadena Pops joins Larry in the studio to discuss his new book and his relationship to the Gershwins.
Guest:
Michael Feinstein, author of “The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs” (Simon & Schuster); entertainer, conductor and educator who is known as one of the leading experts on classic American popular music. Feinstein is a five-time Grammy nominee and two-time Emmy nominee.