Early voters in Shelby County had different priorities than voters on Super Tuesday, as evidenced by the sudden change in fortune for Vice President Joe Biden. It was actually Michael Bloomberg who came out slightly ahead in early numbers, and Bernie Sanders made it a three-way contest.
But political analyst Otis Sanford predicted that on Election Day, Shelby County's African American community would turn out heavily for President Obama's right hand man. That proved increasingly accurate throughout the night. Ultimately, Biden won in Shelby County with 10,000 more votes than both Sanders and Bloomberg combined.
Also this week, Tennessee's conservative politicians have been pushing permitless handgun carry laws, which have urban areas and law enforcement officials concerned about the future violence and potential for abuse this will create.
