Well I'm sure you've already heard the results from South Carolina -- they called it for Obama as soon as the polls were closed, based on the exit data. And, the
margin is pretty huge:
Barack Obama (54%)
Hillary Clinton (27%)
John Edwards (19%)
And here are some
interesting numbers, courtesy of AmericaBlog:
Black voters: 81% Obama, 18% Clinton, 1% Edwards
White voters: 39% Edwards, 36% Hillary, 24% Obama
Black men: 80% Obama, 17% Clinton, 3% Edwards
Black women: 82% Obama, 17% Clinton
White men: 44% Edwards, 28% Clinton, 27% Obama
White women: 42% Clinton, 35% Edwards, 22% Obama
Futher, there's more to be found in
those exit polls:
Fifty-six percent of those voting so far think Obama attacked Clinton unfairly, and while that is a high number, more people thought Clinton unfairly attacked Obama -- 70%.
The Clintons have been accused of playing the race card in this contest. We do see some potential fallout for the Clintons in the African-American community: 74% of African-American voters think that Clinton unfairly attacked Obama. But when we look at the same question among white voters, a comparable number thought Clinton unfairly attacked Obama -- 68%.
Also worth mentioning, a majority of the voters -- 56% -- said that Bill Clinton's campaigning was important to their vote today.
7 comments:
Also worth mentioning (for Obama supporters, anyway):
Obama won more than the top 2 Republicans combined.
Doubled HRC's vote count.
Gave a helluva victory speech. And, I do mean helluva.
And - no matter which Dem you support: Dem voters outnumbered Republican voters in SOUTH CAROLINA!
Oh yeah... and there's the Caroline Kennedy endorsement... good night for BHO.
By the way, I like John Edwards v.2008 a lot. A lot more than v.2004. He's a good person, with both his heart & his head in the right place, or at least does a great job seeming to be, this time around. My worry about him is that he made all the wrong choices in 2004 & in his Senate career - then didn't stay in the Senate to bring his new vision to bear. He gave up the seat and has been doing something much easier than legislating with an eye on the presidency: that is, campaigning with an eye on the presidency, without working in public service at the same time. Strategically wise, but I can't help but be skeptical of his commitment, and skeptical of the new vision and tone. Obama has some bad votes & ill-chosen rhetoric to defend. He has some questionable policy positions to defend. But he hasn't ever traded his position in public service for an easier route to the white house. He's no Howard Dean... No Al Gore... but he is something - and increasingly, I'm seeing him as something very good. My heart and vote is with him. My head and good wishes are with JRE.
As with you, Hillary (and Bill) have lost my support, almost altogether. They are the establishment candidate - and though Hillary's positions are great (better than Obama's, even, maybe) - I don't trust her to heal the nation - I don't even trust her to make real, positive change toward her nominal positions. I trust her to run a dirty campaign, and a compromised Presidency.
It is interesting to see the breakdown by race and gender. It's just natural, I suppose, to relate better to one of your own kind.
I was once again impressed with Obama's victory speech. He's definitely charismatic. No doubt about that. I believe he is the best chance we have unite the country's spirit. That's not to say I completely believe he can actually get things done. I guess I'm a bit jaded and it's hard to let go of the idea that it's "hardball" and you have to be a pit bull, not a golden retriever. Hillary's definitely a pit bull. I've always liked her tenacity, but I've gotta say that she's losing my support...at least my blind support. I think her tactics are savvy but ugly. And to not even make a personal post election appearance (as is the norm) before leaving the state!
It'll be interesting to see how Super Tuesday goes.
I was for Hillary until she(they) tried to spin what Obama said about Reagan as an endorsement of his policies. She must think Democratic voters are as stupid as Fox News viewers. I'm tired of it.
I found it interesting that the under 30 demographic went almost exclusively to Obama. Interesting, but not surprising. As someone who knows that demographic well (although I'm in my 30s - and my demographic wasn't far behind them), I think a lot of them are ready to start sweeping out a political order that is selling out their future, their livelihoods, their civil rights.
(but I suppose that's the cycle)
Lots of interesting statistics here:
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/vote-polls/SC.html
fletch... yeah, the straw that broke the camel's back for me was last night: "Jesse Jackson won SC, too".
I was drinking when I posted the above. I wouldn't have been so hard on the Clintons otherwise, but I am very disappointed with them.
June... I agree that we don't need a golden retriever to get savaged by the pit bulls in the GOP. But, I don't want a pit bull either. And let me be careful here - Hillary isn't going to fit into this dog analogy very well: she is not George Bush or his cronies, even in style. But, she is too close to them in the "win at any cost" category. I don't like scorched earth politics or a pyrrhic victory. So, I'm looking for a german shepherd - a smart dog, good looking, showing leadership, who can hold his own and attack only when it is rightly called for. Barack may not be that german shepherd. But, I think he is a little closer than our other options.
I'm thinking that Edwards is that German Shepherd...
;)
I didn't like Hillary so much to begin with, though I did have a soft spot in my heart for Bill.
That is so SO so over. They disgust me. I'm at the point that if she's the nominee, I don't think I'll vote at all.
OBAMA/EDWARDS '08
(even though I know that will never happen. JE for AG? Priceless.)
Thanks for the stats...very interesting. This year is gonna be anything but dull :)
Post a Comment