Preliminary exit polls in West Virginia show race is a factor in the Democratic presidential contest, prompting a fresh review of Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., difficulties winning support from working-class white voters.
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Title: EXIT POLLS: The Race Factor in West Virginia - One-Third of Whites Citing Race in Vote Would Support Obama Over McCain
Source:
ABC Exit Polls
URL Source: http://www.abcnews.go.com/PollingUn ... litics/story?id=4844868&page=1
Published: May 14, 2008
Author: GARY LANGER
Post Date: 2008-05-14 16:31:03 by Jethro Tull
Keywords: None
Views: 2112
Comments: 1
A confluence of groups inclined toward Hillary Clinton gave her an easy victory in the West Virginia primary, with less-educated, lower-income whites predominating in this Southern state. In a trouble sign for delegate-leader Barack Obama, barely more than half said they would vote for him in November if he is the party's nominee. Racially motivated voting ran somewhat higher than elsewhere: Two in 10 whites said the race of the candidate was a factor in their vote, second only to Mississippi. Just 32 percent of those voters said they'd support Obama against presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, fewer than in other primaries where the question's been asked. Indeed, as noted, among all West Virginia primary voters, only 51 percent they would support Obama vs. McCain, far fewer than elsewhere and one of many signs of antipathy toward Obama in the state. Among Clinton's supporters, just 38 percent said they would vote for Obama against McCain; nearly as many said they would back McCain; and the rest said they would sit it out. Still, there was room for some criticism of Clinton. Even in her broad victory, 59 percent of voters said she had attacked her opponent unfairly; fewer -- just under half -- said Obama had attacked unfairly. Notably, among those who said Clinton had attacked unfairly, 54 percent voted for her anyway. Bringing "needed change," Obama's trademark, again was the most-desired candidate trait, picked by 47 percent in West Virginia as most important -- near its level across all primaries to date. But here Obama only split those "change" voters with Clinton, 48-47 percent, after winning them by a wide margin elsewhere. Clinton swamped him among voters focused on other attributes. It also was a state where minds have been made up for some time: Seventy-five percent said they'd decided on their candidate more than a week ago, in the high end for early deciders this year.
Poster Comment: Does anyone know if ABC polled the NC black voters (92% for Obama) asking the same questions?
The Race Factor
RelatedClinton Receives Criticism, 'Change' Still Dominates
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#1. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
Oh my goodness! There is racism in the Democrat party!? The party of tolerance? The party of inclusion? The party of the Big Tent? The party of Bull Connor and the party that birthed the Klan harbors racism???!!! SAY IT AIN'T SO! I'm shocked. SHOCKED! I tell ya...just SHOCKED!
Change doesn't always make things better. Often times, it makes things a heck of a lot worse.
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