Analysis: Why Hillary Won

Exit Polls Suggest Strength With Democratic Base Helped Stem Clinton's Primary Slide

(CBS)  CBS News Political Consultant Monika L. McDermott analyzes Sen. Hillary Clinton's victories on Tuesday.

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Senator Hillary Clinton pulled out victories in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island tonight showing the same strengths she has throughout the electoral season among the Democratic Party's base voters. She stopped an 11-state winning streak by her opponent, Senator Barack Obama, by trumping his inspirational advantage with her message of policy.

Inspiration Versus Details

Clinton's recent emphasis on portraying Obama as an inspired speaker of little substance, compared to her depiction of herself as a serious policy wonk, appears to have paid off tonight. While voters saw Obama as the more inspiring of the two, he gained little, if any, electoral advantage from it.

Ohio voters chose Obama as the candidate more likely to inspire them about the future of the country - 32 percent said only Obama inspired them and 26 percent said only Clinton did. Another third of voters said both provided them with inspiration. In sum, 64 percent of voters rated Obama as inspirational and 58 percent rated Clinton as such.

Obama's inspirational advantage, however, did not translate into a proportionate vote advantage. While Obama won 64 percent of those voters rating him as inspirational, Clinton won 80 percent of those who thought she was inspirational.

Texas' Democratic primary voters showed the same attitudes and behavior - 64 percent rated Obama as inspirational and 59 percent rated Clinton so. Among the former group Clinton won 34 percent of the vote, and among the latter she received a disproportionate 76 percent.

In contrast, Clinton's successful promotion of herself as having a clear and detailed plan to solve the country's problems did translate into an electoral advantage. In Ohio, 28 percent said that Clinton was the only one of the two candidates offering such a plan, while 15 percent said Obama was the only one, and another 40 percent said both had offered clear problem-solving plans.

Overall in Ohio, 68 percent felt Clinton had offered clear plans and 55 percent felt Obama had. Similarly, in Texas 66 percent said Clinton offered a clear plan and 53 percent said Obama had. In both states, each candidate won roughly two-thirds of those rating them as having problem-solving plans, providing Clinton a mathematical edge overall.

The Issues

Specific issues on which the candidates campaigned had little power in March 4th's voting. One key example was international trade, and the arguments over the candidates' positions on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Much was made of it by the media and the candidates, but little came of it in the end.

Voters in Rhode Island and Ohio - each with roughly one-third union households in the primaries - expressed overwhelmingly negative sentiments toward international trade, saying that it takes more jobs away from the country than it provides. Eighty percent of Ohio voters and 63 percent of Rhode Island voters expressed this sentiment.

These negative views did not help either candidate, however. Among Ohio voters who expressed that trade takes jobs away, 55 percent supported Clinton - the same proportion that supported her among all Ohio voters. Among those who felt that trade adds jobs, Clinton won an equal 57 percent. Clinton also won equal proportions among these two groups in Rhode Island.

In Ohio and Texas, most important national issues were a wash. On the economy - the issue chosen as most important by 59 percent of Ohio voters and 50 percent of Texas voters - Clinton beat Obama by the same margin she did overall in each state. On health care Clinton had a 14 point lead in Ohio and a larger 21 point lead in Texas. Among those who chose the war in Iraq as the most important issue facing the nation (19 percent in Ohio and 25 percent of Texans), the vote split between Clinton and Obama.

The Voters

Clinton's base came through for her strongly today, as it has at other times in the past. She enjoyed solid support among women, older voters, the less educated and less well-off, and those who consider themselves Democrats. Obama demonstrated his base support among the wealthier, African-Americans, independents and liberals, and the young.

In Ohio, Clinton won 58 percent of the vote of women, including the votes of 68 percent of white women. She also won 59 percent of the white male vote. Obama won black women and black men with 84 and 87 percent respectively. In Texas Clinton won 55 percent of women's votes, while Obama won 50 percent of the votes of men.

In Texas, Clinton won another important constituency - Latinos. Clinton won 67 percent of the Latino vote, compared to 31 percent for Obama.

Age provided a sharp division in the vote as it has throughout the primary season. In Texas, the vote divided around the age of 40. Obama won solid majorities among all age groups under 40, while he and Clinton split the 40 - 49 year-old vote, and Clinton easily won voters 50 years and beyond. Ohio voters showed the same divides.

The coveted vote of labor - an important Democratic constituency - was no different than popular vote overall. Clinton held this base group despite Obama's pickup of multiple union endorsements, including that of the powerful Service Employees International Union in February. In Ohio Clinton won 55 percent of the vote among those in union households, and in Rhode Island she won 59 percent.


Looking Forward

Clinton's victories mean a continued battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. But while some argue that an extended the race only stands to harm the eventual candidate and tear the party apart, the exit polls say otherwise. Voters still see both candidates as acceptable party nominees, despite the long campaign to date.

On Super Tuesday, February 5th, 72 percent of Democratic voters across the country said they would be satisfied with Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee, and 70 percent said the same about Obama. In Ohio and Texas four weeks and a lot of campaigning later, the numbers are virtually unchanged. Seventy-one percent of Ohio voters and 70 percent of Texas voters said they would be satisfied with a Clinton nomination. Sixty-nine percent of Ohioans and 66 percent of Texans said the same of Obama.

Additionally, there has been little change in perceptions of the negativity of the campaigns. In the Super Tuesday states, 50 percent of voters felt that Clinton had attacked Obama unfairly, and 38 percent felt Obama had attacked Clinton unfairly. Four weeks later, the numbers are 54 percent and 37 percent respectively in Ohio, and 52 percent and 35 percent in Texas.

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The CBS News / National Election Pool Exit Poll was conducted by Edison/Mitofsky. Voters who cast ballots in the Democratic primaries in Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas were interviewed as they exited the polling places. 964 voters were interviewed in Rhode Island, 1,612 in Ohio, and 2,048 voters in Texas. The surveys each have a margin of error of + 4 percentage points.

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Monika L. McDermott is assistant professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, where she teaches and conducts research on voting behavior and public opinion. Before joining the University of Connecticut, McDermott worked in election polling for CBS News and the Los Angeles Times. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

[irliberal]

Those who hate Hillary are:

A) Any male who feels inferior before a woman of obvious power. This is a LOT of males, and a majority of those are republicans. But they cross all racial and ethnic lines.

B) Any female that thinks they should stand by their man because "he really knows best, right?"

C) Republicans, because she would end the Iraq war, balance the budget, and set this country back on the right course it was already on when Bill left office. If all that is possible to do in eight years anyway. You see, a single Hillary term would do much to illustrate to the world what fools the Republicons are and yes, they fear that. They fear it desperately.

D) Religious zealots who know that Hillary will preserve the line between Church and State.

E) "Independent" gun proponents, because the NRA tells them to think that way.

F) The super rich, who know that they will be responsible for an increased percentage of the tax burden.

G) The military establishment, who no longer will get unlimited access to our taxed incomes to pursue pointless wars. Hillary would make sure the vets were properly taken care of though, something GW Bush OBVIOUSLY does NOT care about.

H) Anyone who thinks that a lie about a private act between consenting adults is more important than lies about WMD, 7 years of war, and our purely Republican massive national debt.

There are other categories, but those are the main ones. You know who you are. GO HILLARY 08, WOOHOO!!

[be_thechange]

Congratulations Hilary and Bill. You''ve worked hard for these states and you deserve your share of the spotlight. I still believe you are not the solution for the America of 2009 and Onward. You have too long a list of political debts to pay to be able to run a nation authentically, being clear to respond with equanimity and judgment. If the world stage requires gamesmanship a la Clinton to function, it is likely to have an early curtain. Obama is the only practicing humanitarian in the running. I really pray that he has a chance to turn his gifts to the advantage of America''s future.

[samthetvcat]

Reasons people give for why they vote for a candidate don''t really matter because they tend to say whoever they vote for is better at the economy, national security, etc.

Like in exit polls of McCain and Romney, McCain supporters were saying McCain was better with the economy and Romney supporters were saying Romney was better with the economy.

When people acknowledge that somebody they''re NOT voting for has any area of advantage, that tends to be a universal view, like people generally agree that Hillary is the candidate of ''experience'' and that Obama is the candidate of ''change'', etc

[keithepike]

Monkia L. Your right the battle goes on. Not only the battle,but the the debate goes on. Are you ready for this. I hope you are,because you have a lot more writting to do.

[samthetvcat]

PS oops, I meant to say that Romney supporters thought Romney was better with foreign affairs. Like the people who voted for McCain and Romney tended to see their candidate as being the best in every area . . .

[be_thechange]

In reply to IRLiberal''s post beneath mine:
I don''t hate Hilary, but I don''t want her to be the only choice aside from McCain. I live in NY State and have traveled the world widely and lived in many regions of the US. Upstate NY, Hilary''s own constituency, reminds me more than any other place of the eastern bloc countries when they were struggling to find themselves after the Soviets left. Poverty is at over 30%,dropout rates and teen pregnancy are higher than the national average and trending up, versus down for the country; taxes are insane, people are unemployed for long long periods because there is so little opportunity. I don''t say Hilary is the reason for this. I say Hilary did nothing NOTHING to improve the lot of her own in one single state. Why on earth give her 49 more to place under her wing. It''s touching that Hilary always wanted to be the first woman President. She shows us her inner psychodrama every time she cries, glares or raves. If you don''t mind, this woman would rather see her given a reality show than a nation to run. Empowering women is fantastic. But don''t make it the platform for leadership of the United States of America. Take away the gender drama, and Hilary looks like a Romney. And I wouldn''t have voted for him either.

[smartpublic]

Congratulations has to go to Hilary Rodham Clinton!
The media had been so obviously biased against her, kissing Obama''s butt and ignoring the fact he has NO EXPERIENCE!

OBama is a nice man, but he is what folks call an EMPTY SUIT. All speeches and NO SUBSTANCE.

When he was asked some tough questions (finally), on his plane recently, he actually RAN AWAY up the aisle and IGNOORED the press.

One of Obama''s representatives was asked on an interview recently about Revco and the story about his NAFTA Canada comments where he lied, and the rep. NEVER answered the question. Whenever Obama is asked anything that questions something he may have done wrong, he never answers. He says, I am not going to talk about attacks. Um, excuse me Obama, but that IS NOT answering questions asked of you. If is a COP OUT. Your phoney way of deflecting any legitimate question is not working any longer.

Sorry Obama, but no President "can walk" away from problems. People are finally seeing that you are NOT qualified.

Again I will say, it makes me want to barf the way FOX, CNN, and MSNBC are kissing Obama''s butt and they are NOT being objective news reporters as they are SUPPOSED TO BE.

The media has lost ALL CREDIBILITY with the public because of their slanted, biased reporting, ignoring Obama''s faults and inexperience. Pathetic.

[smartpublic]

Congratulations has to go to Hilary Rodham Clinton!
The media had been so obviously biased against her, kissing Obama''s butt and ignoring the fact he has NO EXPERIENCE!

OBama is a nice man, but he is what folks call an EMPTY SUIT. All speeches and NO SUBSTANCE.

When he was asked some tough questions (finally), on his plane recently, he actually RAN AWAY up the aisle and IGNOORED the press.

One of Obama''s representatives was asked on an interview recently about Revco and the story about his NAFTA Canada comments where he lied, and the rep. NEVER answered the question. Whenever Obama is asked anything that questions something he may have done wrong, he never answers. He says, I am not going to talk about attacks. Um, excuse me Obama, but that IS NOT answering questions asked of you. If is a COP OUT. Your phoney way of deflecting any legitimate question is not working any longer.

Sorry Obama, but no President "can walk" away from problems. People are finally seeing that you are NOT qualified.

Again I will say, it makes me want to barf the way FOX, CNN, and MSNBC are kissing Obama''s butt and they are NOT being objective news reporters as they are SUPPOSED TO BE.

The media has lost ALL CREDIBILITY with the public because of their slanted, biased reporting, ignoring Obama''s faults and inexperience. Pathetic.

[CrabbyGolightly]

CROW IS BEING SERVED THIS MORNING AT BUFFETS EVERYWHERE POLITICAL PUNDITS GATHER FOR BREAKFAST. After Hillary proved to have the same blood as her husband, the "Come Back Kid", the punditry ilk this morning is scratching their heads, looking down at their plates, and thinking of how to rationalize Hillary''s wins in yesterday''s primary wins in Texas and Ohio that left egg all over their faces. Check out crabbygolightly.com for a message to pundits: get out of the race. CrabbyGolighty.com. Taking a dim view of celebrity, media and power.

[p-syrus]

The simple fact is: Hillary wins ELECTIONS, Obama wins caucuses.

Caucuses appeal to extremist fringe & party activists.

Primaries represent a cross-section of the actual voting population.

Hillary is clearly the stronger candidate, despite Obama''s being the media wunderkind.

[ranakarimi]

as a former muslim woman and proud american citzen who is familier with islam law im going to prove that obama is very dishonest man and here is why Obama is a Christian now. But he was born a Muslim because his father was a Muslim. His step father was also a Muslim. According to Muslim religion, the religion of the father determines the religion of the offspring. Therefore, Obama was once a Muslim. He has denied that he is ever a Muslim, but that just shows that he doesn''''t have the backbone or the honesty to recognize his heritage. When he came back to the U.S to live with his maternal grandparents, that''''s when he was raised as a Christian. To hear him say that he''''s never been a Muslim his entire life is truly a lie since he spent his first 9 to 10 years in Indonesia, a Muslim country, living with a Muslim step father. and dont forget there is a law in islam called TAGIYEH which means u can lie about ur religion in order to do good for allah later now the question is waht good obama has plan to do for allah!

[fjstratford]

Obama keeps on lying about everything just so he can win. But you know what they say about liars? There will come a day when they cant keep up with it anymore. That day has come for Obama. People now see thru his lies.

And its just about time.

[ramos937]

Congratulations to Hilliary. You really worked hard for this. One major force not mentioned in the article is the Hispanic vote. It really put her over the top. This shows that the Democratic candidate in the 11/2008 election only has to win the nomination. Why? Hispanics will never vote for McCain (even if he is a good guy and widely respected) because we want a good fair comprehensive immigration policy and an end to the Iraq war. Republicans have already demonstrated an opposite position. Also, when McCain accepted the endorsement of the Dallas preacher who hates the Catholic Church, McCain lost that vote too.

[vet_sk]

p-syrus: Get your facts straight. You say, "The simple fact is: Hillary wins ELECTIONS, Obama wins caucuses," but how do you account that Obama has more actual votes then Clinton. Cripe man, that is on every website. Obama lost Ohio tonight (nice job Hillary) and barely lost Texas. He is still 720,00 votes ahead of Hillary. 720,000. Those are not just caucusers/

[vet_sk]

Notice the Clinton supporters like SmartPublic. All they can do is, well, repeat fabricated talking points. They seem an awful lot like Rush Limbaugh ditto heads. Hillary is the one that says she has experience; they are just repeating it.

[laurenbrillante]

I support Barack Obama is staying in this race all the way to the convention. If he does not win the nomination it will be politics as usual and it won''t really matter if it''s Hillary or McCain etc.

I am curious about how many republicans voted for her yesterday because of the conservative call? I know that have Hillary Clinton as the nominee will unify the republican party in money, effort, and cause.... It will give McCain the greatest chance of winning. They will do everything in their power to keep the Clintons out of the white house... and clearly the democrats are VERY divided in a real way as much as the party tries to ''spin'' unity... I just don''t feel it. I can''t vote for Hillary. That''s NOT going to happen...

[goldesprit]

A lot of folks that were a bit rash in their early comittment to Obama should realize that its not a crime to now see that Hillary Clinton has greater depth and comittment.

Obama might still be VP and then President--but he had better get real--real fast.

[atvslim2004]

to someone who commeneted about the vets getting medical care at the va, if they served our millitary, they should get care at the va hospitals.
it was the repulican lead house who would not fund it.
but yet to fight a war for george bush, we are knee deep in dept.
i support hillary all the way,
and i live in upstate ny.
i do not blame her for all the problems with our economy here,
we had problems way before she got here, she has done what she could, i blame big business and the oil comp.
evryone who has to be soo greedy , if you wonder where all the money went in this country, all you have to do is look in the pockets of the oil companies.

[crater7]

ROLL ONNNNNN BIG MAMA......

IT''S ALL GOOD.........

[samthetvcat]

Hillary''s clearly so smart she knew she could vote for the Iraq war and package it to a certain portion of the electorate as a show of ''strength'' and get people to vote for it without having to take a tough stand . . . double smart points to her if she doubled-down on Halliburton before casting her vote ($$$ katching! $$$)

[samthetvcat]

Probably also so smart she knows that it''d be in her best interest to fail at pushing through healthcare her first 4 years so she can have something to blame Republicans for and ensure her relection for a second term.

Save true healthcare reform and her legacy for the last term - third time''ll be the charm!

[cbs_oliver]

My take is that Hillary and the mainstream media put together a smear and sneer campaign against Obama that was intended to produce a Howard Dean type character assassination.

It worked some, but it didn''t work the way the power interests wanted.

It was always known that organizations that deceive consistently to maintain power and even kill to control wealth were not going to play fair.

The real fight for democracy in America has finally been joined in earnest.

[jack3213]

My goodness, this media nonsense can make one go neurotic with their flip flopping about each candidate after each contest! Clinton did not landslide Obama, she barely won by a few points. It was McCain who won by a large margin and this should tell you something. Get a grip!

[antoniof123]

I tell you I don''t want them to solve problems.

I WANT THEM TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF AMERICA.

If it means flip floping then so be it. We the People know what is best for this country not one person. It is time to take back your country America take it away from the big religion and big business.

[johngaltwho]

Well it worked Hillary fans - The Kitchen Sink Strategy. Thats why Karl Rove likes it, Swiftboating... Call it what you will. Throw dirt, play race, religion cards. She claims experience but her experience qualifies her to be married to a president. She is down to the most desperate of appeals "I met a woman with two little girls and she asked me whats possible... and I told her little girls, if your mommy ignores how I twisted my NAFTA support and my IRAQ war votes, if your mommy pretends I didn''t completely botch the opportunity to improve healthcare which my husband handed to me as a pet project when he was president, yes if mommy ignores anything of substance and votes for me because I have a uterus, then yes Virginia, anything is possible." Hillary won''t shatter the glass ceiling, she''ll just cover it with so much *** that when people look up they won''t see anything except darkness.

[jack3213]

Antonio- You can''t have it both ways- You take away big buisness you take away jobs. For those who dislike Bush so much you need to ask yourself: What excactly has he done to you personally in your life that has suffered the last 8 years? Refer to your life, not others. And, by the way, blaming him for everything is unrealistic and unfair. He did not force you to buy a home you couldn''t afford.

[jack3213]

And, he did give Sudam Huessain enough time to answer to the requests before he invaded Iraq- the memory of this country is pitiful!

[sigep515]

Can someone find out what the experience she is running on while she was in the White House as First Lady; did she have a security clearance? Has the Democratic Party become "crabs in a bucket"? I have read the comments of Sen. Obama is a liar...lets be honest with ourselves. Do not fool yourself in thinking Sen. Clinton has always told the truth to the American people. "Those in glass houses should not through stones." Wake up America research before you make comments. %u201CIt is better to be a fool and say nothing then to open you mouth and prove it."

[panhandlpete]

Thanks Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island voters for giving the edge to Clinton. This was a battle test for the issues which affect middle America....loss of jobs to NAFTA....NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. Both of the DEMS said that NAFTA would need to be renegotiated, but fell short of saying it was not beneficial to US workers. We need the campaign rhetoric to continue so maybe by the time they get to the DEM convention, they will have a clear policy plan ready to go in November/January at takeover. CHANGE the direction of this country''s future from WAR, FEAR, RECESSION, CORPORATE CONTROL and give PEACE, PROSPERITY, and HOPE for our future back to the people.

From the WH rosegarden today will come more of the same rhetoric as the ''decider'' endorses the "HUNDRED YEAR WAR" candidate and tries to put all the rubber stamp Republicans behind him. People need to think for themselves for a change. The REPS are saying that McCain will take this country in a new direction, BUT does that mean he can be BELIEVED after 8 years of deceptive leadership from his party?

[mistered9]

Hillary Clinton won because she told it like it is. The news media crowned her, but she held up to them. Go Hillary, all the way to the White House.

[DaveGress]

Hey jack3213 - here''s what Bush has done to me personally. He completly embarasses me everytime he speaks. I think, and the rest of the world does too, that "98% of the entire world can speak better than him" plus they could make just as good or better decisions than him. He''s definitly a product of low educational standards (or a rich dad).

[tigerjcs]

Obama should drop out now. Hillary can unite the democratic voters. The voters are finding out that Obama%u2019s rhetoric is Xerox from other speakers. His promises are empty promises with no roadmaps for delivery. His supporters are deceived by his eloquent speech with empty call for change. He spent his time on speeches and inspirational talk than on oversight in the senate seat. He never led a single policy hearing on any topics. He was a community organizer in Chicago but never tackled the economic crimes in the city ghettos. His patriotism is questionable for refusing to salute the American Flag. His statement of Our Time Has Come%u2019 and Michelle Obama being Proud for the First time in HER Adult life are disgraceful. Give me a break! His followers are fooled by his oratory and his empty promises. We need Hillary in the White House who will produce results. TALK VERSUS ACTION. Hillary can deliver. She a clear and detailed plan to solve the country%u2019s problems.
GO HILLARY!!!!

[craigh9]

The exit polls in both Ohio and Texas are very telling. In both states one demographic made all the difference in the primaries. Hillary won by large margins with the less educated voters. Isn''t that interesting - she is bouyed by those that as a group buy much more into the negative campaign she is running and the fear she invokes - while those that are more educated and more likely to think for themselves and what might really be best for the country shy away from her. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Hillary.

[mistered9]

sigip515, your so GOP that you can''t seepast the end of your nose. Hillary has done more for this country then most. The best is that she gave veterans there reup bonases after they were denied it afte being wounded. We got two for one when Bill was elected, and see how we prospered under him.

[jack3213]

It is actually quite perfect if Clinton is chosen the Dem candidate to run against McCain- she will most definately lose. Most know it, too and now that she has won only three states the country is back in its comfortable state of denial. Even if she won all the rest, mathematically she cannot win- the superdelagates have to decide. Good luck with that. You want a better chance of having a Democrat, vote Obama.

[rowdytexan2]

The exit polls in both Ohio and Texas are very telling. In both states one demographic made all the difference in the primaries. Hillary won by large margins with the less educated voters. Isn''''t that interesting - she is bouyed by those that as a group buy much more into the negative campaign she is running and the fear she invokes - while those that are more educated and more likely to think for themselves and what might really be best for the country shy away from her. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for Hillary.



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Posted by craigh9 at 08:33 AM : Mar 05, 2008

You need to go back and read those polls again, Sir. Yes, she got the lower income vote, they need her help the most.

But if you look at the exit polls, she and Obama were almost running neck and neck with the higher educated group. Funny isn''t it, how some will look at those figures and see Obama got 2% or 1% more and see a landslide.

[barbjc1]

The news media and so-called analysts that are saying McCain will win if Hillary is the nominee are using the same old tired propaganda. They do not want a woman as President. They had best review their notes, 53% of the voting population of this country are women.
I am disappointed with the black women though because they are voting for Obama based on race.I realize many of us are voting for Hillary based on gender. I am an independent voter and I haven''t trusted Obama from day one.
Obama is not what his speeches say he is. Look at the news release from Canada about NAFTA. NAFTA with Canada is not the problem, they have been our friends for 200 years +. It is Mexico, India, and particularly China.
The black voters have made comments about their ancestors came over here in chains, that was close to 200 years ago. After the Civil War, the government offered the former slaves compensation for the slavery. Either have free transportation to Africa, where do you think the country of Liberia came from, or monetary compensation.Look up your history or go to the National Archives. The black population that is constantly moaning about the past needs to look at themselves and why they haven''t progressed.

[rowdytexan2]

"Can someone find out what the experience she is running on while she was in the White House as First Lady; did she have a security clearance? "

Sure...while she was First Lady, and this is ironic, because the men thought she was too much into politics at the time...instead of hosting tea parties and picking out China for the White House dining room, Hillary was working along side her husband, moving, shaping, influencing the legislation he was asking from Congress. She was his eyes and ears figuring out what the people needed. Haven''t you heard the saying....behind every successful man... Hillary was that woman!

It''s always so funny to watch men...they either want to have their cake and eat it too, wink wink, or they want to have their issues both ways. First Hillary was into politics too much, now she wasn''t in it enough!

Toots noor!

[craigh9]

You need to go back and read those polls again, Sir. Yes, she got the lower income vote, they need her help the most.

But if you look at the exit polls, she and Obama were almost running neck and neck with the higher educated group. Funny isn''''t it, how some will look at those figures and see Obama got 2% or 1% more and see a landslide.


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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 08:49 AM : Mar 05, 2008

Another Hillary supporter running fast and loose with the facts.

College degree versus no college degree
Texas - Obama 54% Hillary 43%
Ohio - Obama 51% Hillary 47%

You only misrepresented this by about 300 - 400% in true Hillary fashion

[davide73-2009]

The real reason Hillary Clinton won last night is that voters responded to the Saturday Night Live skit, and wanted to tell the media how they feel about being told for whom to vote!

And I''m not kidding!

[realpatriot1]

BarbJC1,

No one takes a back seat to you when it comes to using old tired propaganda. If it weren''t for the gender card and her phantom "experience" which Rowdy alleges but can''t demonstrate she would have no campaign.

I don''t know of a single Obama supporter who would have a problem with a woman as President. Plenty of intelligent women as well as men would have a huge problem with Hillary because of her diviseness and corruption.

[hawawa-2009]

You said:"Clinton''s base came through for her strongly today, as it has at other times in the past. She enjoyed solid support among women, older voters, the less educated and less well-off, and those who consider themselves Democrats."
Thank you so much for telling me about myself. I thought we have a right to choose the party of our affliation. My education came from going to school, life experience, raising children, assisting with granchildren and great granchildren, multi-tasking, raising a family on a budget, etc. Thanks to you I now know I am old, dumb, poor and have no clue as to what party to pick. Question: Do Republicans just consider themselves a Republican?

[johngaltwho]

I''m an independent voter - always have been. Don''t the democrats realize that Hillary is absolutely unelectable. I would happily support McCain over Hillary. I may not get change but I won''t get another polarizing devisive my way or the highway politician who will say and do anything to win. My order of preference was/is 1. Giuliani 2. Obama 3. McCain Never. Hillary

[mansobravo]

The great thing is that Democrats have two marvelous candidates. Whichever wins the nomination will be the next president.

[jack3213]

%u2022 The economy is in a slowdown%u2026 you want change? Quit being greedy, save more than you spend, work hard and quit whining. Live within your means.
%u2022 Iraq is difficult, painful and not going away any time soon%u2026 you want change? Fine, we%u2019ll pull the troops out now because it%u2019ll garner votes, then we can spend twice the coin and put even more lives at risk when the place falls further into hell and we need to go back. Quit moaning about the intelligence failures and poor planning that led us into the current situation. It is what it is and we better deal with it properly.
%u2022 Washington is broken%u2026 you want change? Give me a break. Quit with the crying over partisan politics unless you got a plan for revamping the two-party system. Candidates have been winging that old chestnut around since George Washington%u2019s days. There%u2019s nothing broke about Washington, D.C., that can%u2019t be solved by politicians simply doing what they%u2019re supposed to do%u2026 representing their constituents, working hard and being honest.
%u2022 Immigration%u2026 you want change? OK, everybody except Native American Indians shut up and figure out how to compromise between secure borders and a nation that continues to offer hope and inclusion to people from other countries.
%u2022 Universal health care%u2026 you want change? Great idea, come up with a plan that can be clearly explained to someone with a high school education.

[shayjo-2009]

It is very simple to me why Hillary won. She preyed on the fears and hidden racist feelings in states where the under current for such is already strong.
She may have won last night, but she has not won in the long run and she certainly did not win handidly. I believe that she has done more to destroy strong alliances with-in the democratic party and it will come back to haunt the Clintons in time. She did not have to wage the type of tactics used to bludgeon Obama and he certainly WILL LIVE to fight another day. She may live as well, but not well. Her message is so offensive on so many points. I hope that people will see through this clearly. She is divisive and will NEVER win the general election. I guarantee!!

[johngaltwho]

Seriously, do the math, Hillary can neither win the Democratic nomination based on delegates and she certainly can''t win a general election. The base that supports her now will support any Democrat in the general election and would see the same result as in 2000/2004. If they couldn''t beat George Bush, arguably the least impressive speaker/debater and the least qualified candidate ever, they certainly can''t beat John McCain. If she did somehow manage to steal the primary; African Americans, young people, and independents would stay home or worse vote for McCain. She''s pulling a Nader right now, damaging her party to satisfy her ego, when the reality is - she cannot win.

[jack3213]

1)The economy is in a slowdown%u2026 you want change? Quit being greedy, save more than you spend, work hard and quit whining. Live within your means.
2) Iraq is difficult, painful and not going away any time soon%u2026 you want change? Fine, we%u2019ll pull the troops out now because it%u2019ll garner votes, then we can spend twice the coin and put even more lives at risk when the place falls further into hell and we need to go back. Quit moaning about the intelligence failures and poor planning that led us into the current situation. It is what it is and we better deal with it properly.
3)Washington is broken%u2026 you want change? Give me a break. Quit with the crying over partisan politics unless you got a plan for revamping the two-party system. Candidates have been winging that old chestnut around since George Washington%u2019s days. There%u2019s nothing broke about Washington, D.C., that can%u2019t be solved by politicians simply doing what they%u2019re supposed to do%u2026 representing their constituents, working hard and being honest.
4) Immigration%u2026 you want change? OK, everybody except Native American Indians shut up and figure out how to compromise between secure borders and a nation that continues to offer hope and inclusion to people from other countries.
5) Universal health care%u2026 you want change? Great idea, come up with a plan that can be clearly explained to someone with a high school education.

[mansobravo]

SHAYJO
Racism plays both ways. It helps Obama that more than 80% of black voters support him over Clinton, a longtime ally. I understand this and sympathize with their stance; however, in exit interviews 9 out of 10 say race played no part in their selection. Do you believe this? I live in a precinct that is about 60% Hispanic, 25% black, and 15% older whites. At the precinct convention, Hispanic and whites split their vote, but blacks were 100% for Obama. We all got along fine and I believe the majority will be happy with either candidate.

[johngaltwho]

Maybe Hillary should just run with Nader now. Yeah and maybe Perot would support them and well, with Ann Coulter''s cynical support and some fanning of the flames by an obese drug addicted conservative radio guy, they just might have a shot at disrupting something.