Huckabee, Obama Triumph In Louisiana Primaries

This story was written by J.j. Alcantara, The Daily Reveille

Obama, D-Ill., defeated Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., by a substantial margin.

Obama won 57 percent of the Democratic vote while Clinton received 36 percent. Seven percent of the vote was distributed among other Democratic candidates who have since dropped out of the presidential race.

Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, defeated Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by less than 2,000 votes from registered Republicans.

Huckabee received 43 percent of votes from registered Republicans. McCain received 42 percent and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex., received 5 percent. Ten percent of the Republican vote went to candidates who have dropped out of the presidential race.

Huckabee's win, however, did not help his pursuit of the Republican nomination.

Even though Huckabee won the popular vote in Louisiana, he will not receive any of the Republican delegates.

If a candidate is unable to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote, delegates will remain uncommitted, according to Louisiana Republican Party rules.

Democratic candidates in Saturday's primary elections were competing for 66 Louisiana Democratic delegates, and Republican candidates vied for 47 delegates.

Obama and Clinton are competing to receive 2,025 delegates - the number needed to win the Democratic nomination.

McCain, Huckabee and Paul are competing to receive 1,191 delegates - the number needed to win the Republican nomination.

More than half a million voters participated in Saturday's primaries appearing at more than 3,900 precincts.

Baton Rouge residents had much to say about this year's presidential primary.

William Rooney, a registered Democrat and a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, said he voted for Clinton.

"Obama has been in national office for two years," Rooney said. "Clinton has been around for eight years, and she has a lot of experience being the president's wife."

Glenn St. Martin, a registered Republican, said he voted for Huckabee in Saturday's primary because he liked his Fair Tax plan - a plan to replace all income taxes, payroll taxes, corporate taxes, capital gains taxes, gift taxes and estate taxes with a federal retail sales tax.

Leo Stanley, a registered Republican, said he voted for McCain because he has the most experience at the national level.

"His length of time in Congress will make it easier for him to work with a Democratic Congress," Stanley said.

While only 10 percent of all Democratic voters in the state were in the 18 to 29 age group, Obama received 66 percent of their votes. Obama also won more than 60 percent of the 30 to 44 and 45 to 59 age groups. Clinton beat Obama in the 60 and older age group with 48 percent of their vote.

Clinton received the majority of white votes from all age groups, and Obama received the majority of black votes from all age groups.

For the Republicans, Huckabee received the majority of male voters with 44 percent while McCain received the majority of votes from females with 46 percent voting for him.

Huckabee also won the majority of voters between the ages of 18 and 44, and McCain won the majority of voters aged 45 and older.

Jenny Green, a registered Democrat and University alumna, said she voted for Obama.

"I felt like Hillary Clinton was a more corrupt candidate," Green said. "I like the fact that Obama doesn't accept money from lobbyists. I felt like he was a different candidate than what we've normally had."

Official numbers on how many delegates Obama and Clinton will receive have not yet been released.
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