Last night weren't just wins for Obama, they were complete blowouts. What's more the exit polling data shows that Obama is encroaching on Hillary's core constituencies in a big way.
First the vote totals:
DC
Obama: 75%
Clinton: 24%
Maryland
Obama: 60%
Clinton: 36%
Virginia
Obama: 64%
Clinton: 35%
These are absolutely stunning margins of victory. 24 points in Maryland, 29 points in Virginia, and 51 points in DC are all much more than anyone had expected. Obama picked up 76 more delegates to Clinton's 39 putting him out in front in the pledged delegate count:
Obama: 1078
Clinton: 969
He's also ahead if you include super-delegates:
Obama: 1215
Clinton: 1190
Exit polls from CNN and ABC exit show where the race is headed and destroy a number of myths that have been propagated by the Clinton Spin Machine and their shills in the media.
Myth #1: Obama can't win among older voters.
Obama beat Clinton 52-47 among voters over 60 in Virginia.
Myth #2: Obama can't win among women voters.
Obama beat Clinton 58-42 among women in Virginia.
Myth #3: Obama doesn't appeal to the working class.
Obama took 59 percent of the votes of respondents who said they earn less than $50,000 a year and 62 percent of those who said someone in their household is a member of a union.
Myth #4: Obama can't win among Hispanic voters.
Obama beat Clinton 54-46 among Hispanics in Virginia.
Myth #5: Hillary is widely viewed as more prepared to be commander-in-chief.
Maryland voters by 54-43 percent said Obama was better qualified than Clinton to serve as commander-in-chief.
Myth #6: Obama is strong in caucuses, not in primaries
All three of yesterday's contests were primaries.
So there you have it. Every myth about the Obama campaign that Hillary supporters have been using to talk up her chances in this race have been destroyed overnight. Hillary needs to figure out how to start winning and fast or this thing is going to be over soon. She can't afford to write off Wisconsin and Hawaii and then explain that those losses were "expected". That just won't work anymore. She's starting to sound like the new Rudy Giuliani. She needs to mount a full court press in Wisconsin especially to try and slow down the Obama bandwagon before it's too late.
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Filed under:
2008 Presidential Race
Tags: Democratic presidential campaign, Obama, Potomac blowout
Comments (5)
Hillary is going to be <a h... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Steve Crickmore | February 13, 2008 12:26 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hillary is going to be campaigning there this weekend, but good luck to her, that is in Obama's back yard. What she needs in Wisconsin is a respectable loss.
1. Posted by Steve Crickmore | February 13, 2008 12:26 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 13, 2008 12:26
2. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 13, 2008 12:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I have no doubt that she is going to go all out in Wisconsin. Spending four days there at this stage of the campaign is a huge commitment. We will see if it pays off.
I agree she needs to keep it close (failing a win). Another 20+ margin for Obama is going to be difficult for her.
2. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 13, 2008 12:46 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 13, 2008 12:46
3. Posted by mantis | February 13, 2008 2:45 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Interesting numbers on the popular vote on RealClearPolitics. Even counting the votes in Florida and Michigan (where Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot), Obama leads in total votes nationwide. Not counting those states he's up 700k over Clinton.
Popular Vote Total
Obama - 9,347,707
Clinton - 8,648,897
Popular Vote (w/FL)
Obama - 9,923,921
Clinton - 9,519,883
Popular Vote (w/FL & MI)
Obama - 9,923,921
Clinton - 9,848,192
More states won
More votes won
More delegates won
Better fundraising
Barring some major revelation or mistake, it seems like the only way Obama can lose this thing is if the superdelegates collectively decide to give the nomination to Clinton.
Oh, also, Josh Trevino ran some comparison vote numbers for Obama vs. McCain. Most interesting are the red states:
Missouri: Obama had 208% of McCain's total.
South Carolina: Obama had 200% of McCain's total.
Virginia: Obama had 255% of McCain's total.
National polls may have McCain vs. Obama and McCain vs. Clinton as running pretty tight, but if the primaries are any indication of actual turnout, it'll be a landslide for the Democrat (moreso for Obama).
3. Posted by mantis | February 13, 2008 2:45 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 13, 2008 14:45
4. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 13, 2008 3:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Mantis,
Based on all that it's hard to make the case that she deserves the nomination.
As for the general election, there's obviously a lot that can happen between now and then but I do expect a Democratic landslide. The economy is sinking and I have a bad feeling that Iraq is going to start slipping back into chaos. The voters will be plenty angry come November.
4. Posted by Larkin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://wizbangpolitics.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 13, 2008 3:40 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:40
5. Posted by Glenn Koons | February 13, 2008 3:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If the Clintons steal this nomination, the black PC vote will be furious. Obama is a socialist pacifist who will win the nomination, defeat the Pubs and bring socialism closer to fulfillment destroying the Reagan Revolution. It is a sad time that the media , our guys, the RNC will not even challenge this Empty Suit and his weak, overblown commentary that sounds more like utopian nonsense than reality. But, perception counts more in this PC world than facts. I cannot imagine anyone, surely not Huck and probably not McCain defeating this charismatic demagogue.
5. Posted by Glenn Koons | February 13, 2008 3:51 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 13, 2008 15:51