2008 Woodie Awards
It's not over yet: Hillary wins big, Obama maintains delegate lead
Sarah Sole, News Editor
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
After the primary results for Ohio late Tuesday and Texas this morning, superdelegates are important in the race for Democratic presidential nomination, said Paul Sracic, professor and chair of political science at Youngstown State University.
While it will be nearly impossible for Sen. Barack Obama to win by the majority number that's necessary, it will be difficult for Sen. Hillary Clinton to catch up to Obama in delegates. Clinton would have to win by a large margin of at least 15 points in the remaining states' primaries, but that will not happen, Sracic said.
According to the Ohio Democratic Party's Web site, http://www.ohiodems.org, Clinton won the Ohio primary with 54 percent of the votes, while Obama earned 44 percent. These results reflected reports from 99 percent of precincts.
Sracic said Clinton's wins in Texas and Ohio were huge for her campaign. She also claimed Rhode Island, while Obama's only victory of the night was Vermont.
"Her political career was on the line," Sracic said.
Clinton's comeback in Ohio gives her an election argument that, regardless of the delegate count, the public has to nominate the Ohio winner, as in the past, he said.
"She's picking up delegates, but he is too," Sracic said of Clinton's Ohio victory.
Though Obama is still a favorite, ahead in the popular vote, he is "less of a favorite today than he was yesterday," Sracic said.
Students had mixed opinions about the Ohio primary results on Tuesday night.
Freshman Colleen Bundy said she was surprised by the results. Bundy voted for Obama.
"I thought more people in Ohio supported him," she said of the Illinois senator.
Data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement shows that youth turnout rate has almost doubled in Ohio since 2000 — a 10 percent increase in eight years. In Ohio 25 percent of primary voters in 2008 were between the ages of 19 and 29.
Tim Koniowsky, a freshman who voted for Clinton, said he was thrilled with Clinton's Ohio win.
While it will be nearly impossible for Sen. Barack Obama to win by the majority number that's necessary, it will be difficult for Sen. Hillary Clinton to catch up to Obama in delegates. Clinton would have to win by a large margin of at least 15 points in the remaining states' primaries, but that will not happen, Sracic said.
According to the Ohio Democratic Party's Web site, http://www.ohiodems.org, Clinton won the Ohio primary with 54 percent of the votes, while Obama earned 44 percent. These results reflected reports from 99 percent of precincts.
Sracic said Clinton's wins in Texas and Ohio were huge for her campaign. She also claimed Rhode Island, while Obama's only victory of the night was Vermont.
"Her political career was on the line," Sracic said.
Clinton's comeback in Ohio gives her an election argument that, regardless of the delegate count, the public has to nominate the Ohio winner, as in the past, he said.
"She's picking up delegates, but he is too," Sracic said of Clinton's Ohio victory.
Though Obama is still a favorite, ahead in the popular vote, he is "less of a favorite today than he was yesterday," Sracic said.
Students had mixed opinions about the Ohio primary results on Tuesday night.
Freshman Colleen Bundy said she was surprised by the results. Bundy voted for Obama.
"I thought more people in Ohio supported him," she said of the Illinois senator.
Data from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement shows that youth turnout rate has almost doubled in Ohio since 2000 — a 10 percent increase in eight years. In Ohio 25 percent of primary voters in 2008 were between the ages of 19 and 29.
Tim Koniowsky, a freshman who voted for Clinton, said he was thrilled with Clinton's Ohio win.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Rob
posted 3/07/08 @ 11:29 PM EST
Sarah- Check your facts. Obama won in Texas. The data are finally compiled. You ran an inaccurate story. Please check the facts again and- print a correction. (Continued…)
Mark Berkin
posted 3/20/08 @ 10:37 AM EST
Hillary won the popular vote in texas, I don't see whats wrong? Didn't the caucus, which obama won come out way after this story was published?
Go Hillary!
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