Exit Polls: Obama Loses To Clinton Among 'Bitter' Low-Income Voters

Exit polls from the Pennsylvania election show that low-income Democratic voters favored Sen. Hillary Clinton by relatively wide margins.

Those Pennsylvanians who earned $15,000 to $30,000 backed the New York Democrat by a margin of 56 percent to 44 percent. That increased to 57 percent to 43 percent when the income range was raised from $30,000 to $50,000

The results could suggest that Sen. Barack Obama's comments that small town, working class whites cling to religion, guns, and anti-immigration sentiment, had some political impact in the days leading up to the primary. However, it is important to note Obama has also had difficulty in winning over this constituency in earlier contests. And the margins in the exit polls are not breathtakingly large.

So while Obama's comments, made at a private San Francisco fundraiser, clearly didn't help, they may not have entirely contributed to his deficit.

Late Update: On the other hand... CNN reports that, "Pennsylvania Democrats said Tuesday night they don't view Obama any more out of touch than Clinton: 66 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats said Clinton is in touch with people like them, while 65 percent said the same for Obama."

Comments

[NoSillyName]

08:38 AM on 04/24/2008

I'm very low incomedue to health problems, bitter about a lot of things, but the only HOPE is NOT WITH CLINTON.

[brabry]

07:50 PM on 04/23/2008

Those are the people who are suffering and they want to feel better that someone. They would rather pick a rich white woman than a black man who grew up on food stamps. They think Big Bad Black Obama might take away their guns. That would be much worse than those 4000+ men and woman dying in Iraq.

Please tell me how many people did Rev. Wright put in danger or vote for their death for political reason?

[brend]

06:42 PM on 04/23/2008

Things are getting so bad that in North Carolina, two dems, started an unflattering ad about Obama, but don't get excited you Obama supporters, John McCain, has told his campaign chairman to see if he can get it removed, because he doesn't want to run his campaign in that manner. hooray for John, a gentleman. these two are known dems. and have admitted putting it on TV, You Hillary supporters in NC should be raising the roofs of of buildings at the democratic headquarters.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

04:50 PM on 04/23/2008

I will vote for either one of them, becasue McCain is to busy pandering to the fringe wing-nut base.

PS, I'm fairly ticked at what Bush-Cheney did this country in less than 8 years, and I am a gun owner. I just don't understand why you would need an AK47 to go deer hunting and I think the NRA leadership are bunch of crooks supported by the arms manufactures. My Republican relatives yammer on about the 2nd amendment and practically wet themselves when I showed them my 30-30, my father-in-law would not even look at it, go figure.

[Knowledgeseeker]

04:39 PM on 04/23/2008

Hillary look so fake in this picture.....
this is the same woman some democrats want as president....

[Ihaveadream]

02:46 PM on 04/23/2008

Parallel to the Roman empire, this country spirals down the drain with it's arrogant, coddled, meglomaniac presidents and presidential candidates (= to emperors) , sycophant generals and politicians. Aiding and abetting are the ignorant masses who keep voting with their stereotypes enforced by perps like HRC, and the Karl Rove school of dirty politics, right wing radio and TV.

So we reap what we sow. It's going to get uglier in the next 8 years if we don't change things NOW.

[apresdeluge]

02:16 PM on 04/23/2008

Sad to see so many Obama supporters continue to disparage "low-income" voters. What an elitist bunch of spoiled brats. Is there any room for common decency or compassion in your souls? Many of you sound like that Colorado representative who recently used the term "illiterate peasants" refering to Mexican migrant workers.

[trapperj20]

01:54 PM on 04/23/2008

After the Clinton presidency, it seems that some people decided that the only people who are qualified to be president are people who have had relatives in the White House. Fear has completely taken over. It has become very easy for the powerful to manipulate voters, especially those with low incomes. We instituted a limit on the number of times one can be president for a reason. WTF is going on? We have become a country of cowards hiding behind the guise of war, as if the bravery of our soldiers somehow is transfered to the rest of the populous.

[CostaMesaJoe]

12:52 PM on 04/23/2008

I could just see Hillary taking of that coat after getting that hug from that trailor park resident.
The disingenuity of this woman is transparent to everyone but the low-income and uneducated.
Sad.

[lookingAhead]

12:44 PM on 04/23/2008

Sorry but theFACT is Hillary only won with the GOP backing. If not for the GOP switching to vote for her then Obama would have already secured the nomination.

[Marmann]

12:55 PM on 04/23/2008

I agree. I find it doubtful that "low-income" Democrats would vote for the richest, most affluent Democratic candidate.

[kevx]

12:56 PM on 04/23/2008

Actually sadly to say. The " poor " white voters are voting on race. These people will not bring themselves to vote for a black person so they voted for the white lady knowing she can not win. It doesn't matter to the uneducated hick " white " person in rural America, it is apparent after last night that they simply will not vote for a black person. The number in polls showing that more Clinton supporters would vote for McCain if Obama got the nomination, rather than Obama supporters voting for McCain. The reason is that they will not and cannot vote for a black person.

It's a sad realization. It sucks.

[obamavet]

02:30 PM on 04/23/2008

What is even more discouraging is the number of white women backing Hillary on basis of gender and race. It seems that the post-menopausal grandma sisterhood is sending the message that they refuse to support a male and specifically, not a black male.

[CindyKay]

12:34 PM on 04/23/2008

Why would You Vote for a Woman that Helped send Your Jobs away ?

[Chavez08]

01:48 PM on 04/23/2008

Neoliberalism was an experiment, it read good on Austrian paper and it was sold to Washington and the Media and academic elites as a Utopia, win-win for everyone. I think the Clintons' fell for it like alot of others though I'd like to believe they don't celebrate the global serfdom it created like the Republicans do.

I think it's important to differentiate Bush - who is admittedly anti middle-class, called FDR a "Socialist:", swore to reverse the New Deal and makes every decision based on Federalist ideals - and the Clintons. Yes, they do have some seedy affiliates and consultants but, since Capitalism ruled Washington, that's how the game was played.

I'm starting to believe that she believes what she is saying.

[brend]

11:23 AM on 04/23/2008

70% of pensylvania voters, voted for Clinton because Obama will work very hard to get the second amendment changed so he can take your gun rights. Take heed North Carolina, West Virginia, Oragon, and Indiana voters I told you all about the yahoo alert I recieved 2 weeks ago. I know all you Huff posters will say that that will be up to the Congress, and Senate, but if Obama gets elected he will fight very hard with a dem house and senate of which he will have in his pocket if he gets elected. So mark my word if Obama gets elected kiss your guns good-bye.

[trapperj20]

01:46 PM on 04/23/2008

You are crazy. Obama is completely pro 2nd amendment. He very distinctly said that states and cities should reserve the right to ban certain types of weapons. If you have a problem with this you need to take it up with your state representatives. But believe me, he will not come out to your house in hicksville and take your guns away. So go get your shovel, dig those guns up from your backyard and put them back in your pick up.

[brend]

04:37 PM on 04/23/2008

I don't live in Hicksville, I live in Beckley,W.V. come on over so my husband can whip your Donkey.

[obamavet]

02:36 PM on 04/23/2008

It was the Clinton administration that imposed the most oppressive set of gun laws in the history of our nation! It was only due to a republican congress that our 2nd amendment rights were preserved at all. Obama has been quoted as saying he does not have a problem with legal gun owners and that he will go after illegal sellers who are capitalizing off straw purchases that feed street violence. As a licensed firearms collector, I don't have a problem with that. As to so-called "assualt weapons", Clinton has said on more than one occasion that she favors a ban. I would suggest you do some more homework before annointing Hillary as a defender of second amendment rights.

[brend]

04:32 PM on 04/23/2008

If that is true why did 70% of the gun owners in Pennsylvania vote for Hillary.

[Horst]

10:32 AM on 04/23/2008

Clinton is the choice of the losers...low income, little or no education, etc. Not much of a mandate.

[VA2008]

10:56 AM on 04/23/2008

No joke! What the heck is that hanging off of her in the picture above? Good grief!

[libran38]

11:02 AM on 04/23/2008

great sentiments, Horst! Well said.

[NewMexicoForObama]

10:27 AM on 04/23/2008

8.6 % spread.
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/

[NewMexicoForObama]

10:20 AM on 04/23/2008

8.6 percent spread!!! No double digit! Clearly an Obama win.
http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/