Obama Improving Among Whites And Seniors, Holding Among Jews

Barack Obama may have his work cut out when it comes to recruiting white men and seniors. But if the exit polls from Pennsylvania provide any insight into the evolution of this political process, the Illinois Democrat may be improving among both those groups.

In Ohio, Obama lost to Senator Clinton among white men by a margin of 58 percent to 39 percent. That deficit was reduced to 55 percent to 45 percent, according to Pennsylvania exits polls - a 16-point gap narrowed to ten.

A similar trend held true among seniors. In Ohio, Clinton won this group by a wide margin of 69 percent to 28 percent. Six weeks later, Obama narrowed the gap by more than half, earning 41 percent of support among Pennsylvanian's 60 years and older compared to Clinton's 59 percent.

The margins still pose problems for the Illinois Democrat, who, going forward both in the primary and, potentially, in the general, needs to shore up his standing among these two valuable constituencies. But the trends show him making progress.

On another front... conventional wisdom held that, in light of the scandal over Obama's controversial former pastor Jeremiah Wright - and revelations that Wright had once said positive things of Louis Farrakhan - the Senator would have trouble with the Jewish community.

But if the exit polls from Pennsylvania are to be trusted - and maybe they shouldn't be - the state's Jewish electorate was almost split between the two candidates.

Jewish voters, which made up seven percent of the voting populace, supported Sen. Hillary Clinton by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent. When the surveyed group was limited to just white voters, that split was decreased to 51 percent for Clinton, 49 percent for Obama.

All of which leads to two possible conclusions: Obama may not have the terrific Jewish problem that pundits have predicted and, yes, there are some non-white Jews.

Comments

[cramos]

Sam, Your hallucinating!!!!!!

I live in PA.....outside of Philadelphia in one of those counties he had to win....he got trounced ...white affluent upper upper class highly educated..........got beat bad

He got trounced.......in every category, except the inner city...he won Philadelphia...........

Time to focus forward......

[Marrob]

Michael Moore and Robert Reich endorse Obama, Obama loses in PA.

[likeicare]

What is lost in the post-primary analyses, especially from OH, is the fact that many, many white male voters crossed-over from the Republicans to vote for the Clintons, as directed by the Minister of Propaganda, Rush Limbaugh.

So, whenever I hear the Clintonistas screeching about Barack's unpopularity among that particular demographic, I have to laugh.

So much for that selling point -- the joke's on them!

[FullMedia]

Irrespective of the Pennsylvania results, Senator Obama will go into the Democratic Convention as the odds-on nominee. No amount of 'spin' is going to change that reality. I do understand the need for optimism in those who support Senator Clinton but at this point, the numbers do not lie.

Okay then, given the 'facts', what is more important now is the general election against John McCain. The bickering between Democrats over whether Clinton remains or goes is unimportant. For those who support Senator Obama, we must move on to the remaining primaries of particular import: Indiana and North Carolina and ultimately the general election. Allow those who support the Clinton candidacy to have their hope, and remember, we must make sure that we allow them a path 'home' in the fall.

The Obama campaign has come to the closing stanzas of an improbable feat, the dismantling of a dynasty. Even Clinton supporters must give credit where credit is due. Against the odds and the accepted wisdom we find ourselves with the possibility of a 'new politic' that doesn't require that 'I bloody you' to have a chance for a decent life. Isn't that worth more than holding onto old allegiances that to date have offered little more than the same old thing?

[damitajo1]

Um, this is an interesting spin.

[ebbasta]

why do you have to be a douche and post on this website. if you think huff post is in the tank, then go away to your pro-hillary website, if you have one. i dont care either way. but you're pretty pathetic when you go trolling these websites just to piss people off....i havent signed up with clinton or anything like that, trying to piss off her supporters. face it, you're a douche

[Horst]

Clinton appeals to the losers...poorly educated, low income types...not much of a mandate.

[joeyp404]

Wow. I went to college and am not low income, but voted for and still support Hillary. I guess those Obama supporters have that extra something that makes them special and gifted.

It sure isn't compassion and an open mind.

[LBM]

Hillary is winning the Jewish vote, he's not holding anything.

[WillieLynch]

They are 2.5 percent of the population...

[LBM]

In PA they made up seven percent of the voting populace. This is within the usual percentage of the democratic vote in most states since most Jewish people vote democratic and many are active politically. 7% makes a big difference in a tight race.

[WillieLynch]

2.5% of the population...

[swanky]

Sam - He has been "improving" with that group of voters since Super Tuesday, where he made "significant inroads", or whichever catch-phrase of the day was being employed. The fact is that in the populous states, the more voter turnout there is, the worse the result becomes for him. He has proven again and again that he cannot win states unless there's corn subsidies to be doled out, or a significant liberal minority who will caucus. And one more thing - I could narrow a sixteen-point gap against a frontrunner too by outspending them 3-to-1 and breaking the spending record. Oh, and my candidate would be my dog. Grow up and wake up. Maybe he's good for VP, but he can't win at the top of the ticket in November, and it ain't Hillary's fault she's more electable. He's already polling badly in NY. This is what we like to call a "good, old fashioned ass kickin'". Nice spin he put on it last night too - how he "made it close" - by wasting all that cash. I don't care what you believe, Sam, a Democrat needs to win in November, and Barack hasn't proven he can win where it counts.

[Melissa]

He cannot close the deal no matter how you spin the facts.

[deminohio]

who can? this is going to be an interesting year.

[Relax08]

Sorry swanky but like your candidate you can't count too well. Obama did better in Penn than he did in Ohio were Hillary won by double digits. And that's after the bs white affair and bittergate. Hillary is in no way more electable in a general election. She has the highest negatives of any serious presidential candidate in the history of American politics. My dog the Democrat could win New York and California against McCain or any republican.

The people that need to grow up are you nutty Hillarites who must have failed math class. To suggest that the person with the most state wins, the most delegates, the most votes "can't win" is disllusional! Tell us all how Hillary has demonstrated she can win by being behind in the all catergories. Explain how she is a "winner" when she will be behind at the end of this day and the end of the last day in all of these categories.

It's time to stop this bickering between Democrats- but I doubt serious that you are Democrat and suspect that you are just one of those Operation chaos guys. Say hi to Rush!

[MrGiggles]

Sorry, but your arguement simply doesn't hold water. Pennsylvania is a Blue State as is New York, California, Massachusettes, et al. These states are voting Democratic in the fall regardless of who the nominee is. And,if the economy and Iraq continue their down turn into November, it's safe to say that Michigan (where McCain was trounced) and Ohio will also be lean heavily toward the Democratic nominee.
The simple fact is that, when given a choice of the two democratic nominees, older voters, working class voters and hispanics have preferred Clinton. Not because they dislike Obama but because they are simply more familiar with the Clinton brand name. In every case Obama has closed significant gaps but Ohio and Pennsylvania are still very much "political machine" states and the Clintons had the entire state wide political machine working for them on both occasions.

[DGregory]

him outspending her has to do with what?

if people donating the same amount of money to clinton would she not spend it in the same fashion?

is the fact that he has the ability to spend that amount and actually pay it off bothering you?

or the fact that the make up of her state is her constituency? Has she won a state that holds his constituency?

Then to say she won more swing states thus is more electable? because thats the residents of her constituency?

Do you understand how hard it is to move in on someones base? has she moved into his base?

or is your case pretty much saying shes more electable because of the base she has?

if so, why isnt she winning?

Does the opinion that the dem battle is the general and that whomever wins will actually be president?

Does the opinion that the people being polled, whom are supporters of either skew towards mccain because of the bickering?

Do you think clinton can win w/o obama's base, just like your assuming that he cant win because of her base is holding out?

yea my overall point is, the polls are garbage in a clinton vs mccain or obama vs mccain because each side is giving mccain a boost because of the nomination proceeding

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

"All of which leads to two possible conclusions: Obama may not have the terrific Jewish problem that pundits have predicted and, yes, there are some non-white Jews. "

-----

Or.. Sam sure can spin an exit poll.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Talk about spin.

On the other hand, the CNN exit polls showed that most PA voters -- who only made up their minds in the last three days -- voted.... Clinton.

Clinton beats McCain.
Obama only ties him.

www.electoral-vote.com

[Busterdawg]

This article falls under the category of - putting lipstick on a pig.

[hollywood]

The thing is Obama has won the nomination. But we can see that the general election is going to be tough going. So buck up. Let's get ready to rumble. Let's start putting McCain and his record under the microscope now. A lot of voters are just uninformed. If they were educated about the candidates, I'm confident they would choose Obama by a healthy margin.

[Busterdawg]

Obama hasn't won a thing yet.

By the time the last primary is held, he will not get the required number to win the nomination. So it ends up in the hands of the party elders. They then will determine who has the best chance to win in November.

It's about winning the Presidency not about appeasing party activists.

[dmstingley]

Hillary is a do ANYTHING TO WIN, politician, and the Obama campaign had better wake up. YOU DONT BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT!

A great leader must know when it is time to fight. The last time democrats didn't stand up and fight when they SHOULD have, we ended up in IRAQ! Hillary wanted mercy for the Bosnia lie, crucified Obama for the bitter mistatment. Hillary's lie about Bosnia suggest she is dulusional, just like George Bush is. So for those who want another big LIAR, stick with Hillary.

As for Obama... tough love...
1. dont be afraid to use legitimate info about Hillary against Hillary
2. stop saying uhhh so much when you speak... it makes you seem unsure
3. please stop the loose comments, weigh your words before speaking.. stick to the talking points... and ask God to word your mouth each day
4. Get a handkerchief.... stop wiping your nose with your fingers during rallies
5. I noticed before the last 2 elections that MSNBC, played Hillary footage, and had Hillary supporters on DISPROPORTIONATELY almost non stop. Many in the media are not ready for a man of color to be president so... OBAMA, NO MORE SELFINFLICTED WOUNDS!!! Its the 3rd quarter of the game, it's tme to focus, focus, focus, Win or go home. I love you but you are too smart to do some of the things I see you do.


I HOPE SOMEONE HIGH UP IN THE OBAMA CIRCLE READS THIS

[highlighter]

misinformed more like

[Relax08]

What does it feel like to have just wasted your vote on someone who can't win the nomination?

[ntmessage]

Sam, Sam, Sam. Those are not the exit polls that most have been reading so please post the final details for all to see when available. Looks like we are trying to make a silk purse out of a sow"s ear.

[methepeople]

I was really hoping obama would win last night and it'd be over.

i'm a democrat first, though, and see the argument that this country is not ready to elect a black man president. call me cynical.

what really surprises me is the lack of discussion in the media about clinton's achilles heel, or should i say husband. i felt the lewinsky episode was a ridiculous excerise - times ten, but i still ask those who defiantly support hillary: what has bill been up to recently? and i mean besides all the lucrative (shady?) deals adding to their massive fortune.

i really don't want to spend the next 4 or 5 months defending bill clinton. again. it was exhausting, frankly. and after all the negativity piled onto my man, O, my heart may not be in it. food for thought for the clinton campaign going forward: i may not be the only one.

[HopeGirl]

Old, uneducated, racial bigoted, fearful and easily manipulated people won't vote for a black man. There are as many or more that won;t vote for a woman.

Chin up Buttercup. Obama will come out with at least 15 Super delegates this week that will wipe away her flimsy 'win'.

BTW-the Super delegates...little better educated and not as easily manipulated.

See Penn for what it was and what she did to 'win'. 15 delegates, thats it. Not even a blip on the screen.

My hope-Indiana has a better educational system than Penn.

[HopeGirl]

This was a tough loss, that will hopefully get our guy tougher. It is sad to know that Hillary's Republican tactics, her slime, manipulation, fear, lies, deceit and division-still work.

How you play the game determines what you win. Hillary has won division, fear and deceit. Bush 3. We have people in the Dem party that either can not get that fact or are OK with that fact. Either way-it is a bad sign for us that know this country has to move forward.

Big win for corporate America last night, big win for pharma, big win for oil, big win for the military industrial complex, big win for racism. Big win for every but the low income people of Pennsylvania.

Yet again a mass of people were manipulated into voting against their best interests.