Obama Struggles With Working Class Whites, Dems Emotionally Divided

Coming into the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, an emphasis was placed on two questions: Could Barack Obama win over the small town vote and, to a lesser extent, had the Democratic Party fissured irrevocably over the fight between the two candidates?

A set of exit polls (subject to change) obtained by the Huffington Post suggest that the Illinois Democrat is still struggling among the working class constituency and that the Democratic Party is emotionally divided.

In Indiana, Obama scored only 34 percent of the "working class" white vote, compared to Clinton's 65 percent. Overall the New York Democrat bested her Illinois counterpart 61 to 39 percent among all white voters. Those numbers were even further divided in North Carolina, where Obama picked up 24 percent of working class whites and 35 percent of whites in general.

And yet, for those who argue that Obama is out of touch, 65 percent of Indiana voters said he shared their values, compared to Clinton's 62 percent, while in North Carolina 69 percent of voters said he shared their values compared to 61 percent for Clinton.

Again, the numbers were mixed when it came to the economy. Sixty-five percent of the Indiana Democratic primary electorate cited economic concerns as the most important issue. And among that group 54 percent went to Clinton, 45 percent to Obama. However, those numbers were almost reversed in North Carolina, where Obama picked up 52 percent of that group's vote to Clinton's 44.

So where did Obama make up his vote? With the usual coalitions. Eighteen-percent of Indiana primary goers were first time voters. And they supported the Senator by a 60 to 40 margin. In North Carolina, meanwhile, Obama beat Clinton 71 percent to 24 percent among those under 30 years of age.

As for the final of the two questions: the Democratic race does seem to have emotions flaring. Fifteen percent of North Carolina respondents say they would vote for Sen. John McCain should he and Clinton end up the two nominees. That number rose to 19 percent if it were McCain v. Obama. In Indiana, meanwhile, 17 percent of voters said they would support McCain if he were facing Clinton, while 20 percent said they would back the Arizona Republican if he battled Obama.

Comments

[Blackman]

This election cycle has shown me one thing clearly, that African Americans are racist to the core and I have come to have total disdain for this group. From hereon...to hell with them!

[paganmist]

Wow, I guess they were racist when 90% of them turned out for Gore, or when 88% of them turned out for Clinton, huh.

Yeah, those racist blacks.

p.s. making condemnations about an entire race is called racism. X)

[ZadieSmith]

how come the "working class whites" that vote against obama get a free pass? hahaha.

you were just looking for any excuse you could to blame all the heartbreak in your own life on a group of people you know nothing about.

PS the NAACP endorsed Hillary Clinton

Obama 08

[Breni]

paganmist

Wow, I guess they were racist when 90% of them turned out for Gore, or when 88% of them turned out for Clinton, huh.

Yeah, those racist blacks.

****

Was a black running against them?

[pertello]

The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) of the United States Constitution provides that no government in the United States may prevent a citizen from voting based on that citizen's race[1], color, or previous condition of servitude (i.e. slavery). It was ratified on February 3, 1870.

So, you DO realize that blacks have been voting for white men since 1870? And they fought hard for that right. I think it's about time we returned the favor.

[robXdion]

BTW, you don't have to bash your fellow blacks anymore just to score white women. It's OK, Uncle Ruckus.

[speakingtruth2power]

Do you believe that this sock puppet is an African American?

Disingenuous trolls are always posing and disseminating!!

[sangsue]

I see. As opposed to all those white people who wouldn't vote for a black man.

Double standards. It figures.

[pupbayer]

I disagree with Blackman totally BUT, sangsue, why can't a white person prefer a candidate because he believes she is the best candidate. Why is it always about whites who "wouldn't vote for a black man." I think you both have double standards.

[tpagy]

amen to that but that cannot be only whites are Racist thats how it works!

[Chuckwheat]

Just get this foreplay over with, puleeeze.

[pertello]

Hey Chuck, Your wife is one lucky woman, hehe.

[Vantunow]

"Working Class" is I am sorry to say, the "High School Drop Outs" Class. He can't ever be too popular with them.

However, it doesn't matter.

He would still absolutely crush McCAin. Of that there is no doubt.

[bookyoda]

Obama will never get my vote

[ZadieSmith]

Why? What has he done or said to prevent you from voting for him?

[SCG]

He beat Hillary, they had no second choice in this primary. These zealots are such a large group they couldn't win a caucus, except maybe Nevada.

[mortrefuge]

I wonder how many voters today felt that Hillary has been running as a Repbulican for the last 3 months.

[BitterInPA]

Clinton/McCain 08.

[tgood]

Gee, you people are sure in a rush for open borders and immediate amnesty aren't you ? I must be missing something. Either of the three who wish to be president aren't going to put the wishes of the American people ahead of the special interest groups they support. Why is everyone so excited about being made irrelevant the minute any of them take office ? More welfare , more debt and more of the same old same old. Yeah, we're in for some kind of change alright. Downwards unfortunately.

[Breni]

And Obama is the worst one on illegal immigration. He wants to GIVE illegal aliens drivers' licenses BEFORE he legalizes them - MORE competition for Americans, plus MORE lowering of wages for Americans who DO have jobs. Good-bye well-paying UPS, FED-EX, delivery truck driving jobs. The next bunch of truck drivers - furniture, flower, food, beer, long-haul,short-haul - will be of Latino/Hispanic/Asian/Indian ILLEGAL ALIEN descent. Cheaper wages to illegal aliens means NO AMERICANS need apply for jobs.

And here we stupid people are voting for THREE candiates who want to give ALL OUR JOBS AWAY, lower our standard of living, convert this country into a third world, welfare state and HELP ILLEGAL ALIENS. And sorry, Obumma worshippers - your idol is the worst! At least Hillary and McCain DON'T want illegals to have licenses and McCain calls for border security BEFORE legalization. I don't get excited about any of them and I don't see how anyone else does either. In fact, I FEAR ALL OF THEM.

[shaefromTn]

I have not heard anything comeing out of Obama's mouth that makes me believe he is some kind of savior. Will not vote for a muslim!

[BitterInPA]

How many times do you have to be told he is not a Muslim? Just because you hear a lie or distortion over and over does not make it true. Please do yourself a favor and seek out the truth by getting your info from multiple sources.

[VOTER]

Read and learn:

Senator Obama is a CHRISTIAN!

AMEN.

[BitterInPA]

You would think that the "uneducated working class whites" would want to prove the media pundits wrong and act like "educated working class whites" by voting like they were educated and not stupid.

[sangsue]

Hmmmm.... if the college educated are elite eggheads and her constituency is uneducated working class whites, isn't that saying trailer trash are her base?

[preatorius]

For the record, Obama is half working class white. He is bi-cultural. People in America are so color struck. in fact, hhe was dirt poor as a kid.

Until he wrote his books, he could barely pay his bills. He is a model of the American dream. From food stamps, to the whitehouse.

[Americanium]

I feel really bad for Mrs. Clinton. Not only has she done severe damage to her reputation but she has damaged the eventual nominee and will forever be known as the Democrat who gave the Republicans ammunition to attack every Democratic candidate in this election cycle. She is better off resigning immediately.

[LAShores]

Obama should denouce and repudiate Hillary immediately!

[pupbayer]

That will clinch his failure in the general election. Real smart.

[Peteyman]

The biggest responsibility will be that of whoever loses the contest.

[Fergie13]

Feel bad for America, for the opportunity to win the White House in November with Obama will be a HUGE challenge. I would suggest that due to Sen Obama's arrogance the Democrats have been robbed of potentially 16 years of Democratic leadership. He couldn't see the bigger opportunity for all, and decided to go for the brass ring and self-glorification now. If these two candidates had banded together as a team months ago, we wouldn't even have to worry about the general election. What a shame.

To those who think Sen Obama has somehow struggled from poverty, I'd say you do not know your candidate very well. His struggles in youth pale compared to those who truly endure the poverty and challenges of the inner cities.

[ZadieSmith]

I know my candidate. I've read his books, as well as the books of independent biographers. It wasn't abject poverty, but it was a far cry from what Clinton or McCain experienced. As far as arrogance, let's compare the slogans.

Obama: "yes WE can"
Obama: "I'm not a perfect man"
Obama: "WE are the change WE'VE been waiting for"
Obama: "Change comes from the BOTTOM up, not the top down"

Where's the arrogance in those statements, where's the narcissism and self-glorification?

[sangsue]

Translation: how dare a black person think they have the right to be President, he hates America and should have done the country good by leaving it for Clinton to run unopposed? Would you still be saying that if he was white?

No. Self glorification and going for the brass ring = Obama's too uppity. People like you should take a nice long walk off a short pier.

[pertello]

When the working class whites aren't distracted by HRC's phony working class girl act they will see that BO is the true middle class person in this race.

On a side note, BO hurt himself today. Got knocked down in a basketball game. Hit in the chest and knocked onto the ground.
Obama bruised in election day basketball game.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.—Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Tuesday continued his election day tradition of playing basketball—only to get battered after accidently getting knocked to the ground by Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois State Treasurer.

Obama chief strategist David Axelrod—who also played in the pick-up game—said Obama was hit in the chest when he got in the way of the shoulder of Giannoulias as the former pro player drove to the basket.

Giannoulias “bashed the ribs of the next president of the United States,” Axelrod said. Obama “was knocked down.”

Though Obama was bruised, Axelrod said he did not see a doctor.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_bruised_in_election_day.html

[patch61]

you are an ass our sen. hillary clinton is the winner if you do not make sen. hillary clinton the next president we will not vote..........................................there a cheater going on in obama campigan because we as the people who have been watching that obama did not win north carolina.............we as white people will not vote for obama we will vote for mccain coming in nov..............

[Americanium]

Move to Canada

[ZimboChick]

Yah didnt hear???? u gotta have a brain to be admissible in Canada. Not even playing hockey will get u admitted...u need both

[pupbayer]

And get great health care! Not a bad idea!

[shaefromTn]

I am a staunch democrat but will not vote for OBama guess just will not participate!
He is a do nothing and will do nothing when elected so sorry for this country!

[ZadieSmith]

Please do not stay home, we need help in this country. I know you're upset, it's frustrating ( remember Bush vs Kerry 04) but we can't afford 4 more years of the Bush.

I hope before the fall we can get you to reconsider. YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.

[robXdion]

"we as white people"...........WOW, at least your an honest little racist troll. Have fun at the Klan meeting!!!

[JMEB]

Partially it could be racism, but also Obama's propensity to use language that goes over the head of uneducated people.
http://dailycandor.com/obama-please-temporarily-remove-these-words-from-your-vocabulary/
It makes him sound kind of out of touch.

I wish he would get fired up about some issues instead of staying so cool - I mean just a little.

[Testtubebaby]

He's not trying to be cool, he just thinks before he speaks. Why should he be condescending? That's her style. Look at those Indiana fools believing in that tax holiday mess.

[butchie65]

Hillary had the help of the Repugs, Hillary would have never won there. They are just stating now, he is getting a lot of her sections of the state that she was suppose to get. Give the old Limpball voters a pat on the back. High Five to the STUPID !

[Chuckwheat]

I keep saying he needs to come on loud and clear like Charles Barkley.

[robXdion]

And then he gets called "ghetto". No win situation. I hate how Americans are so insecure, they want everyone to dumb it down so they can feel better about themselves.

[freshnotbitter]

here are the numbers I would like to see from exit polls:

What is the vote in north Carolina and Indiana if you take both the black and the old (senior) vote out of the mix. What is the non-black, non-senior result?

I've seen figures of Hillary scoring up to 71% with seniors but I have the feeling that includes black seniors who might have voted disproportionately for Obama. In other words, Hillary's non-black, senior vote might be more like 90%.

I say this because everybody talks about white, working class vote and on Fox they are talking about polarization when in fact I believe that it is the senior vote that puts Clinton ahead in contests she is winning, not "working" whites.

[Wilbur]

I'll vote for whoever is the Democratic party's presidential nominee. I'm not a fan of either Clinton or Obama, but the alternative (McCrazy) is SOOOOOOOOOOO much worse than either HRC or BHO.

Wilbur