Barack Obama racked up a decisive victory Tuesday crushing John McCain in almost every battleground state. On January 20, he will become the nation's first black chief executive.
Exit poll data show Obama beating McCain by an overwhelming 57-41 margin among women, and carrying men by four points, 51-47. Obama is positioned to become the first Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976 to win break 50 percent of the popular vote, something Bill Clinton failed to do in both 1992 and 1996.
Among the key battleground states called by the networks by 10 pm, Pennsylvania went for Obama 55-45; New Hampshire 55-43; and Ohio 53-46:
While not among the early network calls, exit polls in Virginia -- which has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 -- showed Obama ahead 54-45; Indiana, once considered a Republican bastion, appeared to be solidly in Obama's camp, with women backing him 55-44 and men split 49-49.
Nationwide, according to network exit polls, Obama did far better among whites that his recent Democratic predecessors. Kerry lost white men to George W. Bush 62-37, a 25 point spread; Obama lost white men by 14 points, 42-56. Similarly, Kerry lost white women by 9 points, Obama by 5.
While all white voters over the age of 30 cast majorities for McCain, those under 30 backed Obama by a decisive 57-41 margin.
Obama, like other Democrats, continued to have difficulty winning the support of less affluent whites. Among whites with incomes of $50,000 or less, Obama lost by a slight margin, 48-50. Among whites without college degrees, Obama lost decisively to McCain, 41-58. Whites with college degrees were split, 49-50.
While Kerry won black voters 88 to 11 while Obama won among blacks 96-3. The exit poll data suggested a significant increase in the black turnout, which rose from 11 percent of the total to 13 percent. These figures may underestimate the increase because they do not include early voting which was very popular among African Americans this year.
McCain received a big initial boost after he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate, but by election day she had become an lead weight. By a margin of 60-38 voters said she was not qualified to be president.
Democrats who had backed Hillary Clinton during the primaries backed Obama 85 to 15.
What has become known as the "marriage gap" played a huge role in the outcome. Obama won single voters by a landslide 66-32, while McCain edged out Obama among married voters, 51-47. Working women were another key source of support for Obama, backing him 61-38, while non-working women were almost evenly divided, 50 for Obama, 48 for McCain.
Young voters under 30 backed Obama by better than two to one, 68-30, compared to a much more modest 54-45 win among this age group for Kerry.
Obama beat McCain in every income group from the very poor with family incomes of $15,000 or less, 73-25, to those making over $200,000, 53-45.
McCain's support among Christian conservatives dropped slightly below recent levels of support for Republican candidates. In 2004, white, born again evangelicals backed Bush over Kerry by a 78-21 margin. These voters backed McCain 73-25.
In addition to performing far better among whites, Obama improved significantly on recent Democratic margins among rural voters. In 2004, Kerry lost this constituency 59-40, or 19 points. Obama also lost, but only by 4 points, 47-51.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.