Alabama Democratic primary, 2008

Alabama Democratic Primary, 2008
Alabama
February 5, 2008
 
Nominee Barack Obama Hillary Rodham Clinton
Party Democratic Democratic
Home state Illinois New York
Popular vote 300,321 223,096
Percentage 55.96% 41.57%

Counties with a popular vote for Obama are in purple and those for Clinton are in yellow.
Elections in Alabama

The Alabama Democratic Presidential Primary was held on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, and had a total of 52 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Alabama's seven congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 34. Another 18 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 52 delegates represented Alabama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Eight other delegates were chosen on March 1, 2008 during an Alabama Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting. Those eight delegates attended the National Convention as officially unpledged.[1]

Polling

Results

Alabama Democratic Presidential Primary Results – 2008
Party Candidate Votes Percentage Delegates
Democratic Barack Obama 300,321 55.96% 27
Democratic Hillary Rodham Clinton 223,096 41.57% 25
Democratic John Edwards 7,841 1.46% 0
Democratic Joe Biden 1,174 0.22% 0
Democratic Bill Richardson 1,017 0.19% 0
Democratic Christopher Dodd 523 0.10% 0
Democratic Uncommitted 2,663 0.50% 0
Totals 536,635 100.00% 52
Voter turnout % —

Analysis

With its heavily African American population, Barack Obama solidly defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in Alabama. According to exit polls, 51 percent of voters in the Alabama Democratic Primary were African Americans and they opted for Obama by a margin of 84-15 compared to the 44 percent of Caucasian voters who backed Clinton by a margin of 72-25. Obama won all age groups and educational attainment levels in Alabama except senior citizens aged 65 and over and those who did not complete high school. Obama won voters who identified as Democrats but Clinton won those who identified as Republicans; both candidates split among Independents. Clinton won Protestants but Obama won those who identified as Other Christian (excluding Catholics) and agnostics/atheists.

Obama did best in the Black Belt counties in Alabama which are majority-African American. He also performed extremely well in the urban areas of Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile. Clinton performed best in Northern Alabama and did best in counties that were majority white.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Alabama Democratic Delegation 2008". The Green Papers. Retrieved 2008-03-25.