2008 Virginia Democratic presidential primary explained

Election Name:2008 Virginia Democratic presidential primary
Country:Virginia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:Virginia Democratic primary, 2004
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:Virginia Democratic primary, 2016
Next Year:2016
Image1:Barack Obama Senate portrait crop.jpg
Candidate1:Barack Obama
Colour1:800080
Home State1:Illinois
Popular Vote1:627,820
Percentage1:63.66%
Delegate Count1:54
Candidate2:Hillary Clinton
Colour2:D4AA00
Home State2:New York
Popular Vote2:349,766
Percentage2:35.46%
Delegate Count2:29
Map Size:300px
Outgoing Members:MD
Elected Members:HI

The 2008 Virginia Democratic presidential primary took place on February 12, 2008, an election day nicknamed the "Potomac Primary" because the District of Columbia and Maryland also held Democratic primaries.[1] The Virginia Democratic primary was an open primary, and was competitive for the first time since 1988.[2] Barack Obama won the primary, as he did the other Potomac contests that day.[3]

Candidates

Six national candidates appeared on the ballot in the Virginia primary. However, all but Obama and Hillary Clinton had withdrawn prior to the primary on February 12.

Remaining

Eliminated

Background

The prior week, Barack Obama had beaten Hillary Clinton in Nebraska (68%-32%),[7] in Washington (68%-31%) [8] and in Louisiana (57%-36%) [9] by large margins.

The Clinton Campaign looked towards the primary in Virginia as well as those in Maryland and Washington, D.C. which were held on the same day. Though Hillary Clinton spent more resources in the Maryland Primary, she also campaigned in Virginia, particularly in Northern Virginia.

Strategy

The Barack Obama campaign divided Virginia into 4 regions in which to campaign: Northern Virginia, Richmond, Charlottesville, and the Tidewater region in the southeast. He was expected to do well with affluent and independent voters, as well as with African-American voters, who could total 25% of the vote on primary day.[2]

The Hillary Clinton campaign said it would focus its efforts on Prince William and Loudoun counties, especially older white professional women, and also in the unemployment plagued Southwest Virginia.[2]

Polling

Barack Obama had a significant lead over Hillary Clinton in final polling throughout the state.

FINAL POLLING

CandidateSurvey USAMason DixonInsiderAdvantageRasmussen
Hillary Clinton 38% 37% 37% 37%
Barack Obama 60% 53% 52% 55%

Results

See also: Results of the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

Key: Withdrew
prior to contest
Virginia Democratic presidential primary, 2008
99.95% of precincts reporting[10]
CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates[11]
Barack Obama627,82063.66%54
Hillary Clinton349,76635.46%29
John Edwards5,2060.52%0
Dennis Kucinich1,6250.16%0
Bill Richardson9910.10%0
Joe Biden7950.08%0
Totals986,203100.00%83

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Up next: the Potomac Primary . NBC News . 2008-02-06 . 2008-02-06.
  2. News: Bill . Turque . Kornblut, Anne E. . Va. Is Next Battleground In Democrats' Long Fight . The Washington Post . 2008-02-07 . 2008-02-07.
  3. News: RESULTS: Virginia . CNN . 2008-02-12 . 2008-02-12.
  4. News: Edwards abruptly ends Presidential bid . The New York Times . Julie . Bosman . Kate . Zernike . 2008-01-31 . 2010-05-27.
  5. News: Kucinich to Drop out of Presidential Race . The New York Times . Michael . Falcone . 2008-01-24 . 2010-05-27.
  6. News: Richardson drops out . The New York Times . Kate . Phillips . 2008-01-10 . 2010-05-27.
  7. News: CNN Election Center 2008: Nebraska Caucus Results . 2010-05-27.
  8. News: CNN Election Center 2008: Washington Caucus Results . 2010-05-27.
  9. News: Louisiana Primary Results . CNN . 2010-05-27.
  10. Web site: 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary Unofficial Results . . 2008-02-15 . 2008-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080313100530/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2008/67F01F96-1E82-472E-8051-CF1B1C3786A4/Unofficial/1_s.shtml . 2008-03-13 . dead .
  11. http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/VA-D.html The Green Papers