By Jason George
HERNANDO, Miss.— Barack Obama bested Hillary Clinton in the Mississippi presidential primary today, completing a clean sweep of the Deep South states and winning the last electoral contest before Pennsylvania's delegate-rich primary, six weeks away.
Obama prevailed with both male and female voters in the state's Democratic primary, according to exit polls.
The Illinois senator had been expected to do well in the Magnolia State, where African Americans make up 37 percent of the state's population – the highest such percentage in the nation. Obama has received strong support from the demographic in contests past, and Mississippi proved no different today, with 91 percent of African Americans choosing Obama over Clinton, according to exit polls. White Democrats preferred Clinton 3 to 1.
Obama's victory was the second straight for the candidate – after winning Saturday's Wyoming caucuses – continuing the primary back and forth with Clinton, who won three of four contests a week ago, including Ohio and Texas. Obama started the day with 1,579 delegates, to 1,473 for Clinton, according to the Associated Press tally. Mississippi's 33 delegates will be assigned proportionally after the results are certified.
A Democratic candidate needs 2,025 delegates to win the nomination.
Similar to earlier contests, Mississippi voters said the economy was their greatest concern, with 9 in 10 polled saying the country's economic situation was bad. About half of such voters said that "change" was the most important quality in a candidate, topping the answers of "experience," "cares" and "can win."
Also, 55 percent of Mississippi's Democratic voters polled said that if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee, he should pick Clinton as his vice presidential running mate. About the same number – 57 percent – said Clinton should add Obama to her ticket if she wins the nomination.
Lakesha Williams, who voted for Obama at a polling station here in DeSoto County, said she's in favor of such a 'Dream Team' ticket with both Obama and Clinton together in the fall.
"I think it's our best chance," said the 30-year-old school custodian.
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Comments
Mississippi may no longer be "burning" as Obama wins there!
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/obama-continues-momentum-and.html#links
Posted by: KYJurisDoctor | March 11, 2008 9:05 PM
Who cares whether blacks or whites voted for Obama. It is the MEDIA that keeps dividing and categorizing people. Remember that Obama carried Wyoming also (93 % white).Why don't you just simply report that Obama won by so many votes or percentage points, period. We ALL want the best candidate who will represent US ALL.
Posted by: lori | March 11, 2008 9:12 PM
With about 8 percent of the vote, Obama has 49 percent and Clinton had 48 percent. How is that "crushing?"
And the Clinton faction wonders why no one can see the bias...
Posted by: Liz | March 11, 2008 9:23 PM
10 states to go, and Billary is almost mathematically out of it. If it were reversed, they'd be screaming for him to drop out. Instead, Billary is riding the flame-out all the way into the ground. Wouldn't expect any different from the Dems though.
7 more weeks of kitchen-sink McCain style love from Billary should seal the Dems fate in November
Posted by: karl | March 11, 2008 9:26 PM
Obama is likely to win Mississippi tonight.
MSNBC is reporting that Obama is likely to win the Texas caucus by a large enough margin to erase Hillary's lead in the Texas primary, giving him more delegates than Clinton even though he has fewer votes.
Score two for Obama.
Posted by: Dave from NY | March 11, 2008 9:27 PM
Why don't you report how many Chinese voted for Obama, or how many Indians, or how many Catholics? Get OFF IT and just report the news, we're not interested in your take on the vote.
Posted by: tony | March 11, 2008 9:33 PM
Is it any wonder that Gerry made this comment just in advance of the Mississippi primary? Cleary the Clintons are trying to bring racism into the campaign where it will do them the most good.
Posted by: CT | March 11, 2008 9:44 PM
"continuing the primary back and forth with Clinton, who won three of four contests a week ago, including Ohio and Texas."
It's interestig that you call this a back and forth contest when Obama had won 11 in a row and 13 out of the last 16.
Today's win makes it 14 out of the last 17. And no... Clinton did NOT win Texas as reported here - the delegate count is essentially split with a strong possibility that Obama will emerge victorious here also.
Makes me wonder where the media bias is coming from, especially when you consider the type of deceitful campaign Hillary Clinton has run.
Posted by: Gina Nieves | March 11, 2008 9:58 PM
Geraldine Ferraro is right, this campaign is about race. In Mississippi, 92% of blacks voted for Obama and 74% of whites voted for Hillary.
Wonder how the remaining states will vote??
Posted by: mbs | March 12, 2008 12:07 AM
With about 8 percent of the vote, Obama has 49 percent and Clinton had 48 percent. How is that "crushing?"
And the Clinton faction wonders why no one can see the bias...
Posted by: Liz | March 11, 2008 9:23 PM
60% to 37% with 98% in. Back to math class for you Liz. Obama CRUSHS Clinton in Missippippi. CRUSHS!!!
"There are people in the party who are very concerned about this turning into some kind of a Bataan Death March."
David Axelrod
The Bataan Death March continues!!!
Posted by: Hillary's Death March | March 12, 2008 12:57 AM
Billary is riding the flame-out all the way into the ground.
While watching C-SPAN last week, it was discussed that races like this make for very interesting politics. The last time a race was this close was in 1980 with Carter and Kennedy (which I do not remember). Many people feel it makes politics interesting and NO she should not drop out. It is too close and I can't wait to see what happens next. It is a great story.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 12, 2008 6:51 AM
As the split vote in Mississippi demonstrates, the Democrat race war continues....
Meanwhile, more on this from Geraldine Ferraro:
"I have to tell you that what I find is offensive is that every time somebody says something about the campaign, you're accused of being racist," Ferraro told Fox News Channel.
" 'Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up. Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?' "
Posted by: Cissy Patterson | March 12, 2008 9:03 AM
You can bet the Republicans will never have such a racially divided primary. They'll stay lily white .
Not a single African American Republican in Federal elected office. Not one.
As of this list from April 2007 compiled by the National Black Republican Association, not a single African American in elected state wide office anywhere in the nation. Not one.
http://www.nationalblackrepublicans.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.Black%20GOP%20Elected%20Officials&x=3493910
Republicans won't vote for an African American man or woman, the record makes that clear.
Posted by: JT | March 12, 2008 10:39 AM