Ohio Dems divided by race, age

Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:54 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell and Adam Verdugo
In Ohio, we are witnessing a transformation for Hillary Clinton, who appears to have won back her base. Democratic voters in Ohio are divided by race and age.

First, race: Among white voters, Clinton is winning women by a large margin -- 66% to Obama's 34%. She is also winning among white men, with 55% to Obama's 44%. Remember, Obama has won white men in past contests. Among black voters in Ohio, Obama is winning both men and women by a large margin, roughly 9-in-10. But black voters only make up 19% of the Democratic electorate in this state.

As for voters by age, Obama is getting two-thirds of young voters (ages 18-29), as well as the majority (54%) of those ages 30 to 44. Hillary Clinton is getting the over-45 group and taking an overwhelming number of the seniors (ages 65+ she gets 7-out-of-10). That is one of the largest margins for Clinton we have seen this entire primary season.

It's also interesting to note that in Ohio, 1-in-5 Democratic voters said race was an important factor in making their decision. In that group, 8-in-10 voted for Hillary Clinton.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Hi! I'm Barack Obama. Please don't ask me any tough questions!!

Todd, Kalamazoo, Mich. (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:04 PM)

Hope is dead!

The democratic party is, once again, the party of young governor Wallace & Bull Connor.

Long live John McCain!

PAW, Oakland, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:04 PM)

UP yours Chris Matthews and Tim Russert/ OBama lovers.
Maybe from now on you all will report the news instead of endorsing a candidate.

John Doe (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:06 PM)

I voted on Supertuesday.

She is not winning back her base. (i.e.--me.)

I'm a precinct chair in MN--and I haven't talked to anyone who feels that she's won them back. It's the opposite--she's greatly offended Obama supporters. Truly.

(I don't believe the numbers that show most obama supporters would still support HRC in Nov. Get a grip and check out the posts/blogs/chats. My precinct's turnout was on the average over 40 y.o. If they dont' want to suppport her, I don't see how all those college students are going to come out for her.

Jmp, Northern MN (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:08 PM)

H I L L A R Y C L I N T O N . C O M

BILL C. (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:08 PM)

Maybe Ohio is more racist than other white states. And it is mainly because of Strickland. They probably care more about race than issues of significance to America. I hope Ohio helps Hillary win so that McCain delivers her an embarrassing defeat.

John Doe (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:08 PM)

Hillary must be so proud of herself. Wedge politics really do work.

trouble (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:09 PM)

What about republicans voting for Clinton? Could we have some numbers?

g (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:10 PM)

It's 3 A.M. and the White House phone rings:

Ring Ring - 1993 WTC Bombing calling - no answer

Ring Ring - USS Cole bombing calling - no answer

Ring Ring - NAFTA Job Loses calling - no answer

Ring Ring - 9-11 calling - no answer

Ring Ring - Stuck in Iraq calling - no answer

With all the vast experience in Washington you would at least think someone could answer the phone

Rick Hussein, Ky (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:10 PM)

MSNBC could not be more biased against H. Clinton. I am watching Andrea Mitchell, Chris Matthews, and Keith Oberman. I won't watch MNBC again. They cannot stand the thought the the people do not go along with their media bias. GOODBYE MSNBC

Marie (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:10 PM)

At this point, Clinton is now ahead by 18% in Ohio, after polls saying that the race had narrowed to only a few points. Isn't that a REALLY sizaable lead, and why isn't MSNBC commenting on that? It isn't just that she's now won Ohio, but that it's a large margin. Once again tonight, Chris Matthews is working hard to find anything negative to say about the Clintons. It's really a shame to see this on MSNBC.

Lou Phelps (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:10 PM)

Quit trying to belittle her victory. She won because she is better than Obama.

And please REMOVE Andrea Mitchell. She hates the Clintons as she indicated in the NYTimes. She should be removed from this assignment, to say the least.

Jane, LA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:10 PM)

Um, exactly how do you lead by 20 points 2 weeks ago, win in the end by a much, much narrower margin, and then consider that winning back anything? That is completely illogical. Just asking.

Bill Hussein (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:11 PM)

Isn't "winning back her base" a lazy way of saying Ohio is particular to identity politics, with a deeper substratum of out-and-out racism than the other states? And the 80 percent "race is important" crowd is "interesting"? Really? Interesting? I can think of some other words for a state with twenty percent of its Democratic population publicly identifying themselves as racist. How about some reporting on which candidate did best with the "race and gender doesn't matter" crowd? Or is that going to slide away with the other data that doesn't match this cycle's narrative? I guess the Clinton campaign's transparent strategies really do work -- with the elderly, with the racist, and with the press.

Fred James, Durham NC (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:12 PM)

Senator Clinton won through deceit and intimidation. Anyone who offers a ray of hope is dismissed and cut short. If Senator Obama is not the Democratic nominee, I will vote for Senator McCain. I don't agree with everything he says, but I can trust him.

Dennid Husmann, Belleville, llinois (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:16 PM)

"1-in-5 Democratic voters said race was an important factor in making their decision. In that group, 8-in-10 voted for Hillary Clinton."

Really? that's sad that so many presumably WHITE people thought that race was important.

And yet refreshing to see that it was not so important for the supposed black-voter-profile that Obama is always associated with.

Jmp (white), Northern MN (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:23 PM)

Goes to show how a$$-backwards our country really is, and how far we still have to go, when people are still voting based on race.

Absolutely pathetic Ohio.

Joe - STL (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:25 PM)

Those of us under 45 need to band together. The baby boomers have run this country for too long. They have run it into the ground and its our turn. Do not let them take this away from us! Stand up for Obama!!!

Kris, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:27 PM)

does that mean that obama lost 16% of the vote because he's african american? in a democratic primary?

Sa'ada, Portland, Oregon voter (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:28 PM)

UNBELIEVABLE!! Used to live in Ohio, & a main reason I left was the ugliness of blatant racism. Was hoping things had changed.... but guess not. Really cannot believe that folks there are buying into Shrillary's same old political machine ugliness...

Storm J., San Diego, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:28 PM)

9 in 10 black voters are voting for obama - I think 9 in 10 white voters should vote for Hillary Clinton

scott golden (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:30 PM)

Ohio, Thanks for nothing! You may have just elected John McCain if this holds up and your state will definitely loose revenue in those wishing to visit in the future.

MT Griz Country (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:31 PM)

If HRC is to be the nominee, I will have to thank OHIO for delivering a losing candidate in General election. I will be voting for McCain.

Jing Li (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:31 PM)

Who are the REAL racists in this country??? Black people go on and on and on about so called white racism when they themselves are the ones most guilty. Hey, if whites are so darn racist, how come a state like IOWA votes overwhelmingly for a BLACK man? Huh? But it is blacks who vote overwhelmingly by race. The numbers are obvious. More than 9 out of 10 blacks vote Obama. Why? Is it because of his great policies??? I would bet 9 of 10 blacks don't even know what Obama stands for as evidenced by polling results of blacks being asked that question and the subsequent black responses. They don't know and don't care. It's a "brother" running for office. Who cares what he stands for."He's one of us" right? The numbers tell the true story.

It is white America who has turned the corner, and it is black America that remains lost in the past, with the "pain" of slavery. Gimme a break. NO BLACK PERSON ALIVE in America has EVER been a slave, and have just as much opportunity, EVEN MORE, than white Americans and they know it.

One again black America shows who the real racists in this country are.

Blacks want a society where color isn't an issue. Yeah right. Why don't blacks practice what they preach?

John Walker (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:32 PM)

I would think Mrs. Clinton should be ashamned to win by Ones who don't want change, or not much anyhow; old white racists! Shows she doesn't care how she wins. Bodes ill for her running the government honestly if she is elected.

Looey Munn Roundup, MT (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:36 PM)

Looey Munn Roundup, MT (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:38 PM)

yep - divided we stadn and divided obama falls

Clinton '08

ND Limo (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:39 PM)

OHIO...I hope that the returns we are seeing merely reflect the small town results as yet and not the metropolitan areas. Small town bias & bigotry versus an urban cultural tolerance. Saw a blog that they locked out some voters in Cleveland and felt ashamed to think that there are such narrow-minded fearful people living in a city I once called home! A man with such leadership qualities, charisma, energy and the audacity to hope has not been seen during our generation (baby-boomer) unless you are old enough to remember JFK!!! There were so many that thought he was too young and were intolerant because he was Catholic! What a different world we could have if we all could be more accepting of "Differences" and vote for the strongest leader.

Susan for Obama, O'side CA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:40 PM)

If Hillary wins the nomination (and I hope she does not), she is going to have huge task to convince Obama supporters to rally around her in November. I can see a scenario where a lot of Obama supporters are ticked off at how Hillary treated their guy and sit at home in November. If this happens, say hello to President McCain.

Can someone tell me other than living in the White House for 8 years what is this vast wealth of experience that she has to be ready to lead from Day 1?

Chharles Roberts, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:41 PM)

Is Ohio this racist? How disappointing. Shameful.

==========
It's also interesting to note that in Ohio, 1-in-5 Democratic voters said race was an important factor in making their decision. In that group, 8-in-10 voted for Hillary Clinton.
==========

Greg Johnson (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:41 PM)

blacks have really proven they will vote for skin color in a 9 out of every 10 of them vote black for black - the opposite of what MLK and the Clintons fought for - they have tunred their backs on them and proven that America is still racist but lead by the black race now.

Obmaa ought to be ashamed not mentionnig this to the public about voting for the best candidate and not for skin color.

9 out of every 10 whites should vote white for white. I for one won't take racism and don't give it but an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth

scott (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:44 PM)

Now McCain wrapped his nomination. Obama, why are you having so much trouble?

Hmmmmm!

Secondly, why in the heck are you in San Antonio and not Dallas or Houston where you were winning. I guess you go mixed up in NAFTA. Clinton is winning San Antonio

I love Diversity and Competition (keep fighting Hillary) (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:45 PM)

It's also interesting to note that in Ohio, 1-in-5 Democratic voters said race was an important factor in making their decision. In that group, 8-in-10 voted for Hillary Clinton.
_______________________________

I suppose I view this as a glass half filled, since it is only 20%: yet, 80% cast their vote for Hillary. This certainly suggests that Ohio isn't the poster child for judging a person based on the content of their character. As an AA I'm a bit disappointed but not really surprised (I've spent many years working throughout Ohio, espeically in rural areas) and the 20%-80% is in line with my overall impressions of the state based on my experiences there.

I'm concerned however, that Camp Hillary will continue having 60 minutes 'moments', will continue to 'darken' Obama in their videos, and will continue to use any and all of the 'fear' tactics they can in pursuit of this nomination.

As there are millions of whites who have voted for Obama, I choose to believe that the Ohio 20% are not representative of the country. And even as I write this, the inner turmoil is palpable and I'm calling myself naive.

I will continue to choose hope.

Sigh

Obama 08

BTW, is this a new question? If not, I'd love to see the results from other states. If this is a new question, I'd like to know why the pollsters added it.

Cheryl, NJ (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:46 PM)

alabama is racist in favor of blacks voting for blacks - the same for South carolina, and most other southern states

but when Hillary wins a white state it is shame for her campaign...get real - say what the true racism in America iswhen 9 out of 10 blacks vote for a black man becasue only of his color

whitey (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:46 PM)

Let me get this straight: according to your blog post above:

"[I]n Ohio, 1-in-5 Democratic voters said race was an important factor in making their decision. In that group, 8-in-10 voted for Hillary Clinton."

What does THAT mean?!? Are you guys running for political office?!? You must be, based upon laying that "egg" of ambiguity....

I am supposed to interpret that statistic that 16% (8-in-10 of 1-in-5) of the Ohio electorate that voted for Clinton are racist, and that the racist vote was a major part of her margin of victory in Ohio?!?

Stop trying to be so "PC" and say it like it is, if that is INDEED what the exit polls show. And why it THAT not a big story line out of Ohio?

Terry K., New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:48 PM)

Jeesh people get crabby over politics ! Sometimes you person wins..sometimes they don't Sera sera

D Johnson Hanover NH (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:52 PM)

you know, wh3en obama was winning the high black turnout states in the south none of you obama supporters were "crying" racism then - why now when they get to a largely white state? Do thier viotes not count but the heavily populated black southern states should count, huh?

all states should count..and stop crying

crybaby (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:52 PM)

I am black and against Obama. Fellow blacks should be very very ashamed of voting for Obama who preaches but has no substance. They see a black man and all of a sudden turn their backs on the Clintons who had stayed with them for years. I am for the goodness of the country and will not be blind to see that Obama is not right for this country. The Republicans will eliminate him easily in November despite all the spinings going on.They just want Clinton out of the way, using him to do so. Obama is easier for the Republicans to beat. Are Democrats so much of a bunch of illiterates they don't see that?

dearme (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:53 PM)

A big part of winning in politics is sheer toughness, and Hillary's win in Ohio proves she's got the guts to not only win the election, but pass legislation that benefits the country.

Good job, Hillary. MSNBC (yeah, that's you too Keith Oberman), for the sake of the nation's future, please will you now remove your consistent anti-Hillary bias?

Mark, Alexandria, VA (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:54 PM)

....So what's the answer re: folks who voted regarding religion (or their perception of the candidate's religion?)

That woulda been interestin'.

Jmp, Northern Mn (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:54 PM)

Oh, so if you don't vote for Obama then you're a racist??? I don't judge people based on the color of their skin, I judge people based on their stupidity, and a lot of you Obama supporters are REAL stupid!!

Todd, Kalamazoo, Mich. (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:54 PM)

dahhh...which way did he go George, which way did he go?

dahhh...I agree with Senator Clinton, dahhhhh

who is the president of Russia Mr. Obama?

.....ahhhhhh Farakhan?

dum and dummer (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:57 PM)

Race card ?? Not me, I would vote for Colin Powell, Condi Rice, why? because they got smarts. Obama is just a bag of wind to me .

Marty CR Iowa (Sent Tuesday, March 04, 2008 11:58 PM)

States in which the GOP often is able to win is more backward -- going back to the days of 19th century America.
Are Ohioans puppets of white supremacy in America? Do they cheerish scientifically discredited notions of white superiority? As a white man, I am angry that America remains so ignorant and gullible -- at least in states like Ohio.
Ohio should now welcome the Nationalist Movement mentally retarded neo-Nazis; otherwise, Ohio needs to catch up with Iowa and other "thinking" states who reject bigotry in favor of unity and peace.

Ron Hussein Allen (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:00 AM)

Just when did John Walker have time to speak to all of (us) black people? He definately did not speak to me, yet he seems to know so very much about me. Curious.

OPIECHAN, Toledo, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:00 AM)

So where's the stats on:

REPUBLICANS WHO LISTEN TO RUSH L
and voted in this Dem primary.

Jmp, Northern Mn (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:02 AM)

BARF. Ohio is sad. I was a Republican voting for Obama today, but I knew Hillary would win. Didn't think it would be by that much.

My friend who I never talk politics with (my age, 25) voted for Hillary. "Experience! And Obama is a [censored] and can't doesn't have any plans." I think most of Ohio just regurgitates campaign slogans, on both sides.

I tried to explain Hillary's built in "49% of the country already is against her" polls, Hillary's divisiveness, and McCain will take the independents Obama would have, but all I got was a meek, "Uh, I don't think so." Hillary's base is the poor, uneducated, white, and seniors. Something to really be proud of

Chris (Cleveland) (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:05 AM)

How come you alll never complained that Black people are racist with over 90% always voting for Obama. Now you complain that white people are for Hillary. Obama people played the race card very well without anybody scolding them. Tell me what is racist in Bill Clintons's statement that 'it is a fairy tale?'

dearme (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:07 AM)

Thanks for the Race and Age voter demographic info. Thanks for helping me ground my idealistic view of this race for the presidency of the United States. I actually thought that maybe America had grown-up and grown past race and taken the advice of Dr. M. L. King, Jr. I thought America had begun to judge men not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Thank you for making me remember that I live in a country that is still struggling with institutional racism against Black Americans. Thank you for reminding me that America still uses the color of the skin as a measuring stick. And always will. So Tell Ward Connerly, the fight is still on! Black Americans will continue to fight him to our death when trying to dismiss Affirmative Action as a civil action that is past its prime in today's America.

R.B. Detroit, MI (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:09 AM)

I sad to say it, I am a former Ohio resident and I am a Black american. Believe me when I say that Ohio and Pennsylvania are the most rascist states I have ever spent time in. Also, it's not hard to understand that Clinton won the majority of the the over 40 vote. I'll bet that statistics show that the predominant voter is over 40 in Ohio. RACE will be significant in these states. But Rhode Island, I am surprised the Black vote was not larger. There are Blacks in Rhode Island. I know both of them.

Rick Hill, Hays, KS. (Sent Wednesday, March 05, 2008 12:11 AM)

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