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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Demographics line up for Clinton

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 7:21 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's AnaMaria Arumi
The demographics of West Virginia’s Democratic primary electorate play to Hillary Clinton’s strengths based on voting patterns in previous contests. Those voting in West Virginia today are predominately white and working class -- like Pennsylvania, but minus that state’s large cities and upscale suburbs.

According to the exit polls, about two-thirds -- 65% -- of all Democratic primary voters today are whites with less than a four-year college degree. That’s by far the highest percentage for any primary state so far. That tops Indiana, Wisconsin, and Arkansas where about half of Democratic primary voters fit this definition of white, working-class voters, historically a strong Clinton group.

West Virginia is also one of the states with a very large percentage of white voters who live in rural areas as opposed to cities or suburbs. Of the primary states that have voted thus far, West Virginia has the second highest percentage of rural whites voting in the Democratic primary. Fifty-five percent of West Virginia voters today are whites, who live in rural communities. That’s more than their share of the Democratic primary electorate in Mississippi and Arkansas, and surpassed only by the New England state of Vermont.

As expected, roughly 95 percent of West Virginia Democratic primary voters were white. Half of voters were from rural areas.

The age distribution of the West Virginia Democratic primary electorate is older than most states. A quarter (26%) of those voting today are seniors, 65 and older. Just 12% of the voters are under 30. This age distribution is similar to what we saw in Pennsylvania three weeks ago. It was one of the oldest electorates among 31 Democratic primaries with exit polls to date, with four in 10 over age 60.

The only other states with somewhat similar numbers were Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma -- and Hillary Clinton won all four states.

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West Virginia  ----   size 2 hat and size 52 jacket.
George Wallace had strengths among somewhat similar demographics. His supporters were most anybody who were local folk but not Negros (he did not use the n-word publicly) or pseudo-intellectuals (anyone intelligent enough to see through his false promise).
You leave out one of the most important facts about W.V.: it also has very few people!  The landslide Clinton victory may seem daunting, until one realizes it means relatively little in the scope of popular vote or, most importantly (unless you listen to Wolfson), delegates.
*
The reality of West Virginia and its white, uneducated, working class voters is ----- that G.W. Bush won the state in the last two presidential elections, even though there are twice as many DEMS in WV as there are REPUBS.
_____________________________________________________
Hillary;

We still remember;
Everything you went through; all of the pain and heartache, when our hearts went out to you; and all of the hard work only to come up short on healthcare plans back in the 90's...and all of the hope and optimism when you decided to run for the NY Senate seat. And all of the promise when you said you would be there to "Take on Washington"; and our disappointment when you came out in favor of war...

We still have hope for you, and we still are behind you and pray for you. You can still be an important part of the future; unless YOU decide not to be.

We understand the rhetoric of the campaign and how you think that Obama cannot win without "your" supporters...but we must collectively caution you that your current "stance" on Obama's electability goes against everything we as a Nation have learned over these past months. We have seen him and experienced it personally, as he has electrified the electorate. We have researched his positions and come to realize that his stance(s) on issues like healthcare has a better chance of "working across party lines". We have come to realize that given today's economic realities, and now necessary restraints, true "Universal Healthcare MANDATES" will not pass, and could not be funded even if they did. We all know the pain of having to put our own healthcare costs aside, in favor of those for our children, and sometimes even grandchildren.
We all fully understand that discussing a nuke option in the middle east without ever sitting down with the parties involved to even ask them if they would consider another option or compromise; is both foolish and counter productive, in that it sends a signal that for all intents and purposes will only serve to drive up the cost of oil, and further distance us from the other power states on this planet; who are also vying for their share of oil and resources to bring their countries into some parity with the US. We do not think that our roads and bridges can suffer the loss of revenue of a "Gas Tax Holiday"; and we do not see anything "Holy" about the proposal. It belittles us to suggest that we would (or should) put our own personal pocketbooks above the needs of our Nation, whether it is for roads or healthcare.

We are constantly worried when your political rhetoric of the moment, is valued more than the lives of our soldiers in the field; and we are very hurt personally, when that rhetoric could very easily be adding danger to their missions; by giving a "potential" enemy the impression that it may be best to aid those who are against us in the field.

We want to continue to support you Hillary, but the needs of a Nation in dire straits must come before our fondest wishes for you.

AMERICA FIRST!!
the reality is that WV people are really dumb republicans and just don't realize it.  They claim to be democrats based on what their parents believed.  

one thing I found absolutely hysterical is... 65 percent of them thought the gas holiday tax was a great idea!  nuff said
The problem with this election is that it has become too much about the candidates. The republicans, on the other hand, are uniting around the issues that matter to them rather than bemoaning the candidate that wasn't their first choice.

Both of the dem candidates mean so much emotionally for so many people. Both Clinton and Obama represent the unique possibilities we have in this country to overcome a power structure from which both women and minorities have been recently excluded. An election of either would be a victory for every American.

How can we democrats say we'd rather vote for a man who will overturn Roe v. Wade, civil rights and worker's rights? How can we turn our energy future over to a man whose party, in large part, does not believe global warming even exists? How can we let our homes go into forclosure or depreciate and our employer (or goverment) guaranteed healthcare be ripped away from us because we are so upset that the candidate we liked did not win? Did I mention a supreme court that will also preclude any advances in GLBT rights and privacy rights? For decades?

The democratic party is the face of America - a place where people of diverging backgrounds and views come together to do in unison that which none of us can do alone. We come together to make this a country that EVERYONE can prosper in. The republican party is a monolithic entity that can't wait to tell us that our broad coalition can't work. Will we justify their sentiments? This year we have the chance to tell the world what kind of country we are again -regardless of who we elect. This year's legacy will speak louder of us than it will for any of the candidates.

Democrats, it's not about Hillary, Barack or McCain; it's about our country, our children and our future.
"According to the exit polls, about two-thirds -- 65% -- of all Democratic primary voters today are whites with less than a four-year college degree. ...this definition of white, working-class voters"

Is that it? That is the definition of working class? Anyone with less than a four year college degree is working class whether or not they are working?  Anyone with a college degree is not working class even if they are working? Teachers are not working class?  Those college grad cab drivers will find this amusing.


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