Clinton Gets Meaningless Victory In West Virginia
By ThePresidentialCandidates.US on May 13, 2008 in Hillary Clinton
CNN has now called West Virginia for Hillary Clinton. As everyone assumed, it will be a large margin of victory although perhaps not quite as large as Clinton supporters had hoped for according to exit polls (the margin is likely to be about 35% - some Clinton supporters were hoping for 60%.)
Clinton is likely to make up only about 12 delegates with this victory. This means that Obama’s insurmountable pledged delegate lead is not really effected at all. Obama will win the nomination. It’s no longer a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
Although the Clinton campaign and her supporters will try to make a big deal out of her large margin of victory in West Virginia, the fact is that the state is perfectly tailored to Clinton’s demographic strengths and her large victory is not a surprise at all. It’s also very important to note that Obama has had similarly large margin of victories in many other states. Why suddenly make a big deal out of this one large victory when Obama has also had many large victories? It doesn’t change anything. Obama still has more delegates. It’s delegates which elect the Democratic nominee for President.
The rather long list of Obama’s large margin (20%+) wins:
South Carolina: Obama 55%, Clinton 27% (28% margin)
Alaska: Obama 75%, Clinton 25% (50% margin)
Colorado: Obama 67%, Clinton 32% (35% margin)
Georgia: Obama 66%, Clinton 31% (35% margin)
Idaho: Obama 80%, Clinton 17% (63% margin)
Illinois: Obama 65%, Clinton 33% (32% margin)
Kansas: Obama 74%, Clinton 26% (48% margin)
Minnesota: Obama 66%, Clinton 32% (34% margin)
North Dakota: Obama 61%, Clinton 37% (24% margin)
Louisiana: Obama 62%, Clinton 38% (24% margin)
Nebraska: Obama 68%, Clinton 32% (36% margin)
US Virgin Islands: Obama 90%, Clinton 7% (83% margin)
Washington: Obama 68%, Clinton 31% (37% margin)
Maine: Obama 60%, Clinton 40% (20% margin)
Democrats Abroad: Obama 66%, Clinton 32% (34% margin)
DC: Obama 75%, Clinton 24% (51% margin)
Maryland: Obama 61%, Clinton 36% (25% margin)
Virginia: Obama 64%, Clinton 35% (29% margin)
Hawaii: Obama 76%, Clinton 24% (52% margin)
Vermont: Obama 59%, Clinton 39% (20% margin)
Wyoming: Obama 61%, Clinton 38% (23% margin)
Mississippi: Obama 61%, Clinton 37% (24% margin)
So… Why exactly would anyone care about one big Clinton win when Obama has won many states by large margins when Obama has an insurmountable delegate lead. Everyone expected a big win for Clinton in WV, so it’s no surprise.
What is interesting is that while Obama has won 22 contests by a margin of at least 20%, West Virginia is only Clinton’s 3rd 20%+ win! If you are a Clinton supporter who somehow thinks this WV win actually means something, read that again please. Obama has had 22 large wins, while West Virginia only Clinton’s 3rd such large victory. The other 2 contests Clinton won by 20+% were Oklahoma and Clinton’s home state of Arkansas.
2008, Democrats, Election Results
The whole election has been very meaningless since the beginning and every winnings are actually nothing. Who cares?
Bagrep | May 14, 2008 | Reply
Funnily enough, it might be pointed out that Arkansas is not HRC’s homestate, although she did live there for years. No, the state of her birth is in fact Illinois, while her ‘home state’ for election purposes is New York. Now she lost IL to BO, obviously, but also won NY by a slimmer margin than BO won in IL. Interesting, no?
Googler | May 14, 2008 | Reply
Yes I thought it was interesting she won NY by a far slimmer margin than Obama won IL.
I think Obama would win New York, California, and New Jersey if they held contests again tomorrow.
admin | May 14, 2008 | Reply
Bagrep - Obviously I care about the election as a whole. On the other hand, Clinton’s win in WV is a footnote.
admin | May 14, 2008 | Reply
I definitely not care about Hillary campaign. By won the West V it proves nothing. Obama is on the top list now. It’s true that it’s a matter of time.
exfatguy | May 15, 2008 | Reply
Looks like things getting interesting..can’t wait for another contest..
exfatguy | May 16, 2008 | Reply
o.0 how come everyone focusing on clinton few state win over the overall election. is still a lost in overall
traveler | May 16, 2008 | Reply
So funny, no matter hw, no one can change Clinton status in my heart.
hardy | May 23, 2008 | Reply
Cool site. I just came across it. After reading this post, I still think a 30-point win for Clinton in WV at that late stage of the game was a bit troubling for Obama. At that point, Obama was the presumptive nominee for the Democrat party. How does he lose like that? It’s becoming ever more relevant now with the Clintons essentially hijacking the convention. Are the super delegates experiencing buyers’ remorse? And do wins like this WV win come back to haunt Obama??
President Facts List | Aug 17, 2008 | Reply
Obviously I disagree PFL. I think from this perspective it should be obvious how little WV meant. Clinton won WV the way she did because of demographics (and because Obama didn’t really compete for the state) not because of any upturn for Clinton.
I also disagree with the idea that Clinton is “hijacking” the convention. The Clintons should be a part of the dem convention. I think Obama has much less of a problem with Clinton at the dem convention than does McCain with BUSH/CHENEY at the GOP convention.
admin | Aug 17, 2008 | Reply