MyDD :: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's exit polling

The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's exit polling

by amiches, Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:03:53 PM EST

In deciding your vote for president today, was the race of the candidate:
        Clinton Obama
Important (20%)    57%    43%
Not important (79%)    50%    50%

As you can see here, one in five of those polled said race was an important factor in their decision. That 20% broke for Clinton nearly 60/40, and that's what is going to decide the race. And to think, that number just takes into account those who admitted it to the pollsters.

I guess there's something to be said for spreading smear photos of your opponent in African dress, saying that "as far as I know" he's not a Muslim, and changing his skin tone in campaign ads. Shame on you, Hillary.

Tags: clinton, obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 32 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (2.00 / 4)

Nice to see the "Hillary is a racist" meme is alive and well among Obama supporters.

I wonder if it ever occurs to people that the voters who are willing to vote against Obama simply because he's black, however many they may be, probably are aware that he's black without being reminded?

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:10:48 PM EST

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (2.00 / 1)

I wonder if you ever ask your self why Hillary Clinton's campaign is emphasizing that Obama is black?

by Monkey In Chief on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:19:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (2.00 / 2)

I find the claim that they are doing so to be total bullshit, since you mentioned it.

I fear the consequences of putting our party in the hands of people who think the Clinton campaign is intentionally darkening Obama's skin tone in order to remind people that he is black.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:22:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (none / 0)

One, two, hell maybe three incidents like this could be called coincidences. Multiple incidents spread over multiple locations and always pulled while the chips are down for HRC? Another thing entirely.

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:24:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Earth to Mr. or Ms. Amiches (none / 0)

We're talking about Democrats.

25% of the voters are black, and most of the rest are white liberals who would love to see the civil rights movement come to fruition with a black President.

I can see an unscrupulous candidate pushing Obama's race in the general election, but you'd have to have a negative IQ to try that in the primaries. It just makes no sense at all, particularly when you factor in the backlash if you get caught. Heck, it's stupid even without factoring in the backlash.

It's just stupid!

by Trickster on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:36:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Earth to Mr. or Ms. Amiches (none / 0)

Call it whatever you want, but it's pretty clearly working.

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:57:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (2.00 / 2)

I find that bogus accusations of racism make me more skeptical with repetition, not less.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:12:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

as far as I know.. (1.00 / 1)

steve m didn't plan 9/11. as far as I know..

BHO/HRC 08

by omar little on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:22:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The single most relevant statistic (2.00 / 2)

Yes...shame on you Hillary, it's all your fault people are racists.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:12:59 PM EST

Saying this as a black person (2.00 / 2)

I don't think the campaign who is pulling in like 80 to 90% of the black vote in every state really has much room to complain about identity politics.

by world dictator on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:42:25 PM EST

The correlating statistic for gender (2.00 / 1)

Of the 17% Ohioans who said gender was important in their decision, Clinton won 57-43.

It was essentially a tie among those who said gender was unimportant - Clinton 50-49

John McCain

by MILiberal on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:45:39 PM EST

Yep (none / 0)

That should pretty much dispel the notion that Obama is the one practicing identity politics here.

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:00:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

In Hillary's defense (none / 0)

I think a lot of it has to do with issues WAY before this primary.

by highgrade on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:46:36 PM EST

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (1.00 / 1)

No its Obama's fault, silly. Look race came into this race when Obama walked into the room. It is not Hillary's fault that race is a factor. If it weren't a factor, Obama would not now be winning almost all the AA vote. He is sort of black right?
Give me a break, what won't the Obambfiles try to blame on Clinton? Now its her fault race is an issue? Stupid. Absolutely stupid. It is just as stupid for Obama to use all those insulting adjectives he has been using while referring to Clinton, the whining comment, the periodic upset, and the emotional or frustrated comments. These have sent the women's vote back to Clinton. Knew it would, Obama is the real novice here and it is beginning to show.

democrat voter

by democrat voter on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:47:45 PM EST

Unless you can document doctoring video (none / 0)

to make Obama's skin look darker.

That adds a whole new dimension to the issue.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3 /4/21311/85811/447/468408

Note the update at bottom that dismantle's the Clinton campaign's response.

by greep on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:52:00 PM EST

Unless they doctored this video (none / 0)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3 /4/21311/85811/447/468408

note the update at bottom that dismantle's the Clinton's campaign's response.

What if they are darkening Obama in their ads?

hmmmmmm

by greep on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:53:03 PM EST

Clinton doctoring video (none / 0)

making Obama look "blacker."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3 /4/21311/85811/447/468408

note update at bottom dismantling Clinton's campaign's response.

by greep on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:54:05 PM EST

what about this? (none / 0)

making Obama look "blacker."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3 /4/21311/85811/447/468408

note update at bottom dismantling Clinton's campaign's response.

by greep on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 08:54:20 PM EST

A few thoughts (2.00 / 1)

Yes because racists tend to dish out their hate proportionate to the tone of a person's skin color
Really...?
Daily Kos...yeah GREAT source!

by world dictator on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:43:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: A few thoughts (none / 0)

Actually the diary is completely sourced just as the one that what's his name apologized for missourcing earlier today.

I invite you to take a look at the sources yourself.

by greep on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 10:44:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (none / 0)

Greep, no need to spam comments.

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:01:08 PM EST

So (2.00 / 1)

When 80+ percent of blacks vote for Obama, what exactly is going on there? There's no race-based voting among some Obama supporters? Works both ways.

by sinclair on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:07:19 PM EST

Re: So (none / 0)

Dude, no one's saying it doesn't - otherwise, the 20% who voted on race would've gone 100-0 to Clinton. But the numbers, assuming they're accurate, don't lie - about 10-12% of today's voters voted for Hillary because she's white. That's a big, big number.

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:13:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

The exit polls just don't support the claim you're making. CNN says a whopping 6% of voters said race was the "most important" factor in their decision.

You can say what you want about the relatively small fraction of Democrats who called race the most important reason they voted for Clinton, but it would be more meaningful if you'd also said something about the comparable number who called gender the most important reason they voted for Obama.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:24:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

The CBS numbers say 1 in 5, and that gender voters went for Clinton. Go figure.

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:34:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

Uh, just because a majority of gender voters went for Clinton doesn't mean you get to pretend all the gender voters who went for Obama don't exist.

Also, CBS says the exact same thing as CNN: 6% of respondents said race was the most important factor in their decision. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they're both reporting the exact same poll. Your diary is just factually incorrect.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:39:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

My mistake - MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21226001

by amiches on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 11:50:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

Amazingly, MSNBC also says 6% of respondents named race as the most important factor in their vote! Six percent.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 12:23:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

Dude, did you read the link? It's about 80% of the way down. You're confusing "single most important" with "important".

by amiches on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 07:46:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

I'm not confusing anything. It's simply false to claim that someone who says "race was one of several important factors" simply "voted for Hillary because she's white."

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 09:56:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So (none / 0)

It's pretty clear that if voters who considered race important went for a particular candidate, they did so on the basis of that candidate's race.

Support who you want to, but to spin this as a testament to the wonderful progressiveness of the Hillary campaign is a mistake. Her refusal to forcefully denounce the rumors and smears about Obama is telling.

by amiches on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 03:36:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The single most relevant statistic in Ohio's e (2.00 / 2)

As an Obama supporter, I don't read that much into this...

It's not the greatest thing in the world, mind you, but I don't think it means that it's the "racist" vote. Honestly, you think roughly 10% of the vote in OH is racist?

I think this reflects more of a "I'm not sure a Black Man can win" mentality than "I won't vote for a black person" mentality. I'm sure it cuts both ways too... People probably also used sex as an issue because they don't think a woman can win...

And yes, in both of these cases, there will be racist and sexist voters... but I just don't think that's going to be the majority of these here.

by leshrac55 on Tue Mar 04, 2008 at 09:25:26 PM EST

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