2008 Colorado Democratic presidential caucuses

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2008 Colorado Democratic presidential caucuses
Flag of Colorado.svg
 2004February 5, 2008 (2008-02-05) 2016  
  CA
CT  
  Barack Obama Senate portrait crop.jpg Hillary Rodham Clinton-cropped.jpg
Candidate Barack Obama Hillary Clinton
Home state Illinois New York
Delegate count3520
Popular vote80,11338,839
Percentage66.53%32.26%

Colorado Democratic presidential caucus election results by county margins, 2008.svg
Caucus results by county
Clinton:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Obama:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Tie:     

The 2008 Colorado Democratic presidential caucuses took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008. As he did in every other state that held a caucus rather than a primary, Barack Obama won the caucus by a wide, two-to-one margin over Hillary Clinton.

Contents

Process

As a cost-saving measure, Colorado stopped holding primary elections in 2000 in favor of a caucus system. Caucuses are run and paid for by the political parties. [1] Both Republican and Democratic Caucus started at 7 p.m. [1]

The Colorado Democratic Caucus was a closed caucus, open only to registered voters who registered as Democrats no later than December 5, 2007, with the exception of 18-year-olds or new citizens, who could register at the caucus site. The precinct chairs took presidential preference polls of all caucus attendees; these preference polls were reported to the media. [2] After the preference poll, delegates were then selected among the attendees for each viable candidate, and supporters of nonviable groups could re-caucus into viable groups. Candidates were required to reach a 15-percent threshold for viability within each level of the selection process.

Following the local caucuses, county conventions, congressional district conventions, and the state convention, on May 17, 2008, were held to finally apportion delegates to the Democratic National Convention. [3]

Polls

A Denver Post poll from late January indicated that Barack Obama was leading Hillary Clinton, though polls from earlier in the year had showed Clinton with a double-digit lead. [4]

Results

Precinct Caucus Results

Total Precincts: 3,205

Caucus date: February 5, 2008

2008 Colorado Democratic Presidential Caucus Results
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageDelegates
Democratic Barack Obama 80,11366.53%35
Democratic Hillary Clinton 38,83932.26%20
Democratic Uncommitted1,2601.05%0
Democratic John Edwards 1020.08%0
Democratic Dennis Kucinich 580.05%0
Democratic Mike Gravel 180.01%0
Democratic Bill Richardson 170.01%0
Democratic Joe Biden 40.00%0
Democratic Christopher Dodd 00.00%0
Totals120,971100.00%55
Voter turnout %

County Assembly and Convention Results

Assembly/Convention Dates: February 20–March 17, 2008

National pledged delegates determined: 0 (of 55)

Key:Withdrew
prior to contest
Colorado Democratic presidential county assemblies/conventions, 2008
99% of counties reporting [5]
CandidateCounty delegatesPercentageEstimated national delegates [6]
Barack Obama 6,19962.65%36
Hillary Clinton 3,27032.05%19
Uncommitted4264.31%0
Totals9,895100.00%55

Congressional District Convention Results

Convention Dates: May 3–16, 2008

National pledged delegates determined: 36 (of 55)

Key:Withdrew
prior to contest
Colorado Democratic presidential congressional district conventions, 2008
100% of districts reporting
CandidateDistrict delegates [7] PercentageEstimated national delegates
Barack Obama 2363.9%36
Hillary Clinton 1336.1%19
Totals36100%55

State Convention Results

Convention Date: May 17, 2008

National pledged delegates determined: 19 (of 55)

Key:Withdrew
prior to contest
Colorado Democratic presidential state convention, 2008
CandidateAt-Large and PLEO delegates [8] PercentageNational delegates
Barack Obama 1368.4%36
Hillary Clinton 631.6%19
Totals19100%55

Analysis

Barack Obama's large margin of victory in the Colorado Democratic Caucus can be traced to a number of factors. The Clinton campaign largely ignored organizing for caucuses and rather spent their time getting the vote out in bigger, more crucial states that had more delegates up for grabs. The Obama campaign took advantage of this and it ultimately paid off as caucusgoers in Colorado awarded Obama a more than two-to-one margin of victory. Obama performed extremely well statewide and won nearly every county. Clinton performed the best in Eastern Colorado where she won the more rural and conservative counties in the Eastern Slope.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Kosena, Jason (February 5, 2008). "Republican caucus goers showing up early". The Coloradoan . Retrieved February 4, 2008.[ dead link ]
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Colorado Democratic Caucus". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  5. Leip, Dave. "2008 Presidential Democratic Primary Election Results". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  6. Richard E. Berg-Andersson. "Colorado Democratic Delegation". The Green Papers. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  7. "Colorado Democratic Congressional District Convention Results". Colorado Democratic Party. Archived from the original on May 21, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
  8. "Colorado Democratic Party - State Convention Results". Colorado Democratic Party. Archived from the original on August 6, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2008.