2008 Indiana Democratic presidential primary

Last updated

2008 Indiana Democratic presidential primary
Flag of Indiana.svg
←  2004 May 6, 2008 (2008-05-06) 2016  →
←  GU
NC  →
  Hillary Rodham Clinton-cropped.jpg Barack Obama.jpg
Candidate Hillary Clinton Barack Obama
Home state New York Illinois
Delegate count3834
Popular vote646,235632,061
Percentage50.56%49.44%
Indiana Democratic presidential primary election results by county margins, 2008.svg
Primary results by county
Clinton:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Obama:     50–60%     60–70%
Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh campaigning in Terre Haute, Indiana. Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh.jpg
Hillary Clinton and Evan Bayh campaigning in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The 2008 Indiana Democratic presidential primary took place on May 6, 2008. It was an open primary with 72 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Indiana's nine congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 47. Another 25 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Hillary Clinton. The 72 delegates represented Indiana at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Twelve other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

Contents

Obama and Clinton were the only two candidates on the ballot in Indiana. Polls were opened in the state from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., prevailing local time. [1] (Most of the state is on Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4), but 12 counties in the Evansville and Gary Metropolitan Areas are on Central Daylight Time (UTC-5).)

Clinton narrowly defeated Obama to win the primary.

Polling

In the last polling conducted before the primary from May 4 to May 5, Obama led Clinton by a statistically insignificant 45-43 percent with 7 percent undecided in a 3.9-percent margin of error. [2]

Superdelegates

There were 13 superdelegates up for grabs, who were not bound by the primary results. [3]

Indiana Superdelegates

SuperdelegatePositionEndorsement
Joe Andrew Former DNC ChairmanBarack Obama, after switching from Hillary Rodham Clinton [4]
Evan Bayh Junior U.S. Senator from Indiana Hillary Rodham Clinton [3]
Cordelia Lewis Burks Indiana Democratic Party Vice ChairwomanBarack Obama [4]
André Carson U.S. Representative – IN-07 Barack Obama [5]
Phoebe Crane DNC Member Hillary Rodham Clinton [6]
Joe Donnelly U.S. Representative – IN-02 Barack Obama [7]
Brad Ellsworth U.S. Representative – IN-08 Hillary Rodham Clinton [8]
Baron Hill U.S. Representative – IN-09 Barack Obama [9]
Joe Hogsett Former Indiana Secretary of State Barack Obama [10]
Dan Parker Indiana Democratic Party ChairmanHillary Rodham Clinton [11]
Bob Pastrick DNC Member Hillary Rodham Clinton [4]
Connie Thurman DNC Member Barack Obama [3]
Peter Visclosky U.S. Representative – IN-01 Barack Obama [12]

Results

Primary Date: May 6, 2008

2008 Indiana Democratic Presidential Primary Results
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageDelegates
Democratic Hillary Clinton 646,23550.56%38
Democratic Barack Obama 632,06149.44%34
Totals1,278,296100.00%72
Voter turnout %—

The day on which the Indiana primary occurred was known as Super Tuesday III. Along with North Carolina which held its primary on the same day, this was largely considered the "Waterloo" of the Democratic primaries. Obama had been under fire for controversial remarks made by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and was not initially expected to do well in Indiana, a state with similar demographics to Ohio and Pennsylvania, so pulling out a narrow loss was perceived as successful by the media. Further hurting Clinton's campaign was the time-zone differences, with her double-digit defeat in North Carolina reported in prime time, and the news of the slim victory in Indiana had come too late. MSNBC's Tim Russert said that Clinton "did not get the game-changer she wanted tonight" and "We now know who the Democratic nominee will be." [13]

Analysis

Hillary Rodham Clinton's narrow win in the Indiana Democratic Primary can be traced to a number of factors. According to exit polls, 78 percent of voters in the Indiana Democratic Party were Caucasian and they opted for Clinton 60-40 percent compared to the 17 percent of voters who were African American who backed Obama by a margin of 89-11. Obama won young voters under the age of 40 by a margin of 59-41 while Clinton won older voters over the age of 40 by a margin of 58-42. The results varied according to socioeconomic class in Indiana. Obama won extremely poor voters with less than a $15,000 family income by a margin of 58-42. Clinton won middle class voters with family incomes of $15,000-$75,000 by a margin of 53-47. Obama won upper middle voters with a family income of $75,000-$100,000 by a margin of 51-49 while Clinton won more affluent voters with incomes of over $100,000 by a margin of 54-46 percent. Clinton won less educated voters (high school graduates backed her 54-46 while those with some college and/or an associate degree supported her 55-45) while Obama won more educated voters (college graduates and those with postgraduate studies both backed him 56-44). Clinton won self-identified Democrats, who made up 67 percent of the electorate, by a margin of 52-48 as well as self-identified Republicans, who made up 10 percent of the electorate, by a margin of 54-46; Obama won Independents, who made up 23 percent of the electorate, by a margin of 54-46. Obama won voters who identified themselves as liberal while Clinton won voters who said they were moderate and/or conservative. Regarding religion, Clinton won Protestants by a margin of 51-49 percent along with Roman Catholics by a margin of 61-39 percent; Obama won voters who identified with other religions by a margin of 60-40 as well as atheists/agnostics by a margin of 57-43.

Clinton performed well statewide through Indiana, winning most of the counties. Obama performed best in Marion County which contains the state capital and heavily African American largest city of Indianapolis as well as the Indianapolis Suburbs. He also won Northeast Indiana, which is anchored in Allen County by Fort Wayne. Clinton performed best in Southern Indiana along the Ohio River with neighboring Kentucky as well as East Central Indiana and Northern Indiana, although the latter to a lesser extent. Obama also won Lake County in Northwest Indiana which contains Gary and is a part of the Chicago Metropolitan Area in addition to St. Joseph County which contains South Bend and University of Notre Dame. He also won Monroe County containing the left wing city of Bloomington which is home to Indiana University. Clinton won Vanderburgh County which contains Evansville as well as Vigo County which contains Terre Haute.

Obama's active campaigning in Indiana during the primary is widely believed to be a cause of his narrow win in this heavily Republican state in the 2008 general election against John McCain.

Charges of election fraud

On April 3, 2012, four St. Joseph County Democratic officials had charges filed against them for allegedly forging Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton primary petitions during the 2008 election. Authorities charge that the scheme to submit the fake petitions for Obama was put together at the local county Democratic headquarters.

Under state law, presidential candidates need to qualify with 500 signatures from each of Indiana's nine congressional districts. Indiana elections officials say that in St. Joseph County, which is the 2nd Congressional District, the Obama campaign qualified with 534 signatures; Clinton's camp had 704. But the signatures, which were certified by the elections board, were never challenged. If the number of legitimate signatures for Obama or Clinton had been challenged and had fallen below the legal requirement of 500, they could have been removed from the state ballot. Reports have previously put the number of phony signatures for both candidates at about 150, but state investigators plucked names from the petitions at random and cited only 20 individual alleged forgeries as part of their case. [14]

Two officials, former St. Joseph County Democratic party Chairman Butch Morgan Jr. and former county Board of Elections worker Dustin Blythe, were both found guilty of various felonies associated with their faking petitions that enabled Obama, to get on the presidential primary ballot in 2008. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From January 3 to June 3, 2008, voters of the Democratic Party chose their nominee for president in the 2008 United States presidential election. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois was selected as the nominee, becoming the first African American to secure the presidential nomination of any major political party in the United States. However, due to a close race between Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, the contest remained competitive for longer than expected; neither candidate received enough pledged delegates from state primaries and caucuses to achieve a majority, without endorsements from unpledged delegates (superdelegates).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses</span> Democratic caucus in the 2008 election

The 2008 Iowa Democratic presidential caucus occurred on January 3, and was the state caucuses of the Iowa Democratic Party. It was the first election for the Democrats of the 2008 presidential election. Also referred to as "the First in the Nation Caucus," it was the first election of the primary season on both the Democratic and Republican sides. Of the eight major Democratic presidential candidates, then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois received the most votes and was ultimately declared the winner of the Iowa Democratic Caucus of 2008, making him the first African American to win the caucus and the first African American to win a primary state since Jesse Jackson in 1988. Former U.S. Senator John Edwards of North Carolina came in second place and then-U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton of New York finished third, though Clinton received more delegates than Edwards. Campaigning had begun as early as two years before the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Iowa</span>

The 2008 United States presidential election in Iowa took place on November 4, 2008, as part of the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters chose seven representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Delaware Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Delaware Democratic presidential primary was held on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, and had a total of 15 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Delaware's subdivisions was awarded those subdivisions' delegates, totaling 10. Another five delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 15 delegates represented Delaware at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Eight other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Illinois Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Illinois Democratic presidential primary took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with 153 delegates at stake. Each of Illinois's 19 congressional districts was proportionally allocated to candidates who had received 15% or more of the vote in that district, totaling 100. Another 53 delegates were also proportionally allocated to candidates who had received 15% or more of the vote statewide. The 153 delegates represented Illinois at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Thirty-two other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Georgia Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Georgia Democratic presidential primary took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, and had a total of 87 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Georgia's 13 congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 57. Another 30 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 87 delegates represented Georgia at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Sixteen other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Massachusetts Democratic presidential primary was held on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, and had a total of 93 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Massachusetts's 10 congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 61. Another 32 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Hillary Clinton. The 93 delegates represented Massachusetts at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Twenty-six other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well. Hillary Clinton won despite Obama receiving endorsements from both senators, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, and the Governor Deval Patrick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with 72 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Missouri's nine congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, which totaled 47. Another 25 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 72 delegates represented Missouri at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Sixteen other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Connecticut Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Connecticut Democratic presidential primary took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with 48 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Connecticut's five congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 31. Another 17 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 48 delegates represented Connecticut at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Twelve other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Arizona Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Arizona Democratic presidential primary took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, and had a total of 56 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Arizona's eight congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, which totaled 37. Another 19 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Hillary Clinton. The 56 delegates represented Arizona at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Eleven other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Arkansas Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Arkansas Democratic presidential primary took place on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with 35 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Arkansas's four congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 22. Another 13 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Hillary Clinton. The 35 delegates represented Arkansas at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Twelve other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Louisiana Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Louisiana Democratic presidential primary took place on February 9, 2008, and had 56 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Louisiana's seven congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 37. Another 29 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 56 delegates represented Louisiana at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Ten other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses</span>

The 2008 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses took place on February 9, 2008, where 24 of the state's 31 convention delegates were chosen. Like he did throughout many other states that held caucuses instead of primaries, Barack Obama won the Nebraska Democratic Caucus by more than a two-to-one margin of victory over Hillary Clinton. On May 13, 2008, the state also held a non-binding primary election which Obama also won but the margin of victory was considerably smaller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Maryland Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Maryland Democratic presidential primary took place on February 12, 2008. Nicknamed the "Potomac Primary" or the "Chesapeake Primary" because the District of Columbia and Virginia also held their primaries that day, a total of 70 delegates were up for grabs in Maryland. The winner in each of Maryland's eight congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 46. Another 24 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 70 delegates represented Maryland at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Twenty-nine other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Ohio Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Ohio Democratic presidential primary took place on March 4, 2008 and was open to anyone requesting a Democratic party ballot. In 2008, any registered Ohio voter could on election day request a primary ballot of either the Democratic or Republican party, by signing an affidavit stating that they supported the principles of the party whose ballot they are obtaining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Mississippi Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Mississippi Democratic presidential primary took place on March 11, 2008, with 33 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Mississippi's four congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 22. Another 11 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 33 delegates represented Mississippi at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Seven other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 North Carolina Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 North Carolina Democratic presidential primary took place on May 6, 2008, one of the last primary elections in the long race for nomination between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Obama won the primary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Kentucky Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Kentucky Democratic presidential primary took place May 20, 2008, and had 51 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Kentucky's six congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 34. Another 17 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Hillary Clinton. The 51 delegates represented Kentucky at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Nine other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Montana Democratic presidential primary</span>

The 2008 Montana Democratic presidential primary took place on June 3, 2008, with 16 delegates at stake. Along with South Dakota, it was one of the last two elections in the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Primary. The winner in Montana's at-large congressional district was awarded all of that district's delegates, which totaled 10. Another six delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama. The 16 delegates represented Montana at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Eight other unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania</span> Selection of Pennsylvanias presidential electors

The 2008 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania was part of the 2008 United States presidential election, which took place on November 4, 2008, throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Voters chose 21 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

References

  1. ↑ Todd Rokita. "2008 Indiana Primary Media Kit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Zogby Poll: Obama Expands Lead in NC; Dems Still Biting Nails in Indiana!". May 6, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 "Suddenly we matter". Indianapolis Star. March 6, 2008. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 "Clinton campaign takes a hit today". WTHR Channel 13. May 1, 2008. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Rep. Andre Carson endorses Obama". Indianapolis Star. April 16, 2008. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Superdelegates In Focus: Indiana's Phoebe Crane And Iowa's Scott Brennan". The Huffington Post. February 29, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Indiana superdelegate supports Obama". Indianapolis Star. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  8. ↑ "The Ellsworth Endorsement". ABC News. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Obama picks up Baron Hill support". Indianapolis Star. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Obama will need Clinton's help to capture state in general election". WISH-TV. June 27, 2008. Retrieved June 29, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "DNC Indiana Superdelegates". The Huffington Post. February 28, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Ellsworth is last named and uncommitted superdelegate". Wish-TV. May 14, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  13. ↑ Baker, Peter; Rutenberg, Jim (June 22, 2008). "The Long Road to a Clinton Exit". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2008.
  14. ↑ "4 Indiana Dems charged with election fraud in 2008 presidential race". Fox News. April 3, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Indiana Election Officials Convicted of Felony Voter Fraud". CNN iReport. April 28, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.