2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary

Last updated

2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary
Flag of New Jersey.svg
←  2004 February 5, 2008 (2008-02-05) 2016  →
←  MO
NM  →
  Hillary Rodham Clinton-cropped.jpg Barack Obama Senate portrait crop.jpg
Candidate Hillary Clinton Barack Obama
Home state New York Illinois
Delegate count5948
Popular vote613,500501,372
Percentage53.76%43.93%
New Jersey Democratic presidential primary election results by county margins, 2008.svg
Primary results by county
Clinton:     50–60%     60–70%
Obama:     40–50%     50–60%

The 2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary took place February 5, 2008, also known as Super Tuesday. With 107 pledged delegates at stake, New Jersey was a significant battleground in the Democratic nomination race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Contents

Hillary Clinton won the primary amid record-breaking turnout. Her margin of victory was narrower than early polling had projected but contradicted Barack Obama’s late surge in polling and strong performance in urban areas. [1]

Campaign

Hillary Clinton was considered the frontrunner to win New Jersey's primary given her strong name recognition and institutional support in the state. She had significant endorsements from key state figures, including Governor Jon Corzine, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and several county Democratic chairpersons. The vast majority of Democratic state legislators also endorsed Clinton. [2]

Barack Obama secured endorsements from prominent local leaders, such as Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. [3] [4] These endorsements were viewed as bolstering Obama's appeal among urban and younger voters. [5]

Sample ballot for the presidential primary. NJPresidentialPrimary2008SampleBallot.jpg
Sample ballot for the presidential primary.

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation		Dates
administered		Hillary
Clinton		Barack
Obama		Other/Undecided [a] Margin
RealClearPolitics [6] January 30–February 4, 200848.3%40.6%11.1%Clinton +7.7%
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson
Others
Undecided
Strategic Vision [7] September 29–October 1, 2006<800 LV±3.0%1%35%12%–1%43% [b] 8%
Strategic Vision [8] October 27–29, 2006<800 LV±3.0%1%31%8%14%1%37% [c] 8%
Strategic Vision [9] November 2–4, 2006<800 LV±3.0%–33%9%15%1%26% [d] 9%
Quinnipiac University [10] January 16–22, 2007461 RV±4.6%6%30%8%16%1%22% [e] 17%
Quinnipiac University [11] February 20–25, 2007454 RV±4.6%3%41%5%19%1%16% [f] 15%
Monmouth University/Gannett [12] April 11–16, 2007451 LV±4.6%3%41%13%22%2%1% [g] 18%
Strategic Vision [13] April 25–27, 2007<800 LV5%40%12%23%2%3% [h] 15%
Quinnipiac University [14] June 26–July 2, 2007575 RV±4.1%3%46%8%19%4%3% [i] 15%
2%37%6%15%4%21% [j] 13%
Strategic Vision [15] July 13–15, 2007<800 LV3%46%10%20%7%3% [k] 11%
Strategic Vision [16] August 24–26, 2007<800 LV3%49%8%22%5%2% [l] 11%
Quinnipiac University [17] September 18–23, 2007406 RV±4.9%3%46%7%15%1%13% [m] 12%
Strategic Vision [18] September 28–30, 2007<800 LV2%52%7%21%5%2% [n] 11%
Monmouth University/Gannett [19] September 27–30, 2007478 LV±4.5%2%42%7%23%1%3% [o] 21%
Quinnipiac University [20] October 9–15, 2007343 RV±5.3%2%46%9%20%3%4% [p] 14%
Quinnipiac University [21] December 5–9, 2007387 RV±5.0%3%51%7%17%1%5% [q] 12%
Monmouth/Gannett [22] January 9–13, 2008475 LV±4.5%–42%9%30%–3% [r] 17%
Quinnipiac University [23] January 15–22, 2008464±4.6%–49%10%32%–2% [s] 7%
Survey USA [24] January 30–31, 2008642±3.9%–51%–39%–10%
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner [25] January 30–31, 2008600±4.0%1%44%3%38%1%3% [t] 11%
Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby [26] January 31–February 2, 2008868±3.4%–43%–42%–2% [u] 14%
Survey USA [27] February 2–3, 2008706±3.8%–52%–41%–4% [v] 3%
  1. ↑ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  2. ↑ Al Gore with 24%, John Kerry and Russ Feingold each with 5%, Christopher Dodd with 4%, and Wesley Clark, Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, Mark Warner, and Evan Bayh each with 1%
  3. ↑ Al Gore with 20%, John Kerry with 5%, Russ Feingold with 4%, Christopher Dodd with 4%, and Wesley Clark, Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, and Evan Bayh each with 1%
  4. ↑ Al Gore with 17%, Russ Feingold with 5%, and John Kerry, Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, and Evan Bayh each with 1%
  5. ↑ Al Gore with 11%, John Kerry with 6%, Wesley Clark with 2%, "someone else" with 2% and "wouldn't vote" with 1%.
  6. ↑ Gore with 10%, "someone else" and "wouldn't vote" each with 2%, Clark and Dennis Kucinich each with 1%, and Chris Dodd and Tom Vilsack each with 0%.
  7. ↑ Gore (voluntary response) with 1% and Dodd and Kucinich each with 0%.
  8. ↑ Dodd with 2% and Kucinich with 1%.
  9. ↑ "Other" with 2%, Dodd with 1%, and Gravel and Kucinich each with 0%.
  10. ↑ Gore with 18%, "other" with 2%, Dodd with 1%, and Gravel and Kucinich each with 0%.
  11. ↑ Dodd with 2%, Kucinich with 1%, and Gravel with 0%.
  12. ↑ Kucinich and Dodd each with 1%
  13. ↑ Gore with 11%, Kucinich and "other" each with 1%, and Dodd with 0%.
  14. ↑ Dodd and Kucinich each with 1%.
  15. ↑ Kucinich with 2%, Gore with 1%, and Dodd and Gravel each with 0%.
  16. ↑ Kucinich with 2%, Dodd and "other" each with 1%, and Gravel with 0%.
  17. ↑ Kucinich and "other" each with 2%, Gravel with 1%, and Dodd with 0%.
  18. ↑ Kucinich with 2% and "other" with 1%.
  19. ↑ Kucinich and "other" each with 1%.
  20. ↑ "Other" with 2% and Kucinich with 1%.
  21. ↑ Gravel with 2%.
  22. ↑ "Other" with 4%.

Results

Key:Withdrew
prior to contest
2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary [28] [ self-published source ]
CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates [29]
Hillary Clinton 613,50053.76%59
Barack Obama 501,37243.93%48
John Edwards 15,7281.38%0
Joe Biden 4,0810.36%0
Bill Richardson 3,3660.29%0
Dennis Kucinich 3,1520.28%0
Totals1,141,199100.00%107

Analysis

2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary [30]
Demographic subgroupObamaClinton% of

total vote

Total vote4454100
Sex by race
White men395825
White women277234
Black men851510
Black women811414
Latino men36625
Latino women26747
All other races38585
Age
17–29 years old593913
30–44 years old504729
45–59 years old386035
60 and older356323
Religion
Protestant/Other Christian564035
Catholic286938
Jewish37639
Something else61358
None514911
Family income
Less than $50,000405829
$50,000 or more455271
Which issue is the most important facing the country?
The economy445447
The war in Iraq455131
Health care425618
Candidate quality that matters most
Can bring about needed change643552
Cares about people like me434613
Has the right experience39426
Has the best chance to win in November40608

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Today's news from PolitickerNJ.com". Observer. February 6, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Clinton falls short of expectations on N.J. campaign debut". Observer. April 3, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Clinton and Obama rack up dueling endorsements". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Today's news from PolitickerNJ.com". Observer. February 1, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Poll: NJ primary now in play; Clinton's lead falls to six points". Observer. February 1, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ "New Jersey Democratic Primary". RealClearPolitics.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Strategic Vision Political: Poll Results - NJ". October 5, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Strategic Vision Political: Poll Results - NJ". October 31, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Strategic Vision Political: Poll Results - NJ". November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ "New Jersey Voters Don't Adore The Senator Next Door, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Clinton Trails Giuliani, Ties McCain In Garden State". Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Giuliani Widens Lead Over Clinton In New Jersey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Front-Runners Widen Lead In Dem, GOP Primaries". Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. March 1, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ "NEW YORKERS LEAD NEW JERSEY PRIMARIES" (PDF). April 18, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Strategic Vision Political: Poll Results - NJ". April 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Bloomberg Spoils Giuliani Lead In New Jersey Pres Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bush Approval Drops To Lowest Ever In Any Poll". Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Strategic Vision: Poll Results - NJ". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  16. ↑ "Strategic Vision Political". September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  17. ↑ "Clinton, Giuliani Neck And Neck In New Jersey Pres Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More See Giuliani As More Principled Than Democrat". Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Strategic Vision Political". October 15, 2007. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007.
  19. ↑ "HILLARY AND RUDY TOUGH TO BEAT IN JERSEY" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  20. ↑ "Giuliani, Clinton Set To Win Big Delegate Blocs, Sweeping Tri-State Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds". Archived from the original on October 22, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Clinton Up, But Giuliani Slips In New Jersey Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Want A Tough Stand On Illegal Immigrants" . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  22. ↑ "SHAKE-UP IN NEW JERSEY PRESIDENTIAL STAKES" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  23. ↑ "McCain Inches Past Giuliani In New Jersey GOP Horse Race, Quinnipiac University Likely Voter Poll Finds; Clinton Has 49 Percent Of Dem Voters, Big Lead Over Obama". Archived from the original on January 24, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ "New Jersey Democratic Primary: 12 Points Between Clinton and Obama". www.surveyusa.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ "NJ 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary" (PDF). February 1, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Poll: McCain on a Roll; Clinton, Obama Neck-and-Neck in Key Super Tuesday States". Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Eve of New Jersey Democratic Primary, 45-Point Gender Gap; Clinton With The Edge". www.surveyusa.com. February 4, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  28. ↑ The Green Papers
  29. ↑ New York Times Election Guide 2008
  30. ↑ "Election Guide 2008 - Presidential Election - Politics - Results - The New York Times". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved May 14, 2025.


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.