Potentially troubling news for Clinton in Michigan 'win'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/15/art.clintonmichigan.ap.jpg caption=" Clinton won less than a quarter of support from black voters."](CNN) - Hillary Clinton faced a grim statistic in Michigan Tuesday night, despite her primary "win" there: results revealed that she may have reason to worry about her grasp on the African-American vote.
The Michigan primary vote was essentially meaningless: the national party stripped the state of its delegates because it held its contest too early in the election season, and Clinton was the only major Democratic contender whose name appeared on the ballot.
Even so, roughly 70 percent of Michigan’s African-American voters - a group that makes up a quarter of Michigan’s Democratic electorate - did not cast their votes for Clinton, choosing the “uncommitted” option instead. Yet these voters weren’t uncommitted at all: in fact, according to CNN exit polls, they overwhelmingly favored Barack Obama, whose name did not appear on the ballot.
Had Obama’s name been on the Michigan ballot, CNN exit polls show that he would have won an overwhelming 73 percent of the African-American vote, in contrast to 22 percent who say they would have voted for Clinton under those circumstances. If South Carolina’s large African-American community votes as Michigan’s, Hillary may not be feeling much ‘southern hospitality’ in that state.
Related: Blacks, youngest voters choose 'uncommitted' over Clinton
- CNN Political Producer Alan Isenberg
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Why in the world is there no coverage about the Rove/DeLay tactics the Clintons are using in Nevada to change the voting districts, by lawsuit, conviently right after the Culinary Union decided to back Obama... Dirty dirty dirty. Please CNN, report the NEWS.
VOTE NOT TO SNOWBAMA – I say snow, because he has half of America snowed. WAKE UP – for this democrat vote will go the way of Republican – Mike and Mit are looking better and better as an option.
Is every Hillary support a CNN reader or what?? There are more Pro Hillary People here then Drug Company Trust Board Meeting.
The Debates where good last night, I felt Hillary won, Obama came in a close second, and Edwards? Why is he still even in the race? I like Obama alot, but he looked a little wet behind the ears last night. Plus I don't know if the boys in washington are really gonna want to change, they will slap Obama around a few times by slaming all his agendas, then "poof" there goes that "change" Idea.
Hillary looks like she would come in and put "boot to behind" to get things done. I don't really like her and think shes an Ice Queen, but she would get the job done, and that's all we really need.
Is it just me or are Clinton supporters just generally dumb?
I mean the majority of clinton supporters seem to be uneducated, celeb-junkies in awe of the former first lady.
What an unruly, uncouth divisive rabble.
ABC!
So what you are saying is that although Whites can overlook race (New Hampshire, Iowa) blacks can't...What a surprise...Where are the white Sharptons and jacksons out there alleging discrimination at the polls...
I believe it is time to get rid of msnbc and cnn who appear to think they are the ones who can scew numbers and statistics to arrive at the conclusion they are trying to achieve to impress the public or get the results they want. I believe the mathews ,williams, russet, and the female odonnells should all be moved over to fox news then america will only have to stay away from one channel instead of three. Before you get a big head,wolfe you should be the majorette for this parade. I can not believe the garbage that you media persons put forth. Your individual vote is no more valid or important than mine.If all were at one station/channel it would let you folks along with coulter, orielly and hannity fight over dick morris,gingrich and the rest of the right wing kooks on fox to entertain each other vice trying to covince the nation that the only truth or solution comes from cnn or msnbc.
Excellent news during my morning coffee. The notion that the Clintons think the WH is their's for the taking makes me want to barf. Good for the thinking people of Michigan to question the prudence of supporting this woman. Regardless of her position on issues, she is so divisive and polarizing nothing in her Administration would be accomplished. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since Hillary is a SOCIALIST. With funding problems looming for Social Security, how in the world could this country afford National Health Care on top of that with ever increasing numbers of Baby Boomers reaching retirement age and also needing additional medical treatment for their advancing age. I applaud African Americans for supporting the Hillary alternative, particularly Obama. He is well spoken, intelligent, inclusive and empathic to the needs of minorities....not a panderer only during election cycles. Clinton liked to bite his lip to prove his empathy, but many of us saw that as phoney and disingenuine. Obama is the real thing.
I have to question why Obama couldn't get on the ballot and Hillary did. Don't blame it on the party. If I lived in Michigan, it would appear to me the Dems don't care about my state nor does Obama if he can't take the time to be on the ballot.
When will CNN understand that polls only refect those who they talk to and not everyone. Seems to me they got it wrong last week and Hillary did well.
Im an Obama supporter, but frankly im getting sick of CNN sinking to the depths of Fox News in their "reporting" if you can call it that. While i would agree that its an interesting stat to note, I wouldnt say its "grim" news or "trouble" on the horizon for Hillary. Frankly im getting a little sick of the drama CNN is pumping out – I dont think I can legitimately argue w/ Faux News watchers that CNN has less spin...they are really pathetic this year, and as a democrat I almost feel llike CNN (probably others as well) is trying to ensure the dems do a heck of a lot of in-fighting.
Why isnt Romney's win "horrific" news for McCain? Why doesnt CNN report about the dire situation the republicans are in with hardly any quality candidates (not my words, words of republican voters ive talked with).
The spin is sickening lately im feeling like im going to vomit, please stop this ride...i need to get off.
I am not black but I will definitely support Barack Obama. He is sincere, true to his word, and has not be spoiled by Washington politics. Obama has never spoken about race. Let's get this straight - some BET idiot started this whole fiasco just in case Clintons win. If they do win he may be entitled for a position.
So let's stop this show and concetrate on main issues. We have economy and wars to worry about. Senator Obama is the man for the job!
Go Obama!!!
Why are you keep letting the race and gender continue? Both candidates want their supporters to let it go. If you respect your candidate's request, then let it go. It doesn't help us to perpetuate this. I know Obama doesn't view Hillary as racist, and Hillary value the contribution of Martin Luther King too. So, please let it go. You vote for the person you think would make the best president, and it has nothing to do w/ gender and race. Don't fall into the trap the media set up. They like bring up these polls, and make these predictions and make you feel like your vote don't count. They like conflicts, give them something to talk about.
Anonymous, you are WRONG! Obama did not start this. I find it funny that there are those who call CNN the CLINTON NEWS NETWORK–now those like yourself are saying CNN is biased AGAINST Clinton. Which is it?
I guess the 30% of black Americans that voted for Hillary realize that Obama can't win the electoral college.
Just another example of Hilary not playing by the rules...the other candidates followed the DNC ruling, she didn't so it is hypocricy that she is claiming a victory...Didn't she say in her weepy moment that she didn't think politics was a "game"?
Simple as ABC
Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA January 16, 2008 7:18 am ET
"This meaningless election tends to confirm Hillary's unelectability among any block of voters in the general, leaving us to question whether Obama can do any better. Bloomie's looking better every day if the Dems don't wake up to Edwards' ability to consistently defeat all GOP opponents."
I don't know how getting 55% of the vote in a "meaningless" election where the other contenders were asking people to vote uncommitted (do the math, she beat Obama and Edwawrds votes combined) is construed as confirming "unelectability". Sounds like she won to me.
If you take the stats on which African American would have voted for Obama and Clinton, it totaled 95%. Doesn't that leave 5% for Edwards et al? That doesn't bode well for his "electability".
I am sure one will start if Obama does not get electiced. Most riots are because they did not get their way.
cnn needs a complete makeover and get to issues ,were not stupid people and dont need to be swayed on our choices.get real and get over it ,the time has come to get the job done and get this country out of a complete disaster ,hopefully we can again see the american way again hillary is ready ,are we?so mr macho men step aside .its time to get rid of the retoric,remember your last vote and make a better choice now ,hello/ read my lips ,if it takes a woman so be it, its the anti/clinton that has got to go and the media needs to understand that .we need some substance like issues we face everyday 24/7.no more of he said,she said,race or gender,lets be more proffesional and less pathetic ,please.yes we very much need experience. go hillary 08
I wish the Media would use their useless power and force these presidents-wanna-be to tell us how they plan to run the country. Instead of showing polls and polls and who is racist or not, MAKE these people (dems and reps) to tell us what they plan and how the plan to achieve it. Force it off them by always presenting the issues, not the polls.
If you think people are over-sensitive to what Clinton is saying then you must not be alive in present day America. Its easy to know there is racial tension in this country and all it needs is a little provocation and both sides starts acting like fools.
People Please Cool Down. Vote for whomever you want and then let it go.
Who cares? Obama is NOT going to get the hispanic vote, which favors HIllary by 80%
AJ, thanks for your response. I feel that your assumption that most blacks and whites are only only voting for Barack because of some feel good affect becasue of his race is is just as silly as saying people are voting for Clinton because she is a woman. Sure there is a certain percentage of both Clinton and Obama's bases that wish to see someone that looks like them in the White House for the first time in history, but these are only a small part of the support given to both these history making candidates.
Your analysis is exactly what is bringing race into these primaries. Since you do not support Obama for one reason or another, all those that do must be doing so for some superficial reason. The reality is that Obama is inspiring people of all races and political creeds because he has run a perfect campaign and is giving people hope for the future of this country again. Belittling the deep passion of Obama supporters by claiming his support is mainly race based is insulting.
Now Hillary is playing the terror card. I find it strange that she is claiming that she is the one who would best handle terror attacks, because during the Clintons' eight years in the White House the same terrorists hit the US at home an abroad, several times, and the Clintons never took robust action, and that is why the terrorists were still around to hit us on 9/11.
Hillary may talk tough, but during the Clinton years, the terrorists hit us again and again, and lived to hit us again after the Clintons were out of the White House.
Sounds like Hillary is now claiming that she would have responded to the terrorists in a stronger manner than her man Bill did!
first, there was no BRUTAL winter storm. christ, these media stations will spin the weather. and second, Carl L, it's just you.
Sportnut – all dem candidates had pledged NOT to be on the ballot, except Hillary – frankly i dont know what happened between that pledge and the actual ballots, because everyone except Obama and Edwards ended up on there.
I dont like the way the DNC and Dem candidates handled this AT ALL, and I dislike even more how michigan's elected officials handled this...but in the end it was the DNC who was telling michigan voters we dont matter...since they stripped us of all our delegates. Not a single Dem candidate campaigned here. Not even hillary who didnt have the gull to stand on principle with edwards and obama.
you know what the troubling thing is for this? yes only 40% of the people voted for an uncommitted name... however, people went OUT OF THEIR way to vote for a BLANK name in a contest with ZERO delagates just to vote AGAINST this lady. looks like HRC's supporters are just as sour as her personality.
Everyone here who has said Obama played the race card is intellectually lazy to put it mildly. Read MSNBC's chronology of both Hillary's and Obama's statements leading up to the so called "furor" over race. You will see unequivocally that Obama did NOT play the "race card," nor inserted race as an issue in this campaign. Note as well that all those who claim he did, are not surprisingly Hillary supporters. Independents, and independent thinking Dems and Repubs are all for Obama.
Also for all those who think CNN is doing Obama a favor by saying that he is winning the black vote, are missing the point entirely. Any person who follows politics knows that if Hillary can make this campaign about race, or make people blieve Obama is another Jesse Jackson, i.e. only interested in the black vote, she wins. So in reality, the Clinton News Network just did Clinton a huge favor. And judging by some of the comments on this post, it working.
Let's make no mistake folks. Despite CNN's spin, Obama is clearly not another Jesse Jackson. He represents the interests of all Americans and has never inserted, ran on, or played the race issue in any fashion. So before you post a visceral reaction to the media's tail wind of the day, please take a step back and just think.