NC Primary Watch: Big day for democracy, Obama
It was a hard-fought primary, but a big day for democracy. Some odds and ends from last night's results in the North Carolina primary:
* At 36% voter turnout, the 2008 primaries set a new record -- beating the previous mark of 31% set in 1988.
* Big interest in the Democratic presidential contest changed the dynamic of the state's down-ticket races. For example, high African-American voter turnout inspired by Barack Obama's campaign likely helped candidates endorsed by African-American PACs and groups in places like Durham and Mecklenburg counties. Durham County, with the highest percentage of African-American voters in the state, also had the 2nd-highest turnout.
* John McCain only won 74% of the GOP primary vote, despite having already sewn up his party's nomination. Mike Huckabee, who has dropped out, got 12%.
* Hillary Clinton might have lost, but it was an otherwise good day for women candidates, notes Under the Dome. The U.S. Senate contest will be between Sen. Elizabeth Dole and challenger Kay Hagan. Janet Cowell (state treasurer), Beth Wood (state auditor), June Atkinson (state superintendent) and Mary Fant Donnan (labor commissioner) also won their primaries. (UPDATE: Donnan didn't win -- she was the lead vote-getter at 28%, and will go into a runoff with John C. Brooks, 24%)
* Clinton also picked up a superdelegate: Rep. Health Shuler, who promised to give his vote to whoever won his 11th Congressional district. Clinton won 55-42.
* Republican incumbent Rep. Walter Jones (3rd District) -- targeted by Republicans because of his vocal opposition to the Iraq war -- comfortably survived his primary challenge, winning 60% of the vote.
* Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend reflects on the campaign of Jim Neal, one of the highest-profile runs by an openly gay man in North Carolina, who lost in his bid to compete for the U.S. Senate.
* Ah, to be young and 59 again. In spelling out the three "keys to Obama's win" in NC, the News & Observer had this item:
* At 36% voter turnout, the 2008 primaries set a new record -- beating the previous mark of 31% set in 1988.
* Big interest in the Democratic presidential contest changed the dynamic of the state's down-ticket races. For example, high African-American voter turnout inspired by Barack Obama's campaign likely helped candidates endorsed by African-American PACs and groups in places like Durham and Mecklenburg counties. Durham County, with the highest percentage of African-American voters in the state, also had the 2nd-highest turnout.
* John McCain only won 74% of the GOP primary vote, despite having already sewn up his party's nomination. Mike Huckabee, who has dropped out, got 12%.
* Hillary Clinton might have lost, but it was an otherwise good day for women candidates, notes Under the Dome. The U.S. Senate contest will be between Sen. Elizabeth Dole and challenger Kay Hagan. Janet Cowell (state treasurer), Beth Wood (state auditor), June Atkinson (state superintendent) and Mary Fant Donnan (labor commissioner) also won their primaries. (UPDATE: Donnan didn't win -- she was the lead vote-getter at 28%, and will go into a runoff with John C. Brooks, 24%)
* Clinton also picked up a superdelegate: Rep. Health Shuler, who promised to give his vote to whoever won his 11th Congressional district. Clinton won 55-42.
* Republican incumbent Rep. Walter Jones (3rd District) -- targeted by Republicans because of his vocal opposition to the Iraq war -- comfortably survived his primary challenge, winning 60% of the vote.
* Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend reflects on the campaign of Jim Neal, one of the highest-profile runs by an openly gay man in North Carolina, who lost in his bid to compete for the U.S. Senate.
* Ah, to be young and 59 again. In spelling out the three "keys to Obama's win" in NC, the News & Observer had this item:
YOUNG PEOPLE: Obama overwhelmingly won the support of voters under 30 years old. He also won in every other age group except those over 60. (emphasis added)
Labels: barack obama, Election 2008, hillary clinton, north carolina, north carolina primary
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