Super Tuesday proves indecisive for Democrats

By Andrew Denney
Feb. 8, 2008

Supporters of presidential candidate Barack Obama gather at The Blue Note on Super Tuesday to watch the news and wait for results. Polls for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama, D-Ill., came too close to call for most of the night.

Graphic/Amy Oslica

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Graphic/Amy Brachmann

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After Super Tuesday, the two Democratic presidential hopefuls emerged from the fallout of this year’s biggest day of nominating contests before the general election in a position not much different from the one they were in on Monday.

In one of the most intense races out of the 22 Democratic nominating events Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., claimed victory in Missouri — a storied bellwether state — over U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., with about 1 percent of the electorate.

Obama presented a speech from Chicago, his hometown, before the results were final in Missouri, but not before he won delegate-rich Illinois with 65 percent of the vote.

“There is one thing on this February night that we do not need the final results to know — our time has come,” Obama said.

Missouri Rep. Rachel Storch, D-St. Louis, who served as the Missouri State Director of the Clinton campaign, said the campaign had felt good about the effort put forward by the organization, and remains a “staunch” supporter of the U.S. senator and former First Lady’s bid for the presidency.

“The Democrats are fortunate to put forward two very strong candidates,” Storch said.

In Columbia, Obama supporters gathered at The Blue Note on Tuesday night as the presidential hopeful squeaked by in the Show-Me State. Cheers rang out from the balcony to the bar as MSNBC announced that Obama won the Missouri primary. Those at The Blue Note watched the announcement on a large projection screen set up in the music venue’s performance area.

MSNBC did not name Missouri’s victors until more than 95 percent of the voting precincts had reported in, which didn’t happen until Clinton was already projected to win California.

Mike Blum, once a political candidate for a state office in Missouri, attended the watch party. He said a Clinton nomination for the Democratic Party could encourage protest votes for a Republican candidate.

“Democrats want to win this election — they need to win this election,” Blum said, “I have a lot of love for Barack Obama. In the end (he) is the character for change.”

Mizzou for Obama member Ladan Nikravan said she supports Obama because his stance on health care is the most “pragmatic.”

“He’s willing to give to the community as much as the community is willing to give back,” Nikravan said. “I think he relates to our generation.”

Columbia resident A.J. Hogan said he supports Obama because the senator is different from past presidential candidates.

“I really think going Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton is a little much,” Hogan said.

Clinton supporters gathered Tuesday night at Boone Tavern to watch the results of the primaries and caucuses on CNN.

Betty Wilson, coordinator of the Boone County Committee to elect Hillary Clinton, said Clinton represents the backbone of Missouri.

“Her message is getting through to people that she is not divisive, but inclusive,” Betty said. “She’s going to draw a lot more attention as time goes on.”

MU professor Speer Morgan said he appreciates Clinton’s experience in getting work done and being tested, as well as her maturity.

“I like her views on public health and recognition of the fact that tax laws need change,” Morgan said. “She has specific, clear ideas about a number of things.”

Betty said although she was disappointed about the vote in Boone County, she wouldn’t have done anything differently and believes Clinton will prevail in the end over Obama’s “alleged charisma and vague promises for hope and change.”

“She has a message of substance and is a practical idealist that can get things done,” Betty said.

Obama also won 11 other states, including a big victory in Georgia with 67 percent of the vote. Georgia sends 103 delegates to the convention.

In the weeks preceding Super Tuesday, Obama chipped away at Clinton’s lead in the polls, and by Feb. 4, some pollsters even saw the one-term Illinois senator and Jan. 3 Iowa caucus victor coming out on top in some major states — such as California, which had he most robust delegation of any of the states participating in Tuesday’s contests.

But California went to Clinton, who snagged 52 percent of the vote, compared to Obama’s 42 percent. She also won the state with the second largest delegation — New York, her home state — with 57 percent of the vote.

California College Democrats president Nick Warshaw said Clinton’s victory rested greatly on big endorsements in the state, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and the support of Latino, female and working class voters.

According to CNN exit polls, approximately 70 percent of Latino respondents said they voted for Clinton, as well as 59 percent of all female voters, who constituted 55 percent of the 1,879 respondents.

On Saturday, the candidates will face nominating contests in Washington, Louisiana and Nebraska, as well as another on Sunday in Maine.

The “Potomac Primaries” — Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia — are set for Feb. 12. The delegate counts in Virginia and Maryland are 101 and 99, respectively.

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Super Tuesday proves indecisive for Democrats

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