Clinton showing stronger in primary than caucus
Nebraska Democrats appeared to be split fairly evenly between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in a primary that does not count.
Obama had a slight percentage lead statewide with a little more than 80 percent of the projected votes counted.
In Lancaster County, however, Obama garnered 1,000 more votes than Clinton.
The close finish was a major change from the February caucus where about 38,500 Democrats gathered in schools, community buildings, libraries and homes across the state and supported Obama two to one over Clinton.
The caucus votes did count, giving Obama 16 Nebraska delegates to the national convention and Clinton just eight.
The state’s six super delegates have all pledged to support Obama since the caucuses.
Many Democratic insiders expected Clinton to do better in the statewide primary, but her strong showing on Tuesday was a surprise, said State Democratic Chairman Steve Achelpohl.
“I didn’t expect it to be that close,” he said of the returns, which were incomplete.
Achelpohl said he expected Clinton to fare better in the primary in part because Obama did a great job of capturing the moment when he spoke in Omaha just prior to the caucus.
That visit is a distant memory at primary time, Achelpohl said.
In addition, Clinton appeals to a slice of the Democratic population less prone to go to caucuses, he said. More than twice as many people voted in the Democratic primary as attended caucuses.
The Nebraska Democratic hierarchy decided to have the first-ever state caucus that determined many of the delegate commitments, but state law also required the primary.
The primary vote might be more than a psychological boost.
“People forget that super delegates can swing back and forth,” said Jane Monaghan, a Clinton campaign representative in Nebraska.
On the Republican side, John McCain, the presumptive nominee, appeared to be getting close to 90 percent of the Nebraska vote against a less well-known Ron Paul, as expected.
The Republican primary is a kind of beauty contest. The presidential nominee is actually selected by delegates, picked later this summer.
“As a practical matter, the delegates follow the desire of the voters in the primary election,” said Mark Quandahl, Republican state chairman.
Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 at nhicks@journalstar.com.
Obama had a slight percentage lead statewide with a little more than 80 percent of the projected votes counted.
In Lancaster County, however, Obama garnered 1,000 more votes than Clinton.
The close finish was a major change from the February caucus where about 38,500 Democrats gathered in schools, community buildings, libraries and homes across the state and supported Obama two to one over Clinton.
The caucus votes did count, giving Obama 16 Nebraska delegates to the national convention and Clinton just eight.
The state’s six super delegates have all pledged to support Obama since the caucuses.
Many Democratic insiders expected Clinton to do better in the statewide primary, but her strong showing on Tuesday was a surprise, said State Democratic Chairman Steve Achelpohl.
“I didn’t expect it to be that close,” he said of the returns, which were incomplete.
Achelpohl said he expected Clinton to fare better in the primary in part because Obama did a great job of capturing the moment when he spoke in Omaha just prior to the caucus.
That visit is a distant memory at primary time, Achelpohl said.
In addition, Clinton appeals to a slice of the Democratic population less prone to go to caucuses, he said. More than twice as many people voted in the Democratic primary as attended caucuses.
The Nebraska Democratic hierarchy decided to have the first-ever state caucus that determined many of the delegate commitments, but state law also required the primary.
The primary vote might be more than a psychological boost.
“People forget that super delegates can swing back and forth,” said Jane Monaghan, a Clinton campaign representative in Nebraska.
On the Republican side, John McCain, the presumptive nominee, appeared to be getting close to 90 percent of the Nebraska vote against a less well-known Ron Paul, as expected.
The Republican primary is a kind of beauty contest. The presidential nominee is actually selected by delegates, picked later this summer.
“As a practical matter, the delegates follow the desire of the voters in the primary election,” said Mark Quandahl, Republican state chairman.
Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 at nhicks@journalstar.com.
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