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Clinton showing stronger in primary than caucus

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BY NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:46:40 pm CDT

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.

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Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Election 2008 Central
Clinton takes more counties, but Obama wins vote total

Hillary Clinton won 63 Nebraska counties to 29 for Barack Obama in Tuesday’s primary showdown. They were separated by two votes or fewer in three of those counties and tied in Dawes County with 152 votes each. However, Obama garnered 2,665 more votes statewide than Clinton. Obama took the large counties of Douglas and Lancaster. The map above (Democratic presidential primary results by county) shows the net percentage of votes the two candidates received in each county based on all votes cast. Example: In Lancaster County, Obama received 10,627 votes to Clinton’s 9,500, and 384 votes went to Mike Gravel. In Lancaster, Obama took 51.8 percent to Clinton’s 46.3 percent, for a net advantage of 5.5 percent.

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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Lincolnite wrote on May 13, 2008 11:05 am:
" Dream on. McCain will carry the state and all three congressional districts and will take all 5 electoral votes. "

 Sue F. wrote on May 13, 2008 12:43 pm:
" With Bush currently polling at 22% approval and McCain just more of the same. This could be the year. Likely not, but maybe. "

 Clay wrote on May 13, 2008 12:54 pm:
" Its not a dream, it could happen. Go Obama Go! "

 Not Obama wrote on May 13, 2008 1:02 pm:
" I would have voted for Clinton, not Obama. Guess it will be McCain or no one. "

 Get real people wrote on May 13, 2008 1:25 pm:
" This election is bogus, all these candidates are a waste of time and money...lets just say that I hate not to vote...therefore John Kerry will be the name on my ballot. Have hopes for the country going in an upwards direction with these three candidates? HA...keep dreaming and mark my words. "

 McCain wrote on May 13, 2008 1:43 pm:
" As a registered Democrat, I will vote for McCain. Just too much has changed since February. "

 MarkyMark wrote on May 13, 2008 2:10 pm:
" Listening to Limbaugh blast McCain today. Rush says most of the US citizens are smarter than John McCain. He says "he shoudln't be forced to vote for a Republican who isnt as smart as the average citizen". What he didn't mention is that this would be the 3rd consecutive presidential election in which this has happened. What is new there, Rush? "

 You Know Who wrote on May 13, 2008 2:13 pm:
" McCain IS a Democrat. Conservatives have no choice in 2008, thanks mostly to a liberal, interventionist president who pretended to be conservative for eight years. At least Johanns and the Senate race give Nebraska Republicans a reason to show up on election day. "

 Registered Democrat wrote on May 13, 2008 2:17 pm:
" Are you kidding. I really cant see any Real Registered Democrat voting for McCain. He admits he knows little about the economy and doesn't know the difference between Shiites and Sunnis. Yep, Democrats oughta be standing in line to vote for McCain. (Not) "

 NE LADY wrote on May 13, 2008 3:08 pm:
" Oh how much fun it would have been to have a real primary election this year, and make a diffrence! It could have been 68 all over again and Nebraska could have mattered too bad Achelpohl and his buddies jumped the gun and took away our votes. "

 Mike Kelley wrote on May 13, 2008 3:11 pm:
" I once again am reminded why my entire life I have been a registered Republican. I change my party affiliation and because I was gone during the caucuses my vote today means nothing. What ever happened to the majority rules, or we the people? "

 Ryan wrote on May 13, 2008 4:15 pm:
" You're kidding? You'd rather vote for McSame, and actually follow his vapid policies to fruition, allowing another four years of basically the same nonsense we've had than vote for Obama? Seriously? Why? What could possibly POSSIBLY be the logic behind voting for McCain over Obama as a Democrat? What a sad sad joke. "

 idea wrote on May 13, 2008 11:53 pm:
" If Hillary doesn't get the dem. nomination, I say we start a write-in campaign "

 Sue wrote on May 14, 2008 12:07 am:
" I am a strong Clinton supporter and voted in today's Nebraska primary. I hope the Nebraska superdelegates take note of today's primary results and support Clinton commensurate with her support here, half going for Obama, half for Clinton. "

 am I wrong wrote on May 14, 2008 5:01 am:
" It's my understanding that the superdelegates can nominate whoever they want, regardless of the results of any caucus or vote. Actually casting a vote is merely symbolic- but so was participating in that joke of a caucus. BTW, I support Obama- but I would have preferred to maintain the illusion of making a choice, casting a vote and making it count, rather than participating in a pushing, screaming, loudest mouth gets results popularity contest. "

 jo wrote on May 14, 2008 8:09 am:
" I'm guessing Clinton made a better showing in the primary due to Republicans changing party affiliation to vote for her. (Obviously Johanns was going to win, so there was no danger in changing party for this primary.) Republicans know that Clinton, for whatever reasons, generates more rabid opposition among conservatives, so that if she's the Democratic nominee, McCain stands a better chance of winning. "

 c wrote on May 14, 2008 8:29 am:
" Wow - am I missing something? Hillary lost to Obama, right? Granted, it wasn't with as large of a margin as it was after the caucus - but she still did not pull off a win. This primary did nothing but confirm that Barack Obama won the democratic primary of Nebraska. Sadly, I too agree that McCain will carry the state handily come November - regardless of the opponent he faces. "

 Nebraskan wrote on May 14, 2008 8:31 am:
" GO HILARY!!!!!!!!! "

 Dano wrote on May 14, 2008 11:30 am:
" Voting for MCInsane, is voting for more Bush politics. Just wait and see. He will pick another republican cronie as his VP candidate, because he can't choose someone that is viewed as less credible than him. That could mean the likes of another Dick Cheney like VP, and more econimc woes for us. Can't wait to see everyone's views on that.

Oh i can't wait to vote now. (sarcasm, if you didn't get it) "

 JB wrote on May 14, 2008 1:50 pm:
" Clinton in second again. May have been closer this time, but we aren't playing horse shoes here. Any thought of voting for McCain would show you don't vote for your beliefs. Should be happy we had two great candidates to choose from. "

 Wrong Jo wrote on May 14, 2008 10:27 pm:
" Typical Republican thinking, but I only wish it would have worked. Hillary is a much better candidate against McCain. He would be on his knees by November. The way it is now....the Republican machine will chew up the naive rookie Obama and spit him out in November. Democrats really Blew it! "

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