North Carolina Democratic primary, 2008
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Democratic presidential primary in North Carolina
took place on May 6, 2008, one of the last primary elections in the long race for nomination between Barack Obama
and Hillary Clinton. Obama won the primary.
North Carolina sent 134 delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention
. 115 delegates were tied to the results of the primary, with the remainder being unelected superdelegate
s not pledged to any candidate. Registered Democrats
and unaffiliated voters (but not registered Republicans
) were allowed to participate. The polls were open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Eastern daylight time (UTC-4
). North Carolina had 5,811,778 registered voters in 2,817 precincts, with turnout at 36.42%.
a single digit lead over Senator Barack Obama
. From then on, Obama had the lead in almost every poll, and on May 5, was up by 3%, holding 48% to her 45%. 7% were undecided, with a margin of error of 3%. The new polls gave "fresh hope" to Clinton.
reported that misleading robocall
s were made to African-american voters in the days leading up to the primary in late April 2008, which essentially told registered voters that they were not registered.
According to NPR
and Facing South, these calls were made by the organization "Women's Voices Women Vote."
"Women's Voices Women Vote
" included members such as former White House chief of staff John Podesta
, Maggie Williams
, and Page Gardner, all of whom have close ties to the Clintons. Voters and watchdog groups complained that it was a turnout-suppression effort, and the state Attorney General Roy Cooper
ordered them to stop making the calls.
National pledged delegates determined: 115
The day that the North Carolina primary was held was known as Super Tuesday III. Along with Indiana
which held its primary on the same day, this was largely considered the "Waterloo"
of the Democratic primaries. Obama had been under fire for controversial remarks
made by Jeremiah Wright
, and his lead in North Carolina polls had been reduced to single digits, so Clinton's double-digit loss in that state was a major disappointment. Further hurting Clinton's campaign was the time-zone differences, as the defeat was reported in prime time, and the news of the narrow victory in Indiana had come too late. MSNBC
's Tim Russert
was quoted as saying “She did not get the game-changer she wanted tonight.”http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html?partner=rssnyt
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
took place on May 6, 2008, one of the last primary elections in the long race for nomination between Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and Hillary Clinton. Obama won the primary.
North Carolina sent 134 delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
. 115 delegates were tied to the results of the primary, with the remainder being unelected superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
s not pledged to any candidate. Registered Democrats
North Carolina Democratic Party
The North Carolina Democratic Party is the North Carolina affiliate of the national Democratic Party in the United States. It is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are located in the historic Goodwin house which is located in the downtown area of Raleigh at 220 Hillsborough Street...
and unaffiliated voters (but not registered Republicans
North Carolina Republican Party
The North Carolina Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in North Carolina. Robin Hayes was elected Chairman of the party on January 15, 2011, to serve the five months left in the unexpired term of Tom Fetzer....
) were allowed to participate. The polls were open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Eastern daylight time (UTC-4
UTC-4
UTC−04-00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −04.This offset is used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada and the North American Eastern Time Zone during daylight saving time , in the Caribbean region this is considered as the Eastern Caribbean timezone...
). North Carolina had 5,811,778 registered voters in 2,817 precincts, with turnout at 36.42%.
Polls
Public opinion polling from early January 2008 through mid-February 2008 generally gave Senator Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
a single digit lead over Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. From then on, Obama had the lead in almost every poll, and on May 5, was up by 3%, holding 48% to her 45%. 7% were undecided, with a margin of error of 3%. The new polls gave "fresh hope" to Clinton.
Robocalls
The North Carolina state board of electionsBoard of elections
A board of elections is a body of officials designated to administer elections. U.S. states often have boards of elections, as do some municipalities, such as New York City....
reported that misleading robocall
Robocall
Robocall is a term for an automated phone call that uses both a computerized autodialer and a computer-delivered pre-recorded message. The implication is that a "robocall" resembles a telephone call from a robot...
s were made to African-american voters in the days leading up to the primary in late April 2008, which essentially told registered voters that they were not registered.
According to NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and Facing South, these calls were made by the organization "Women's Voices Women Vote."
"Women's Voices Women Vote
Women's Voices Women Vote
The Voter Participation Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States dedicated to increasing voter registration, voting and civic activity among unmarried women, people of color and 18-29 year olds. The organization is based in Washington, D.C. and was formerly named...
" included members such as former White House chief of staff John Podesta
John Podesta
John David Podesta was the fourth and final White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton, from 1998 until 2001. He is the president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, D.C., and is also a Visiting Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law...
, Maggie Williams
Maggie Williams
Margaret "Maggie" Ann Williams is a partner in Griffin Williams, a management-consulting firm. She was the campaign manager for Hillary Rodham Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. Following Clinton's win in the New Hampshire primary in January 2008, Williams was brought onto the Clinton...
, and Page Gardner, all of whom have close ties to the Clintons. Voters and watchdog groups complained that it was a turnout-suppression effort, and the state Attorney General Roy Cooper
Roy Cooper
Roy Asberry Cooper, III is the current North Carolina Attorney General. He is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party.-Personal life and education:...
ordered them to stop making the calls.
Results
Primary date: May 6, 2008National pledged delegates determined: 115
| Key: | Withdrew prior to contest |
| North Carolina Democratic presidential primary, 2008 Official Results |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Estimated national delegates |
| Barack Obama Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... |
887,391 | 56.14% | 67 |
| Hillary Clinton | 657,669 | 41.61% | 48 |
| Mike Gravel Mike Gravel Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election.... |
12,452 | 0.79% | 0 |
| No Preference | 23,214 | 1.47% | 0 |
| Totals | 1,580,726 | 100.00% | 115 |
The day that the North Carolina primary was held was known as Super Tuesday III. Along with Indiana
Indiana Democratic primary, 2008
Clinton narrowly defeated Obama to win the primary.The Indiana Democratic Presidential Primary took place on May 6, 2008. It was an open primary with 72 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Indiana's nine congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 47....
which held its primary on the same day, this was largely considered the "Waterloo"
Waterloo in popular culture
Because of its pivotal role in European and world history the Battle of Waterloo has a prominent place in military history and is frequently mentioned in popular culture.-Commemorative memorials and places:...
of the Democratic primaries. Obama had been under fire for controversial remarks
Jeremiah Wright controversy
The Jeremiah Wright controversy is an American political issue that gained national attention in March 2008 when ABC News, after reviewing dozens of U.S. 2008 Presidential Election candidate Barack Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright's sermons, excerpted parts which were subject to intense media scrutiny...
made by Jeremiah Wright
Jeremiah Wright
Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. is Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ , a megachurch in Chicago exceeding 6,000 members...
, and his lead in North Carolina polls had been reduced to single digits, so Clinton's double-digit loss in that state was a major disappointment. Further hurting Clinton's campaign was the time-zone differences, as the defeat was reported in prime time, and the news of the narrow victory in Indiana had come too late. MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
's Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
was quoted as saying “She did not get the game-changer she wanted tonight.”http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html?partner=rssnyt
See also
- Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008The 2008 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
- North Carolina Republican primary, 2008North Carolina Republican primary, 2008-Results:* Candidate dropped out of the race before the primary-See also:* North Carolina Democratic primary, 2008* Republican Party presidential primaries, 2008* Super Tuesday III, 2008-References:...