Virginia Democratic primary, 2008

The 2008 Virginia Democratic primary took place on February 12, 2008, nicknamed the "Potomac Primary" because the District of Columbia and Maryland also hold Democratic primaries that day. [cite news |title=Up next: the Potomac Primary |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23027740/ |publisher=MSNBC |date=2008-02-06 |accessdate=2008-02-06] It was an open primary, and competitive for the first time since 1988.cite news |first=Bill |last=Turque |coauthors=Kornblut, Anne E. |title=Va. Is Next Battleground In Democrats' Long Fight |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/06/ST2008020604537.html |publisher=The Washington Post |date=2008-02-07 |accessdate=2008-02-07] CNN projected Barack Obama to win Virginia.cite news |title=RESULTS: Virginia |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#VA |publisher=CNN |date=2008-02-12 |accessdate=2008-02-12]

Candidates

There were originally 7 National Candidates that were on the ballot in the Virginia primary. However, all but Clinton and Obama has withdrawn prior to the primary on February 12.

Remaining

* New York Senator Hillary Clinton
* Illinois Senator Barack Obama

Eliminated

* Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards "Dropped out on January 30" 2008" [ cite web| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31edwards.html?_r=1&sq=John%20Edwards%20ends%20campaign&st=nyt&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&scp=1&adxnnlx=1215184661-LKqRv9JM9E8/D1kTa0+OTg| title = Edwards abruptly ends Presidential bid ]
*Former Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich "Dropped out on January 25" 2008 [ cite web| url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/kucinich-to-drop-out-of-presidential-race/?hp&scp=1-b&sq=Kucinich+drops+out&st=nyt| title = Kucinich to Drop out of Presidential Race ]
* New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson "Dropped out on January 10 2008" [ Cite web| url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/richardson-drops-out/?scp=1-b&sq=Richardson+drops+out&st=nyt| title = Richardson drops out ]
* Delaware Senator Joe Biden "Dropped out on January 3 2008"

Background

The prior week, Barack Obama had beaten Hillary Clinton in Nebraska (68%-32%) [ cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#NE| title = CNN Election Center 2008: Nebraska Caucus Results ] , in Washington (68%-31%) [ Cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#WA| title = CNN Election Center 2008: Washington Caucus Results ] and in Louisiana (57%-36%) [ cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#LA| title = Louisiana Primary Results ] by large margins.

The Clinton Campaign looked towards the primary in Virginia as well as those in Maryland and Washington, D.C. which were held on the same day. Though Hillary Clinton spent more resources in the Maryland Primary, she also campaigned in Virginia, particularly in Northern Virginia.

trategy

The Barack Obama campaign divided Virginia into 4 regions in which to campaign: Northern Virginia, Richmond, Charlottesville, and the Tidewater region in the southeast. He is expected to do well with affluent and independent voters, as well as with African-American voters, who could total 25% of the vote on primary day.

The Hillary Clinton campaign said it would focus its efforts on Prince William and Loudoun counties, especially older white professional women, and also in the unemployment plagued Southwest Virginia.

Polling

In final polling throughout the state, Barack Obama was repeatedly crushing Hillary Clinton.

FINAL POLLING

See also

*Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
*Virginia Republican primary, 2008

References