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Pennsylvanians React to Primary And Results PDF Print E-mail
Written by Leigh Ann Caldwell   
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 10:00

Apr. 23, Feature - Hillary Clinton walks away with a Pennsylvania win. She won the popular vote by less than 10 percentage points. Barack Obama was able to cut into her major lead there in the 6 weeks of campaigning since the last contest.

April 23 - Feature
produced by Leigh Ann Caldwell
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At the Park Hyatt in downtown Philadelphia, Hillary Clinton held her victory rally. She framed the Pennsylvania results as a major accomplishment, playing up the Rocky theme of a fighter, while taking subtle jabs at her opponent.

"And because of you, the tide is turning. We were up against a formidable opponent. Who outspent us 3 to 1, he broke every spending record in this state trying to knock us out of this race. Well the people of Pennsylvania had other ideas today. You know the presidency is the toughest job. Pressures of the campaign looked through the heat and saw the brighter tomorrow."

Hillary ClintonThrough out the evening, campaign surrogates downplayed the necessity to win by double digits for Clinton to remain a formidable candidate. Instead they portrayed her as the underdog in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell:

"It's the equivalent of a political earthquake."

The Obama campaign has repeatedly pointed to polls that showed him up to twenty points behind after the Ohio primary, a state which has similar demographics and that Clinton won by a larger margin, 10 points.

Obama had already moved onto Indiana, which, along with North Carolina, holds the next contest on May 6. He congratulated Clinton and focused on his candidacy, and didn't tear down hers.

"..I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who stood with our campaign today."

The delegates must still be allocated. Most of which are awarded based on population, registered Democrats and Congressional districts. The delegate allocation could prove closer that the popular vote margin.

 

Now we turn to reporter Andalusia Knoll with some voices from the polls at Pittsburgh.

The streets of Pittsburgh were plastered with posters of civil rights demonstrators with the phrase "because they marched, we vote"

Election workers said they saw more voters at the polls within the first few open hours than they normally see for a whole day of the primary election. From Pittsburgh's wealthiest neighborhoods to the regions poorest communities support for Barack Obama was strong.

Hundreds of African American voters stood in line outside of a Pittsburgh community center waiting to volunteer to remind registered Democrats to go out and vote. One volunteer, Uncle Woody said this was a historic moment and that we need Obama as president.

"He's the man, He's the man for change, he's the man of our choice, and he's the man with a voice."

Hillary Clinton Across town in a predominately affluent white neighborhood some voters said Hillary Clinton had their vote because she was set to make history.

"Men have been ruling the world since the beginning of time, let's give women a chance"

Gender was also a significant factor for Mary Litman

"I worked all of my life to find a woman who I could believe in, and respect, and that woman is Hillary Clinton."

One woman thought that Clinton could solve the region's economic woes.

"Western Pennsylvania has had a very hard time economically since we lost the steel industry and she seems the most determined to address that issue."

Yet another voter thought Barack Obama was most prepared to deal with Pittsburgh's financial crisis.

"We need jobs and he addressed the job situation.."

At a poll nearby in Pittsburgh's wealthiest area some Republican participated in the Democratic Primary. Voter Barbara Ernsberger said their presence was noticeable.

"This is my polling place for 20 years and I can identify people today who are normally registered Republican, who switched to Democratic and they expressed to me that they were voting for Hillary Clinton because she was the easiest to fund \raise against in the fall"

But not every Republican plotted for the General Election, it was Obama's inspiring words that led Ty to switch from Republican to Democrat.

"I feel that he is an individual that can bring people together as a unified group"

 

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