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Election 2008
Wilson Democrats favor Obama By Matt Shaw | Daily Times Staff Writer U.S. Sen. Barack Obama easily won the N.C. Democratic primary Tuesday, bringing him closer to his party's nomination for president. Obama captured over 56 percent of the vote across the state while U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton had 41 percent. The Illinois senator did even better in Wilson, where he had spoken a week earlier to a packed gymnasium at Beddingfield High School. He received 62 percent of the county vote. Speaking to supporters Tuesday night in Raleigh, Obama said, "Because you still believe that this is our moment, and our time, for change, tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for president of the United States." But Clinton eked out a win in Indiana as she struggled to halt her rival's march into history and vowed to continue fighting. "Thanks to you, it's full speed on to the White House," she told a crowd of supporters in Indianapolis, signaling her determination to continue to battle in a campaign that has already waged across more than 16 months and nearly all 50 states. Clinton narrowly won Indiana, capturing 51 percent of the vote. In the all-important delegate count, Obama picked up 61 pledged delegates in North Carolina and 33 in Indiana, while Clinton received 38 delegates in North Carolina and 37 in Indiana. Wilson voters said they were excited to support Obama. "I thought long and hard about it, and I really didn't make my mind up until a couple of days ago," said Roy Edwards after voting at the Wilson County Agricultural Center. "I just liked him better on the issues." Abdul Aleem was impressed that "Obama comes across as a honest person. He's sort of like us, an ordinary person." Aleem's wife, Najiyyah, saw the senator in Wilson and also saw his wife, Michelle, on a recent campaign visit. "He is a sincere and honest person who is really interested in helping people," she said. "When they (the Obamas) talk, they talk straight to the people." Obama won 18 of Wilson County's 25 precincts and many by huge margins. For example, at the Darden Alumni Center (Precinct N), Obama received 939 votes to Clinton's 74. In areas with more white voters, Clinton did better. For example, in the Oldsfield precinct, voting at Sims Town Hall, the former first lady had 520 votes to Obama's 254. In his speech after being declared the winner in North Carolina, Obama said that this victory clearly signals that he should be the party's nominee. "You know, there are those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election," Obama told a roaring crowd in Raleigh, referring to Clinton's hope that an upset there would recast the race in her favor. "But today what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C." In an overnight e-mail appeal for donations, Obama said: "We have a clear path to victory." But Clinton vowed to compete tenaciously for West Virginia next week and Kentucky and Oregon after that, and to press "full speed on to the White House." But she risks running on fumes without an infusion of cash and made a direct fund-raising pitch from the stage in Indianapolis. "I need your help to continue our journey," she said. And she pledged anew that she would support the Democratic nominee "no matter what happens," a vow also made by her competitor. Obama took the day off today to be with his family in Chicago, while Clinton showed no public signs of easing her pace. The campaign added a noon appearance in Shepherdstown, W. Va., to her schedule. On Thursday, she planned to campaign in West Virginia, South Dakota and Oregon. The bitter campaign could come with a steep cost. The protracted contest is hardening divisions in the party, according to exit polls from North Carolina and Indiana. A solid majority of each candidate's supporters said they would not be satisfied if the other candidate wins the nomination. Fully one-third of Clinton's supporters in Indiana and North Carolina went beyond mere dissatisfaction to say they would vote for Republican John McCain instead of Obama if that's the choice in the fall. Exit polls also indicated that racial divisions were stark in both races. In both states, Clinton won six in 10 white votes, while Obama got nine in 10 black votes,. It was a slightly better performance than usual by Clinton among whites, while Obama's backing from blacks was one of his highest winning percentages yet with that group. Against the backdrop of disunity, pressure is certain to intensify on the superdelegates to declare themselves and lasso Democrats together for the fall campaign against McCain. They are not bound by results in primaries or caucuses. "There is an eagerness in the party to get this done and move on," said David Axelrod, chief Obama strategist. "There is no question that we can see the finish line." In sharp contrast to the Democratic primary, the Republican presidential primary was lackluster, given U.S. Sen. John McCain has already locked up the GOP nomination. Statewide, McCain received 74 percent of the vote, followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 12 percent. In Wilson, McCain had nearly 80 percent of the vote and Huckabee 11 percent. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contributed to this report. mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878 ========================================================= How North Carolina Voted in the Democratic Presidential Primary Barack Obama 890,695 - 56 percent Hillary Clinton 657,920 - 42 percent No Preference 22,722 - 1 percent Mike Gravel 12,486 - 1 percent
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