'It's the Map, Not the Math'?
Though Clinton pulled off a big win in WV, it's still Obama's race to lose.
May 13, 2008— -- The moment polls closed in West Virginia, ABC News was able to use exit polling to project that Hillary Clinton would comfortably win the Mountain State's Democratic primary.
Racially motivated voting ran somewhat higher in West Virginia than elsewhere.
"In preliminary exit poll results," writes ABC News polling director Gary Langer, "two in 10 whites said the race of the candidate was a factor in their vote, second only to Mississippi. Only a third of those voters said they'd support Obama against John McCain, fewer than in other primaries where the question's been asked."
Full analysis here.
So where does the former first lady go from here?
Per ABC's George Stephanopoulos, "She tries to argue that this is a crucial turning point in the campaign, she almost certainly stays in until Kentucky and Oregon vote on Tuesday, and she argues to superdelegates that Obama cannot win these white working class voters."
The problem for Clinton is that Obama is still on track to become the pledged delegate majority winner on May 20th.
The Illinois Democrat is not planning to declare victory on that day, but Obama campaign manager David Plouffe reiterated Tuesday that May 20th will be a very significant date in the race since several high-profile Democratic leaders have indicated that the party would suffer if superdelegates were to hand the party's nomination to the runner-up in pledged delegates.
None of this, however, will protect Obama (who wore a flag pin for the second day in a row on Tuesday) from new scrutiny about his viability in November. In an effort to address concerns that his candidacy represents the (losing) McGovern coalition of affluent whites and African-Americans, Obama is planning three stops in Michigan on Wednesday including two in Macomb County, the place where Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg went in the 1980s to study the alienation of Reagan Democrats by government in general and Democrats in particular.
On the campaign front. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- Drops by Chrysler Plant, Sterling Heights, MI
-- 11:30 am ET: Attends economic discussion with workers, Warren, MI
-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends event in Grand Rapids, MI
HILLARY CLINTON
-- No public events scheduled
BILL CLINTON
-- Attends event with voters, Missoula, MT
-- Visits Pine Ridge Reservation, Pine Ridge, SD
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- Appears as a guest on "Live" with Regis and Kelly
At the White House and Beyond. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 4:05 am ET: Participates in arrival ceremony with the first lady, Tel Aviv, Israel
-- 6:25 am ET: Meets with the President of Israel, Jerusalem
-- 7:25 am ET: Meets with the Prime Minister of Israel, Jerusalem
-- 12:10 pm ET: Speaks at the ICC Jerusalem Convention Center
LABOR DEPARTMENT
-- 8:30 am ET: Releases the Consumer Price Index for April
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Gary Langer: Exit Polls: The Race Factor in West Virginia LINK
ABC News' Jennifer Parker: Clinton Looks for Big West Virginia Win LINK
ABC News' Rick Klein: Blogging the West Virginia Primary LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: The Math LINK
ABC News' Gary Langer: Obama and Working-Class Whites LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: The Goldberg Variation LINK
ABC News' Ann Compton: Clinton Adviser: She's Fighting to Last Primary LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Et Tu, Carville? LINK
ABC News' Ed O'Keefe: Hagel Flirts with Obama Veepstakes LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Clinton Chair Praises Fox News, Says 90% of the Media in the Tank for Obama LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis, Sunlen Miller and Mike Elmore: Fmr DNC Chair Romer Backs Obama LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama WV Superdelegate on Obama's Problems with White Working Class Voters LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Clinton, Obama Cordial on Senate Floor LINK
ABC News' Bret Hovell: Live from New York. . . It's John McCain LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM
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Can West Virginia Revive Clinton?
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West Virginia Votes
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Uphill Battle for John McCain
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Clinton Poised for Big Win
Will W. Va. primary victory help her bid for the presidency? LINK