Who voted for Barack Obama last night?

[cali]

Young people. Lots of them. Women. Liberals. Independents. The numbers are fascinating. The only demographic group Clinton won was the over 65s. And Edwards won conservative dems. What does this say? I know some Edwards and Clinton supporters will say it means voters are stupid, but that's not it. It means that Obama has appeal across a broad swath of the voting population. How can that not be good?

[Perry Logan]

1. The "Clinton hater" vote obviously put Obama over the top. Not a very positive sign.

That would explain the less-than-exuberant atmosphere around here today. If you want to know the truth, people seem a little creeped out.

[Sal Minella]

10. If "Clinton-hating" had been the impetus, the results would have been distributed far more evenly

among other candidates. Obama attracted voters. Hillary's attitude of "In the sticks, cajoling the hicks" did not persuade Iowa voters she would be an adequate leader for the United States of America.

[Perry Logan]

12. A quick look around DU makes it abundantly clear that Obamites are Hillary haters, and little more.

[MethuenProgressive]

14. "Vote for me cuz I'm Not Hillary" isn't going to win the general election.

And the Evangelicals he panders to will vote Huckabee.

[DissentIsPatriotic]

2. CNN's entrance polling shows that many Republicans, who

were also first time caucusers, voted for Obama. I think this is an interesting/suspicious note.

[salin]

7. not a large (or definitive) margin

3 % of caucus goers were cross over repubs who changed affiliation to vote, and of those 44% voted for Obama (and I think 40% voted for Clinton) so 01.32% of the vote wer "Obama republicans", and 01.2% were "Clinton Republicans." I don't think that those numbers suggest that they had much of an impact.

[earthlover]

11. This was a GOOD THING! Increasing the size of Democratic Party participation

is the way to win things. We have to expand. Even to squeak by we need some folks who didn't used to be with us. But Obama's ability to bring a wide spectrum of people into the process could spell an electoral landslide for us that could, furthermore, be a generational thing as the young voters who start out in the Dem Party voting for Obama continue to vote Democratic as they get older.

I want us to be a majority party. The way to do that is to GROW. Not complain when new faces join us.

[H2O Man]

3. Good post.

I think that most democrats are very pleased this morning. Senator Obama did great. But both John Edwards and Hillary Clinton did well, too. All three gave wonderful speeches. The country is hearing a powerful, positive message from the democratic party.

There are a few DUers who are channeling bitterness. I think that says far more about them as individuals, than the candidates that they claim to support. Their bitterness and refusal to even feign being good sports sticks out. It is unlikely to sway many to their side.

[cali]

4. Thanks, H2O Man. I agree. All our candidates did

a fine job and gave stellar speeches.

[Sal Minella]

5. AND my two wealthy Republican neighbors, who registered as Dems last night to caucus for Obama!

btw I'm well "over 65" and I caucused for Obama too.

[salin]

8. what was their motivation?

In the last hour I have read three reasons for this (small - but real) phenomenon

1) Inspiration that crosses party lines
2) Attempts to thwart Clinton
3) Attempts to get Obama on the ticket because he "would be the easiest to beat"

[Sal Minella]

16. Honestly, I don't know -- they are wealthy and have a lovely home on the lakeshore,

whereas I live across the road behind them in a comparative hovel and take care of their pets when they are off on cruises and such.

So we aren't exactly on a heart-to-heart political talk basis -- but I was astounded last night when I walked into the Obama group, there they both were! They are decent people, actually, I really don't believe they'd do the "Caucus for the opposition's weakest candidate" routine. I thought they'd voted for Bush both times but she said last night they didn't.

So I don't know, and I really am not chummy enough with them to ask (income differential of probably $200,000 per annum or so).

[Uben]

6. That is good!

..but it does not equate to a national win. Bill Clinton only got 2.8% of Iowa in 92. We have a looooong way to go before we start getting a clear picture of who will win the nomination. Obama comes from a neighboring state of Iowa, and Iowa was a must win.

Obama's win is really exciting. I would like to see him roll all the way to the WH, but this is the beginning, not the end. I just hope when its all said and done, we have a dem in the WH, we pick up 5 or 6 seats in the senate, and a few more in the house.

We need enough wins to make a difference! Enough to get our legislation through without having the rescumblicans block everything.

No more war, no more fear.

[robbedvoter]

9. I was very happy with the outcome - and I started PO'd at Iowa's power

The turnout - double for Dems, the result - all reasons to be happy today.
now if only they'd count the votes in November!

[MethuenProgressive]

13. About 2% of the registered Democrats of Iowa, if MSNBC has the numbers right.

Which means 98% of registered Iowans didn't think Obama was worth "voting" for.
Iowa's Democrats are smart people.

[Bitwit1234]

15. Yeah hell all those 100,000 bussed in for the occasion

It makes you ill when you see the bus students running around like they did something big. When the support the unions that built this country, when they support the poor and the elderly and when they get off their ass and their heads out of their ipods then you can say they are useful and contributing to this country, instead of phoning in their vote for the American Idol....lets see what they do in a real state. Where they have to go to the polls and vote. Where they have to really campaign for their candidate, where they don't have Oprah putting on a show that they can YEAH YEAH RAH RAH at. When they can really understand what is at stake. When they can see thru the veneer of a person like Obama. Who in about 7 or 8 years may have the know how under his belt to really be good at what he does. Oh yeah right now it looks good because Oprah got so many of them to come into Iowa, but what in the hell will the do when it comes down to really performing.