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Indiana Primary Facts and Figures

By Jennifer O'Shea

Posted April 29, 2008

Presidential Primary Winners

Democrats

1988: Michael Dukakis
1992: Bill Clinton
1996: Bill Clinton
2000: Al Gore
2004: John Kerry

Republicans

1988: George H.W. Bush
1992: George H.W. Bush
1996: Bob Dole
2000: George W. Bush
2004: George W. Bush

Sources: Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections; Indiana Secretary of State's Office, Election Division

Voter Registration Data

(as of April 24, 2008)
Registered voters: 4,315,298
Source: Indiana Secretary of State's Office, Election Division

General Election Winners—1988-2004

1988: George H.W. Bush
1992: George H.W. Bush
1996: Bob Dole
2000: George W. Bush
2004: George W. Bush

Sources: Congressional Quarterly ' s Guide to U.S. Elections; Indiana Secretary of State's Office, Election Division

Exit Poll Demographics

2004 General Election
Sex

Male: 48%
Female: 52%

Race

White: 89%
African-American: 7%
Latino: 3%
Asian: 1%

Age

18-29: 14%
30-44: 33%
45-59: 30%
60 and older: 23%

White Evangelical/ Born Again

Yes: 35%
No: 65%

Source: CNN

3 Things You Didn't Know about the Indiana Primaries

1. Indiana once had the nation's earliest presidential primary. In 1916, the state's March primary was the earliest in the U.S.—New Hampshire and Minnesota voted a week later.

2. In 1968, Robert Kennedy was just beginning his Indiana campaign when he received word that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in Memphis. Against the advice of some local officials, Kennedy went ahead with his planned speaking engagement in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Indianapolis. His historic remarks called for peace and reconciliation. Today, a Peace Memorial statue stands in the park where Kennedy spoke.

3. In 1976, Ronald Reagan surprised many by winning the Indiana presidential primary over incumbent Gerald Ford (by 51.3 to 48.7%). Weeks earlier, polls had showed Reagan about 25 percent behind in the state.

Sources: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chicago Business, Connecticut Post, Indianapolis Star, Indiana Secretary of State's Office, Election Division, Indy Parks and Recreation, Manchester Union Leader, New York Times, Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary