More on Clinton and Obama's Jacksonian, Academic Divide

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/primaries/conn_primary_dem_results_by_town/

Above is a link to the Connecticut numbers to add to your Massachusetts analysis--check out New Canaan and Darien--both big Obama wins.

http://www.co.henrico.va.us/registrar/2008FebruaryElection-unOfficialResult.htm

Also above is a link to the the Henrico Co VA website. Obama does well in affluent, strongly GOP slice of Henrico--the Tuckahoe District--which Obama carried 5,100-2,800. Allen won every precinct there in 2006. (see also VA statewide site --http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/).

Similar pattern in affluent, now swing McLean/Great Falls portion of Fairfax Co--where Obama ran particularly well -- see riverfront precincts 301, 304, 306, 311.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb/result/DEM_RESU08_final.pdf

Thanks

NL of VA 10:42PM May 08, 2008

. . . kind of an oxymoron - Jacksonian Democrat . . .

But if one falls for the race bate, then one would have to wonder how it came to be that an African America became (first democratic) governer of the state (in a really long time). As much as race is an issue in American history, so is gender, and to give more weight to one issue is to view this phenomena through narrow lens. I guess what the MA primary results show is that it's mult-dimensional.

At any rate, I still stand by my previous statements. Boston and surrounding areas (areas heavily populated with minorities) swung for Obama. If one thinks there is nothing wrong with minorities supporting minorities, then they're much a part of the race issue that still plagues America as Jacksonian democrats. There are some minority groups who went decisively for Clinton, like, I would imagine, the Asian vote. One might say at a visceral level that race was the motivating factor, but in all honesty, this is too superficial and we need to look deeper than just race and gender. There's also other factors that come into play and many reasons to be FOR Clinton, than AGAINST Obama. Many of which are in line with Asian values. And at the end of the primary day, those reasons won the day.

My greatest fear is that this primary race really does divide the democratic party, and a segment of that population will actually end of voting for the white guy (out of spite, mind you, not hate for another's race or gender).

RO of MA 10:49PM April 07, 2008

This was very enlightening, and I'm surprised Clinton has done well in Massachusetts, given its history in demonizing female candidates (Jane Swift and Kerry Healy). I think many MA residents have "voter's remorse" after voting for Deval Patrick into the governer's office. He has fallen flat on his campaign promises, and if history serves us right, Obama, if president, would fall flat on his promises as well.

I wouldn't interpret the Boston and surrounding areas (including Cambridge) as leaning Obama as a result of the college vote. Afterall, these areas also have a heavy population of African Americans and minorities who tend to vote Obama no matter what. Isolated collegetowns like Wellesley and Amherst are more telling of the "Jacksonian academics" divide. Affluent areas like Lexington and Concord represent the white upper income brackets. The western parts who carried Obama tend to be Republican and anti-Clinton. I don't think the media discusses this segment of the Obama support enough.

After all this, it's surprising that Clinton carried the majority of the youth as well as white males in this state. I would have liked to see a breakdown of the age in the Boston and surrounding areas. This state boasts one of the highest post secondary education rate in the country, and has an above average mean family income. It would help shed light on if Obama really does carry the college educated vote, because, as a young college-educated individual, I have yet to encounter a young college-educated individual who voted for Obama.

RO of MA 11:02AM April 06, 2008