2008 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary

none June 2025 September 2023 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary Pennsylvania presidential no 2004 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary 2004 2016 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary 2016 2008 04 22 187 Democratic National Convention delegates(158 pledged, 29 unpledged) SDEs State delegate equivalents (SDEs) are used to calculate how many delegates each candidate gets both in each district and on state-level. The statewide total includes the four district SDE results as well as the SDE result from the satellite caucuses outside the state. Hillary_Rodham_Clinton-cropped.jpg Hillary Clinton D4AA00 New York 85 1,273,764 54.59% Barack Obama Senate portrait crop.jpg Barack Obama 800080 Illinois 73 1,059,698 45.41% 250px 300px County resultsClinton: #f1c98b 50–60% #e6b263 60–70% #d99a39 70–80%Obama: #cf94cf 50–60% #bd6fbd 60–70% MS GU The 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary was held on April 22 by the Pennsylvania Department of State in which voters chose their preference for the Democratic Party's candidate for the 2008 United States presidential election. Voters also chose the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's candidates for various state and local offices. The selected candidates were placed on the ballot of the 2008 general election on November 4. The Democratic primary was part of a general primary that also included the 2008 Pennsylvania Republican presidential primary. The Democratic primary was open to registered Democrats only. Polls opened at 7am and closed at 8pm. Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were the only candidates on the ballot for President of the United States.http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/lib/bcel/elections/petition_filers.pdf Unofficial List of Candidates PDF 2008-03-22 2008-03-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20080317024520/http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/lib/bcel/elections/Petition_Filers.pdf dead The primary was considered to be a "must win" for Clinton, who defeated Obama, but by a smaller margin than hoped for. Delegate breakdown The Pennsylvania Democratic Party sent a total of 187 delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Of those delegates, 158 were pledged, and 29 were unpledged. All of the 158 pledged delegates were allocated (pledged) to vote for a particular candidate at the National Convention according to the results of the Pennsylvania presidential primary. The 29 unpledged delegates were popularly called "superdelegates" because their vote represented their personal decisions, whereas the regular delegates' votes represented the collective decision of many voters. The superdelegates were free to vote for any candidate at the National Convention and were selected by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's officials.Pennsylvania Delegate Selection Plan For The 2008 Democratic National Convention Pennsylvania Democratic Party 2007-08-25 http://padems.com/files/Delegate08Final806.pdf PDF 2008-04-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20080625114520/http://padems.com/files/Delegate08Final806.pdf 2008-06-25Berg-Andersson Richard Pennsylvania Democrat Presidential Nominating Process The Green Papers 2008-05-01 http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/PA-D.phtml 2008-05-01 The 158 pledged delegates were further divided into 103 district delegates and 55 statewide delegates. The 103 district delegates were divided among Pennsylvania's 19 congressional districts and were allocated to the presidential candidates based on the primary results in each district. The 55 statewide delegates were divided into 35 at-large delegates and 20 party leaders and elected officials (abbreviated PLEOs). They were allocated to the presidential candidates based on the preference of the delegates at the State Committee meeting on June 7. Of the 29 unpledged delegates, 26 were selected in advance and 3 were selected at the State Committee meeting. The delegates selected in advance were 13 Democratic National Committee members, the 11 Democratic U.S. representatives from Pennsylvania, Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., and Democratic Governor Ed Rendell. Importance of Pennsylvania The primary was the first time since 1976 that Pennsylvania played a major role in a presidential nomination.Infield Tom The last time a Pa. primary mattered 2008-03-24 The Philadelphia Inquirer http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_stories/The_last_time_a_Pa_primary_mattered.html 2008-04-16 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080830002523/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_stories/The_last_time_a_Pa_primary_mattered.html August 30, 2008 Importance of Pennsylvania for Clinton 250px|right|thumb|Former president Bill Clinton at a "Solutions for America" rally at the Henry Memorial Center at Washington & Jefferson College on March 11, 2008Former President Bill Clinton to Speak at W&J on Tuesday Current Press Releases Washington & Jefferson College March 10, 2008 http://www.washjeff.edu/content.aspx?section=2210&menu_id=517&crumb=518&page_title=Current%20Press%20Releases&id=11289 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708020159/http://www.washjeff.edu/content.aspx?section=2210&menu_id=517&crumb=518&page_title=Current%20Press%20Releases&id=11289 2011-07-08 2012-02-12 As the race continued to Pennsylvania, Indiana, and North Carolina, many observers had concluded that Clinton had little chance to overcome Obama's lead in pledged delegates.Alter Jonathan Jonathan Alter Hillary's New Math Problem: Tuesday's big wins? The delegate calculus just got worse. Newsweek 2008-03-05 http://www.newsweek.com/id/119010 Former President Bill Clinton highlighted the importance of the state for the Clinton campaign saying on March 11 at an event in Western Pennsylvania that "If she wins a big, big victory in Pennsylvania, I think it'll give her a real big boost going into the next primaries... I think she's got to win a big victory in Pennsylvania. I think if she does, she can be nominated, but it's up to you."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/11/757889.aspx Bill: Hill needs 'big, big victory' in PA MSNBC.com 2008-03-11 2008-03-12 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080314103338/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/11/757889.aspx 2008-03-14 This was a repetition of his tactic before March 4, warning supporters that his wife might not be able to continue if she did not win Ohio and Texas.Wheaton Sarah http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/bill-clinton-texas-and-ohio-or-bust/ Bill Clinton: Texas and Ohio or Bust The New York Times 2008-02-21 2008-03-12 Hillary Clinton emphasized that Pennsylvania was something of a home state for her, as her father came from Scranton, Pennsylvania, she and her brothers were christened there and had vacationed near there each summer, and her brothers still maintained the family cottage near there.https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/us/politics/10scranton.html Pennsylvania Ties Could Help Clinton Seelye Katharine Q The New York Times 2008-03-10 2008-03-14 Importance of Pennsylvania to Obama On March 18, 2008 Barack Obama chose Philadelphia as the site to deliver his much-anticipated "A More Perfect Union" speech dealing with the race and the controversy surrounding his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Campaign Obama's "Road to Change" bus tour thumb|right|200px|Obama speaking at a Rally in Pittsburgh to kick off his statewide bus tour. Obama started a 6-day "Road to Change" bus tour across Pennsylvania, with stops in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Altoona, State College, Harrisburg On March 28, Obama started the bus tour with a rally in Pittsburgh's Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/politics/15701045/detail.html Obama's Bus Tour Rolls Through Pittsburgh, Johnstown, State College - Politics News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh 2008-05-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20100608072238/http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/politics/15701045/detail.html 2010-06-08 dead Obama was introduced and endorsed by Senator Bob Casey Jr., who had indicated earlier that he would remain neutral in the democratic primary.https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/us/politics/28text-casey.html The New York Times Bob Casey Endorses Barack Obama 2008-03-28 2010-05-22 Casey traveled to Florida over the Easter holiday, where he said rain forced him to stay inside and think about the election. Obama's ability to "transcend" the racial divide and his ability to engage younger voters proved decisive to his decision. According to sources, Casey's four daughters lobbied their dad to endorse Obama.Obama wins endorsement from Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania - International Herald Tribune On March 29, the Obama bus tour stopped at the Pleasant Valley Recreation Center in Altoona, where he famously bowled a 37.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/30/obama-bowls-for-pennsylva_n_94097.html The Huffington Post Obama Bowls for Pennsylvania Voters 2008-03-30 Both Obama and Senator Casey (who rolled a score of 71) lost to local homemaker Roxanne Hart, who rolled a score of 82.http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_8750444 February 2022 On April Fool's Day, Senator Clinton jokingly challenged Obama to a "bowl-off," with the winner taking all the delegates.Clinton challenges Obama to bowl-off - Hillary Clinton News - nbcnews.com Controversy On April 11, 2008, The Huffington Post blogger Mayhill Fowler, a self-admitted Barack Obama supporter, reported that during an April 6 "closed press" fundraising event in San Francisco, California, Obama recounted the obstacles facing his campaign in the Pennsylvania primary as it pertained to rural, white voters.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-no-surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html Obama: No Surprise That Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians Turn Bitter The Huffington Post Mayhill Fowler 2008-11-17 Fowler wrote that during the speech, Obama said the following: You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them... And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations. Fowler later posted a three-minute, 30-second audio snippet confirming the accuracy of the remark.Fowler Mayhill Obama Exclusive (Audio): On V.P And Foreign Policy, Courting the Working Class, and Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-exclusive-audio-on_b_96333.html 3 July 2026 HuffPost 11 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080414024410/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-exclusive-audio-on_b_96333.html 14 April 2008 en Senators Clinton and John McCain both issued statements condemning the remarks.http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/12/politics/fromtheroad/entry4011172.shtml Clinton Says Obama is "Out of Touch" with Middle Class Americans, Calls Comments "Elitist" CBS News Fernando Suarez 2008-04-12 See also: http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/04/11/mccain-camp-barack-obama-is-an-elitist/ McCain Camp: Barack Obama is an "Elitist" dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080422032051/http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/04/11/mccain-camp-barack-obama-is-an-elitist/ April 22, 2008 Obama later defended his comments, but conceded: "I didn't say it as well as I should have."https://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSN1220078920080412 Obama says he erred in comments on "bitter" voters Reuters Caren Bohan 2008-04-12 However, he also added: "I said something that everybody knows is true."Finnegan, Michael. “Obama expresses regret for remarks on small towns”, Los Angeles Times (2008-04-13). Obama had addressed similar themes of guns, religion, and economics in 2004 during an interview with Charlie Rose.Interview by Charlie Rose https://web.archive.org/web/20120722202240/http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/1169 2012-07-22 See also: http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2004/11/23/1/an-hour-with-illinois-senator-barack-obama Full interview with Charlie Rose dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140126175012/http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2004/11/23/1/an-hour-with-illinois-senator-barack-obama 2014-01-26 Final week On the last Friday before the primary, Senator Obama spoke on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a crowd of more than 35,000, the largest audience yet drawn by either candidate during the campaign. The crowd was nearly twice what had been projectedhttp://www.phillyimc.org/en/node/66547 Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Rally 2008-04-18 Philadelphia Independent Media Center 2008-04-20 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081202062358/http://www.phillyimc.org/en/node/66547 2008-12-02 and spilled over into nearby streets.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/19/921128.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20080423221342/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/19/921128.aspx dead 2008-04-23 OBAMA'S CLOSING ARGUMENT? Anburajan Aswini 2008-04-18 msnbc.com 2008-04-20 The next day, Obama conducted a whistle stop train tour from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, drawing a crowd of 6,000 at a stop in Wynnewood and 3,000 at a stop in Paoli. On Monday, Sen. Obama held the final events of his Pennsylvania campaign in Scranton, McKeesport and at the University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center.http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jZv3Vf5-g07pAPJJrvLTZc3XDuyQD90577Q00 Obama takes whistle-stop tour through Pennsylvania Sidoti Liz 2008-04-19 Associated Press 2008-04-20March 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes The Saturday before the primary, Senator Clinton spoke in five Pennsylvania cities, including West Chester and York, Pennsylvania. More than 300 people showed up at the West Chester firehouse to hear the New York Senator speak.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-clinton20apr20,1,3663470.story Clinton scrambles to hold onto waning lead in Pennsylvania Roug Louise 2008-04-20 Los Angeles Times 2008-04-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20080421124545/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-clinton20apr20,1,3663470.story 2008-04-21 At the Wilson high gymnasium in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, Clinton told several hundred more supporters: "The job of a leader is to bring people together to solve problems . . . to understand that sometimes we have to fight to get the political will and the votes to make that happen". On Monday, April 21, Senator Clinton along with husband Bill Clinton spoke to a crowd of 6,000 in Downtown Pittsburgh. Other events were held Monday in Scranton, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20080419_WEST_LAWN__Pa__-_Sen__Hillary_Rodham_Clinton_returned_to_NO_HEAD_SPECIFIED.html Clinton: I have the political will Fitgerald Thomas 2008-04-19 The Philadelphia Inquirer 2008-04-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20080423173457/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20080419_WEST_LAWN__Pa__-_Sen__Hillary_Rodham_Clinton_returned_to_NO_HEAD_SPECIFIED.html 2008-04-23 Both candidates refused to participate in the political custom of street money.Dave Davies Word on the street: No election $ http://www.philly.com/dailynews/top_story/20080415_Word_on_the_street__No_election__.html Philadelphia Daily News 2008-04-15 2008-04-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20080502103154/http://www.philly.com/dailynews/top_story/20080415_Word_on_the_street__No_election__.html 2008-05-02 Polls Statewide opinion polling for the April, May, and June 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries#Pennsylvania Public opinion polling from early January 2007 through mid-February 2008 consistently gave Hillary Clinton a double digit lead over Barack Obama.2008 Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential Primary http://www.pollster.com/08-PA-Dem-Pres-Primary.php Pollster.com 2008-03-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20080509092618/http://www.pollster.com/08-PA-Dem-Pres-Primary.php 2008-05-09 dead By the beginning of April, polls of Pennsylvanians showed Obama trailing Clinton by an average of 5 points.http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1327.xml?ReleaseID=1165 Quinnipiac University dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110605040429/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1327.xml?ReleaseID=1165 2011-06-05 See also: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/docs/4376-Final%20Report-REGISTERED_DEMOCRATIC_PRIMARY_DEFINITEV_.pdf Time Magazine PDF http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/downloads/uploaded/33_InsiderAdvantage_Majority_Opinion_PA_Dem_Poll_(4-3-2008).pdf Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion PDF dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080625114520/http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/downloads/uploaded/33_InsiderAdvantage_Majority_Opinion_PA_Dem_Poll_%284-3-2008%29.pdf 2008-06-25 http://www.mcall.com/media/acrobat/2008-04/37477374.pdf Muhlenberg College PDFJuly 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Penn_Release_040208.pdf Public Policy Polling PDF According to 2 polls taken one day before the primary, Hillary Clinton was leading Barack Obama by 49%-42% and 51%-41%. Other polls showed Clinton leading by an average of about 6%.http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_democratic_primary-240.html Pennsylvania Democratic Primary information at realclearpolitics.com Some superdelegates also announced their preferred candidates before the primary. As of April 30, 16 superdelegates had announced support for Senator Clinton and 5 had announced support for Senator Obama.http://innovation.cq.com/primaries?tab=2 CQ Politics Primary Guide 2008-02-20 CQ Politics dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081029233322/http://innovation.cq.com/primaries?tab=2 October 29, 2008 Results Results of the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries Primary date: April 22, 2008 National pledged delegates determined: 158 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary, 2008Official ResultsCommonwealth of PA - Elections Information Pennsylvania Department of State 2008-04-22 http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=27&OfficeID=1 2008-05-01 April 26, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080426093149/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=27&OfficeID=1 dead Candidate Votes Percentage Estimated national delegates Hillary Clinton 1,273,764 54.59% 85 Barack Obama 1,059,698 45.41% 73 Totals 2,333,462 100.0% 158 In the end, Hillary Clinton won the primary by 9.28 percentage points, a wider margin than expected than recent polls suggested, but smaller than most January and February polls. Despite her victory, she gained only nine delegates on Obama. In particular superdelegates were not swinging in her direction after her win; the Clintons had been trying to secure the support of Congressman Jason Altmire but he remained uncommitted after she won his district by 31 percentage points during the primary. Analysis 2008 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primaryElection Guide 2008 - Presidential Election - Politics - Results - The New York Times https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/primaries/results/vote-polls/PA.html 2026-08-06 archive.nytimes.comDemographic subgroupClintonObama% of total voteTotal vote5545100Sex by raceWhite men534634White women643647Black men4965Black women11898Age17–29 years old38621230–44 years old46541945–59 years old53463760 and older594036EducationHigh school graduate643623Some college or associate degree514925College graduate465321Postgraduate study485226PartyDemocrat544682Independent or something else465314Political philosophyLiberal485249Moderate584140Conservative514810Which issue is the most important facing the country?The economy564455The war in Iraq445628Health care544614 See also Hillary Clinton wins Pennsylvania, cuts Obama's lead 2004 Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary 2008 Pennsylvania Republican presidential primary 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries References 30em Category:2008 United States Democratic presidential primaries by state or territory Category:2008 Pennsylvania elections 2008