Obama Beat the Line In Indiana
We have said it before, the day to day battle during a primary season is almost all about expectations. And on Tuesday, Obama beat expectations. He won decisively in NC and came close in Indiana.
How did Obama come so close in Indiana? He was able to cut into Clinton’s core vote thereby limiting the margins she could run up among her demographic groups and in her areas of the state.
For example, Clinton lost the Indianapolis metropolitan area by more than 15 points. And while he did so because of his overwhelming victory among blacks he also cut into Clinton’s lead among white voters. Exit polls show that Obama only lost white women by 20 points, far less than the 36 point margin Clinton had in PA. Obama lost white Catholics by 22 points, again, far less than the 44 point margin Clinton ran up in PA. Basically, by cutting into her margins with these demo groups and doing well in college towns and with black voters, Obama almost stole IN and beat the pundit betting line.