Pollster.com conducts some rigorous public opinion polling, particularly around the voting electorate. Mark Blumenthal writes analyzes recent exit polls findings that present more troubling news for Democrats and for Barack Obama.
"Looking at voter demographics pre-Indiana/NC and what they show. Support for Obama among voters from about age 45 forward drops off steeply. And even though older voters with high incomes ($100K+) support Obama, those who earn less than this support Clinton by pretty large margins. And she also gets big support from voters who earn less than $50K, by about 12 points; the difference is greater from $50K-$100K (18-20 points)."
"The same is true for education. Seniors w/college degrees support her by 8 points (50-42), but those w/o degrees have backed her by whopping 48 points (69-21 percent)."
Kathy Frankovic, polling director at CBS News, looks at the same exit polling data (or presumably the same -- she explained that she combined exit polls "weighted to total votes...excluding Florida and Michigan") and adds a little more granularity for the youngest voters:
"Among white voters with a college degree, Obama and Clinton have run almost even so far this year - 49 percent for Obama, 47 percent for Clinton. The results are very different by age within this group - those under 45 have given Obama a lead, and those over 45 have chosen Clinton. This does seem to support Obama’s claim that older, better-educated Democratic voters are staying with what they know, keeping on 'track.'"
"White voters without a college degree, however, vote differently. This year, they have voted for Clinton over Obama by almost two-to-one - 61 percent to 33 percent. And the age of the voter matters less. Clinton leads decisively with just about all age groups of these voters - as long as they are over 30. She even edged Obama, 48 percent to 47 percent, among non-degreed voters under 30, but over 24 years old. Only the white non-college graduates younger than 25 have favored Obama so far this primary season. They voted for him 59 percent to 38 percent."
And Big Tent Democrat at TalkLeft, takes on Jonathan Alter ("Grandma Primary" - Newsweek) for ignoring "age gap" facts in election results "when they do not fit their [pro-Obama] narrative."
"This is false in every particular. [More...] The PA exit polls prove this. Clinton won ALL voters 40-49 by 54-46. She won ALL voters 50-64 by 57-43. these two age groups comprised 56% of the vote in Pennsylvania. Of course Clinton also won all whites 60 and older by 68-32. But she also won all whites 18-29 by 52-48. She also won all whites 30-44 by 58-42."
Teddy Kennedy Weighs-in On A Clinton VP Spot
Tell me again why I am supposed to respect Ted Kennedy. Oh, yeah. It's for all the things he's done for women...
"'I don't think it's possible,' Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's 'Political Capital With Al Hunt,' airing this weekend. That is because of the 'tenor of the campaign' in recent weeks, Kennedy spokesman Anthony Coley said later."
[snip]
Kennedy, 76, without naming names, said Obama should pick a running mate who 'is in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people.'
"'If we had real leadership -- as we do with Barack Obama -- in the No. 2 spot as well, it'd be enormously helpful,' Kennedy said."
Maybe he's losing his bearings, too.
Rahm Emanuel let him have it, though:
"'I have a lot of respect for Ted Kennedy, but I don't know how the hell he comes off saying that,' said Mr. Emanuel, who has ties to Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama and has not endorsed in the race.
"'The gratuitous attack on her is uncalled for and wrong. He is a better senator than that comment reveals.'"
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