NYT reports:
Clinton drew strong support from white, working-class voters, whom Obama can't seem to win over in recent contests. A strong Clinton victory in another general election battleground state like her victories in Ohio and Pennsylvania could raise fresh questions about Mr. Obama's ability to carry swing states in a contest against Senator John McCain.
With 72 percent of the precincts reporting, Clinton had 65% and. Obama had 27%.
Surveys showed a strong racial component in West Virginia's voting suggesting that Obama would face pockets of Democratic resistance if he becomes the first black nominee. Although he has argued that he could broaden the Democratic base in the fall... the Clinton camp has pointed to his modest support from white voters and blue-collar workers as weak links for him.
Obama supporters accused Clinton of playing the race card last week when she said she had more support among "white Americans" than he did. However blunt she was, white and financially struggling voters in West Virginia and in Kentucky, which votes next week and which Mr. Obama has all but conceded, have become a major force keeping her in the race.
"There are some who have wanted to cut this race short," Clinton said "I am more than ever determined to carry on this campaign until everyone has had a chance to make their voices heard."
>50% of West Virginia voters said they would be dissatisfied if Mr. Obama won the nomination, according to the surveys by Edison/Mitofsky.
No Democrat has won the White House without winning West Virginia since 1916. Bill Clinton carried it in 1992 and 1996. Al Gore and John Kerry lost the state in 2000 and 2004, respectively.
Hillary is the candidate for those affected by the economic downturn of the US.
> 6 in 10 West Virginia voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country, and two-thirds of them backed Clinton. Nine in 10 voters said the economic slowdown had affected them, including nearly half who said they were affected a great deal. Clinton was supported by about three-quarters of those most affected.
She also won the support of most voters younger than 30, a group that has typically voted heavily for Obama. Tand she edged out Obama among college graduates and higher-income voters, also groups Obama has relied on.
More than half said Mr. Obama was not honest and trustworthy, and most also said he did not share their values.
When asked to select from 4 qualities that mattered most in voting:
~50% said bringing about change was paramount.
~25% said having the right experience was most important.
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