Election 2008

Analyzing the results from Penn

Albert Sun — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:08:02 +0000

For yesterday’s primary, The Daily Pennsylvanian sent reporters down to each polling station around campus to pick up results when polls closed. You can see the result here as a color coded map of how Penn voted. Interestingly many of the same campaign trends that hold across the country can be seen in miniature on Penn’s campus. We’ve color coded the map according to the results.

In total, from the polling stations around Penn’s campus, Obama won 71.5% of the vote. Dark blue indicates Clinton won less than 29% of the vote, light blue indicates she won more than 29%. Nationally, we’ve seen that younger voters strongly prefer Obama to Clinton. The difference even applies to upperclassmen versus freshmen.

The Quad and Hill, mostly freshmen, voted more strongly in favor of Obama than the high rises and off campus areas where fewer freshmen live.

Obama’s margin was highest in Division 18 where 80.3% of students voted for him. Division 18’s polling place was Steinberg-Dietrich Hall and contains Du Bois College House. It’s likely that Du Bois’s large population of black students voted overwhelmingly for Obama like much of the rest of Philadelphia’s black voters.

CLINTON WINS PA

Colin Kavanaugh — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:19:32 +0000

Sen. Hillary Clinton has won the Pennsylvania primary, though final results are not yet known.

As soon as the crowd heard the news, as reported on CNN, they broke out into applause. Chants of “Hillary, Hillary for President” filled the ballroom of the hotel.

Final results are developing, but the last post I wrote had Gov. Rendell predicting a 7-8 percent win.

Rendell’s Word

Colin Kavanaugh — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:05:21 +0000

I missed this when it happened, but PA Gov. Ed Rendell handicapped the race earlier today on MSNBC.

His take? Clinton wins by 7-8 percentage points.

Based on current exit polls, it looks like the governor is right on.

CLINTON WINS. JUST CALLED BY CNN.

Live Post: Results Are In!

Albert Sun — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:16:38 +0000

Division 21: Harnwell College House - 8:17PM
Clinton 68 31.8%
Obama 146 68.2%
McCain 6

Division 20: Harrison College House - 8:27PM
Clinton 88 32.9%
Obama 180 67.1%
McCain 8
Paul 2

Division 19: David Rittenhouse Laboratories - 8:27PM
Clinton 66 28.8%
Obama 163 71.2%
Incomplete - only 2 out of 3 machines reporting

Division 22: Houston Hall - 8:28PM
Clinton 165 28.7%
Obama 409 71.2%

Division 9: Walnut Street Library
Clinton 86 29.6%
Obama 205 70.4%
McCain 3
Paul 2

Division 18: Steinberg-Dietrich Hall
Clinton 56 19.6%
Obama 229 80.3%
McCain 13
Paul 1

Divisions 5 and 8: Woodland Presybterian Church
Clinton 88 27.5%
Obama 232 72.5%
McCain 7
Paul 2

Divisions 11 and 3: 36th and Chestnut
Clinton 73 30.4%
Obama 167 69.6%
McCain 4
Paul 1

Totals
Clinton 690 28.5%
Obama 1731 71.5%
McCain 41
Paul 7

CNN results seem to be going the other way though.

Amy Gutmann Votes!

Thomas Jansen — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:10:54 +0000

Watch Amy Gutmann as she votes in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. Afterwards the DP interviews her.

Exit Polls

Colin Kavanaugh — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:48:07 +0000

…have started to pour in.

The polls are, so far, not indicative of any particular margin of victory. They do, however, generally point towards a Clinton victory. The economy was continually ranked as a top concern, according to the AP exit poll.

Per AP:

Pennsylvania Democrats had a sour view of the economy—four in 10 said the country is in a serious recession and at least as many called it a moderate recession. Only about one in 10 said the economy is not in recession.

As in earlier primaries, at least half of voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the country. About half as many said Iraq was the top issue. Health care trailed in importance.

Interestingly enough, the poll also reports that around 4 in 10 voters have a gun owner in the household. Ben Smith, a Politico blogger, makes the point that that number is strangely high for a Democratic primary. I concur…

Another 15 minutes. Remember though: cities (which tend to favor Obama) report first, while rural areas report later on. So try not to read too much into an early Obama surge.

Penn Rockin’ the Vote

Rachel Baye — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:52:29 +0000

The Real Youth Vote | With Video!

Alyssa Schwenk — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:07:03 +0000

Penn for Hillary and Penn for Obama have nothing on these kids.

Today from about 3:00-3:30 p.m., a gaggle of kids from the after-school program at St. Mary’s (think the church next to the Tampons) marched on the Button, reminding students and passersby to vote today. They also shouted their support for their candidate of choice.

And the candidate whose captured the hearts and minds of these future voters?

Overwhelmingly, Barack Obama.

“My mom says he’s awesome,” said Lillian, aged 7.

(more…)

Penn for Obama’s on-campus efforts

Emily Schultheis — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:37:39 +0000

“Vote today!”

As I was walking out of Hill College House this morning to begin covering Penn for Obama’s on-campus effort, a guy wearing a “Barack the Vote” shirt reminded me that today is, in fact, the Pennsylvania primary.

After informing him that sadly, I’m registered in California and cast my vote on Super Tuesday (and kicking myself for thinking back then that Pennsylvania wouldn’t matter), I continued across campus to find students stationed on the corner of 34th and Walnut, outside of Upper Quad gate, and on Locust Walk.

According to Penn for Obama co-president Julian Harris, the group has split the campus into five zones — Locust Walk, Spruce Street, Walnut Street, College Green, and the High Rises. They’ve been sending volunteers to each of these locations throughout the day, and will continue to do so until polls close tonight at 8 p.m.

I’ll add more about student responses and what Penn for Obama volunteers said, but for now I’m off to talk to more people who are out campaigning across campus. Check back later today for more updates on the way Penn for Obama has been getting out the vote on campus…

Check back when polls close for results from Penn

Albert Sun — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:01:19 +0000

I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Obama is going to win at Penn. Results from a Daily Pennsylvanian/CBS poll showed that 73 percent of Penn students support Obama.

No matter how effective Penn for Hillary may be, they are not going to overcome that margin.

The same might be said on a larger scale for all of Philadelphia. Obama will likely win here, the question is by how much, and will turnout be high enough to close the gap for him.

How can we rate how successful Penn for Obama and Penn for Hillary have been in their respective efforts, especially that final push to reach undecideds? The DP/CBS poll was conducted over the week leading up to Friday the 18th, so results from today’s voting should differ from those results mainly with people who make up their minds at the last minute. I propose this metric. If over 73 percent of Penn students vote for Obama, let’s rule it a success for Obama here. If over 27 percent vote for Clinton, we can rule it a success for her final push.

Either way, check back around 8PM as polls close for results from the polling stations around Penn. And if you don’t know where to vote, find out!