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Posted: February 9, 2008 10:22 PM
Obama Beats Out Clinton in Bayou Primary Fight
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Amid low voter turnout and a party still trying to rally its voters in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Democrats in Louisiana gave their nod to Sen. Barack Obama, helping the Illinois senator sweep Saturday’s three nominating contests.

With 40 percent of the vote reporting, Obama had 53 percent, compared with Sen. Hillary Clinton’s 38 percent. Based on those returns, the Associated Press and other media organizations projected Obama would win the state.

The results add to earlier victories in caucuses in Nebraska and Washington state and would likely add to Obama’s narrow lead among those pledged delegates selected in the primaries and caucuses. Sen. Clinton came into Saturday’s voting with a 57-delegate lead, largely fueled by her support among Democratic super delegates.

Ahead of the vote, Obama drew thousands at a rally at Tulane University and he poured money into advertising in the state, running some $300,000 worth of television spots in the days leading up to the balloting.

During the closing days of the campaign, former President Bill Clinton called on voters to support his wife, urging them to remember the work she has done for the region in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“I hope a lot of people will be there for Hillary as she has been there for you,” the former president said during a 50-minute speech at Dillard’s Lawless Memorial Chapel.

In Louisiana, Obama struggled to overcome some statistical challenges he has faced in past contests. Continuing a pattern seen in other Southern states, Obama won only three in 10 white men and did no better among white women, according to exit polls conducted by the Associated Press. In other parts of the country, Obama has tended to win far more votes from white men than white women, who have been one of Clinton’s strongest groups in nearly every primary so far.

Voters also hinted at some lasting impact from the devastation suffered by New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

One in seven Democratic voters and about one in 10 Republicans said Hurricane Katrina caused their families severe hardship and they have not recovered. About one in four in both parties said the storm caused severe hardship but they have recovered. Two-thirds of Republicans and a little more than a half of Democrats said Katrina did not cause their family severe hardship.

Democratic officials have been closely watching this vote to test the strength of their party in the wake of the massive population changes that followed the flooding of much of New Orleans.

Turnout was reportedly low in the Democratic primary, a marked change from many states that have reported record turnout during the early primaries and caucuses.

“I will be surprised if it exceeds 15 percent,” Secretary of State Jay Dardenne told the Baton Rouge Advocate.