Posted: April 22, 2008 9:08 PM
Clinton Projected to Win Pa. Democratic Primary
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Sen. Hillary Clinton is projected to win the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, keeping her in the race for the party’s nomination by fending off a late surge by her rival Sen. Barack Obama. 
A defeat would have almost forced Clinton from the race after six weeks of brutal campaigning brought Democratic voters to the polls in record numbers on Tuesday.
Early exit data from The Associated Press found that voters were overwhelmingly white and there were more women. Also, voters took their time making up their minds, with one in 10 saying they picked their candidate on Election Day. AP interviews with voters found Clinton winning among blue-collar voters, women and white men, groups she has carried in previous contests. Obama nabbed support from blacks, college graduates, more affluent voters and those who switched parties from Republican to Democrat, estimated to be 10 percent of turnout.
Only registered Democrats can vote in the Pennsylvania primary. Exit polls bucked rumors that Republicans switched to strategically vote for Clinton after pegging her as the easier candidate to defeat in the November general election.
The economy continued to dominate voter concerns and 80 percent said they believed the U.S. has already entered a recession.
Election officials estimated turnout to be at least double the 26 percent from the 2004 primary, according to the New York Times.
Clinton was expected to do well in the western part of the state, including Pittsburgh and blue-collar voters while Obama was projected to make large gains in Philadelphia and its suburbs.
The final number of the state’s 158 delegates awarded to each candidate - a crucial detail as the campaign hinges on pledged and unpledged counts - may not be available until Wednesday. Pennsylvania allocates delegates proportionally by congressional district.
Heading into the evening, Obama had won 1,414 pledged and 233 super delegates compared to Clinton’s 1,250 pledged and 258 super delegates. A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to clinch the nomination.
Both candidates had crisscrossed Pennsylvania in what became a brutal six-week battle that turned negative in its final weeks. And both spend millions; Obama reported dropping $11.2 million on TV ads compared to $4.8 million for Clinton, according to the AP.
Obama won the last primary matchup on March 11 in Mississippi and the race moves on to Indiana and North Carolina on May 6, states where both candidates have already begun campaigning.
Obama will address voters from Evansville, Ind. Tuesday evening while Clinton will speak in Philadelphia.
-- By , NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | Comments | Link
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I'm listening to your coverage of the Clinton win in PA. WOW, no female commentators to report and give opinions?? Do you question the sexist angle to this election when you see the lay of the land on television and radio in terms of female views? One day in my lifetime I would love to see a hardworking gal as president.