Guide Note

May 13, 2008: TV stations immediately declared Clinton the winner in the 2008 West Virginia primary based on exit poll results.

Media attention focussed on Clinton's unwillingnes to concede (in the face of almost certain defeat), Obama's four new superdelegates (despite defeat), and the fact that Obama's speeches omit any mention of Clinton name.

In the run up to the election, pollsters predicted that Senator Hillary Clinton would win the West Virginia contest by a wide margin over Senator Barack Obama.

All total, 28 Democratic delegates were up for grabs. Only nine Republican delegates are at stake: 18 were decided during West Virginia's Republican Caucus, held on February 5, 2008.

Fast Facts

1. Held: May 13, 2008
2. Poll hours: 6:30am-7:30pm EST
3. Open primary

1. 75% white women voted for Clinton
2. 69% white people voted for Clinton
3. 17-29 year olds: 59% voted Clinton; 35% voted Obama
4. 45-59 year olds: 66% voted Clinton; 24% voted Obama

1. Federal gas tax: 72% of Clinton supporters approved compared to 43% of Obama supporters
2. 36% of Clinton supporters said they would support Obama in a presidential election

Results of a poll of West Virginia Democrats released on May 12, 2008, showed Clinton (60%) leading by a wide margin over Obama (24%). The most important issue to voters in deciding their choice for nominee was the economy.

Senator Clinton's camp was hoping for a landslide victory in West Virginia, to help sway the remaining undecided superdelegates. Obama was expecting Clinton to win the state, and spent just a few hours campaigning there before his camp announced he was moving on to the future battleground states of Florida, Michigan and Missouri.