This interactive guide is based on the Wikipedia article detailing the 2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

The Garden State's Choice

A comprehensive analysis of the 2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary, exploring the pivotal contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Primary Overview 👇 View Results 📊

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Primary Overview

Key Details

The 2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary, held on February 5, 2008, as part of Super Tuesday, was a crucial contest for delegates. New Jersey, with 107 pledged delegates at stake, represented a significant battleground in the nomination race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Outcome

Hillary Clinton secured victory in the primary, although her margin was narrower than initial projections suggested. Despite Obama's late surge in polling and strong performance in urban centers, Clinton's established support base in the state proved decisive.

Turnout

The primary witnessed record-breaking voter turnout, reflecting the high level of engagement and competition between the two leading Democratic candidates. This surge in participation underscored the national significance of the election cycle.

Campaign Strategies

Clinton's Support

Hillary Clinton was widely considered the frontrunner in New Jersey due to her strong name recognition and established institutional backing. She garnered endorsements from key state figures, including Governor Jon Corzine, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, and a majority of county Democratic chairs and state legislators, solidifying her campaign's presence.

Obama's Alliances

Barack Obama secured crucial endorsements from prominent local leaders, notably Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. These endorsements were instrumental in bolstering Obama's appeal among urban constituencies and younger demographics within the state.

Ballot Example

The sample ballot provided a glimpse into the choices voters faced. It listed candidates like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, and Dennis Kucinich, alongside options for "Other" and "Undecided," reflecting the competitive nature of the primary.

[Image: Sample ballot for the presidential primary would be displayed here]

Pre-Primary Polling

Public opinion polling leading up to the New Jersey primary indicated a competitive race, with Hillary Clinton generally holding a lead, though the margin varied across different surveys. These polls provided insights into voter sentiment and candidate support levels.

Aggregate Polls
Source Dates Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Other/Undecided Margin
RealClearPolitics Jan 30 - Feb 4, 2008 48.3% 40.6% 11.1% Clinton +7.7%

Detailed Polls

Various polling organizations conducted surveys throughout the campaign period. These detailed breakdowns illustrate the evolving dynamics of voter preference, including support across different demographic groups.

Poll Source Date(s) Administered Sample Size Margin of Error Biden Clinton Edwards Obama Richardson Others Undecided
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson
Others
Undecided
Strategic Vision Sep 29–Oct 1, 2006 <800 LV ±3.0% 1% 35% 12% 1% 43% 8%
Strategic Vision Oct 27–29, 2006 <800 LV ±3.0% 1% 31% 8% 14% 1% 37% 8%
Strategic Vision Nov 2–4, 2006 <800 LV ±3.0% 33% 9% 15% 1% 26% 9%
Quinnipiac University Jan 16–22, 2007 461 RV ±4.6% 6% 30% 8% 16% 1% 22% 17%
Quinnipiac University Feb 20–25, 2007 454 RV ±4.6% 3% 41% 5% 19% 1% 16% 15%
Monmouth University/Gannett Apr 11–16, 2007 451 LV ±4.6% 3% 41% 13% 22% 2% 1% 18%
Strategic Vision Apr 25–27, 2007 <800 LV 5% 40% 12% 23% 2% 3% 15%
Quinnipiac University Jun 26–Jul 2, 2007 575 RV ±4.1% 3% 46% 8% 19% 4% 3% 15%
Quinnipiac University Jun 26–Jul 2, 2007 (subset) 2% 37% 6% 15% 4% 21% 13%
Strategic Vision Jul 13–15, 2007 <800 LV 3% 46% 10% 20% 7% 3% 11%
Strategic Vision Aug 24–26, 2007 <800 LV 3% 49% 8% 22% 5% 2% 11%
Quinnipiac University Sep 18–23, 2007 406 RV ±4.9% 3% 46% 7% 15% 1% 13% 12%
Strategic Vision Sep 28–30, 2007 <800 LV 2% 52% 7% 21% 5% 2% 11%
Monmouth University/Gannett Sep 27–30, 2007 478 LV ±4.5% 2% 42% 7% 23% 1% 3% 21%
Quinnipiac University Oct 9–15, 2007 343 RV ±5.3% 2% 46% 9% 20% 3% 4% 14%
Quinnipiac University Dec 5–9, 2007 387 RV ±5.0% 3% 51% 7% 17% 1% 5% 12%
Monmouth/Gannett Jan 9–13, 2008 475 LV ±4.5% 42% 9% 30% 3% 17%
Quinnipiac University Jan 15–22, 2008 464 ±4.6% 49% 10% 32% 2% 7%
Survey USA Jan 30–31, 2008 642 ±3.9% 51% 39% 4% 3%
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Jan 30–31, 2008 600 ±4.0% 1% 44% 3% 38% 1% 3% 11%
Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Jan 31–Feb 2, 2008 868 ±3.4% 43% 42% 2% 14%
Survey USA Feb 2–3, 2008 706 ±3.8% 52% 41% 4% 3%

LV = Likely Voters; RV = Registered Voters. Note: Some polls included additional candidates or categories not fully detailed here.

Primary Results

Hillary Clinton won the New Jersey Democratic primary, securing a majority of the votes and delegates. The results reflected a competitive race, with Barack Obama also receiving significant support.

Vote Counts

Official results show Hillary Clinton receiving 613,500 votes, representing 53.76% of the total. Barack Obama garnered 501,372 votes, or 43.93%.

Delegate Allocation

Hillary Clinton secured 59 national delegates, while Barack Obama received 48 delegates. Candidates who withdrew prior to the primary, such as John Edwards and Joe Biden, received no delegates from New Jersey.

County-Level Results

The primary map illustrates the distribution of support across New Jersey's counties. Clinton's strength was evident in several areas, while Obama performed well in others, particularly urban centers.

[Image: Map showing New Jersey Democratic presidential primary election results by county margins, 2008 would be displayed here]

Clinton 50–60%
Clinton 60–70%
Obama 40–50%
Obama 50–60%

Detailed Results Table

A comprehensive table provides the final vote counts, percentages, and delegate allocations for all candidates who participated or had previously withdrawn.

Candidate Votes Percentage National Delegates
Hillary Clinton 613,500 53.76% 59
Barack Obama 501,372 43.93% 48
John Edwards 15,728 1.38% 0
Joe Biden 4,081 0.36% 0
Bill Richardson 3,366 0.29% 0
Dennis Kucinich 3,152 0.28% 0
Totals 1,141,199 100.00% 107

Demographic Analysis

Exit polling data provides critical insights into how different demographic groups voted in the New Jersey primary, highlighting key trends in candidate support.

2008 New Jersey Democratic Presidential Primary Analysis
Demographic Subgroup Obama Clinton % Vote Obama Clinton % Vote Obama Clinton % Vote Obama Clinton % Vote
Total Vote 44% 54% 100%
Sex by Race
White Men 39% 58% 25% White Women 27% 72% 34% Black Men 85% 15% 10%
Black Women 81% 14% 14% Latino Men 36% 62% 5% Latino Women 26% 74% 7%
All Other Races 38% 58% 5%
Age
17–29 years 59% 39% 13% 30–44 years 50% 47% 29% 45–59 years 38% 60% 35%
60 and older 35% 63% 23%
Religion
Protestant/Other Christian 56% 40% 35% Catholic 28% 69% 38% Jewish 37% 63% 9%
Something else 61% 35% 8% None 51% 49% 11%
Family Income
Less than $50,000 40% 58% 29% $50,000 or more 45% 52% 71%
Most Important Issue
The economy 44% 54% 47% The war in Iraq 45% 51% 31% Health care 42% 56% 18%
Candidate Quality That Matters Most
Can bring needed change 64% 35% 52% Cares about people like me 43% 46% 13% Has the right experience 3% 94% 26%
Chance to win in November 40% 60% 8%

Note: Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding or undecided voters. Data is based on exit polling and may have margins of error.

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References

References

  1.  Al Gore with 24%, John Kerry and Russ Feingold each with 5%, Christopher Dodd with 4%, and Wesley Clark, Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, Mark Warner, and Evan Bayh each with 1%
  2.  Al Gore with 20%, John Kerry with 5%, Russ Feingold with 4%, Christopher Dodd with 4%, and Wesley Clark, Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, and Evan Bayh each with 1%
  3.  Al Gore with 17%, Russ Feingold with 5%, and John Kerry, Ed Rendell, Tom Vilsack, and Evan Bayh each with 1%
  4.  The Green Papers
  5.  New York Times Election Guide 2008
A full list of references for this article are available at the 2008 New Jersey Democratic presidential primary Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not political or electoral advice. The information provided on this website should not substitute for professional analysis or consultation regarding political events or electoral strategies. Always consult official election results and reputable political science resources for definitive information.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.