Kentucky and Oregon: Voters Refuse to Quit and Get Off the Fence

On May 20, 2008 just over 2 million voters went to the polls in Kentucky and Oregon. 1,301,095 voted in the Democratic primaries. In Kentucky, 700,783 Democrats cast ballots: 459,160 (65.5%) for Hillary Clinton and 209,891 (30.0%) for Barack Obama. An uncommitted slate got 17,529 (2.5%) and John Edwards got 14,203 (2.0%). On the Republican side, 197,099 votes were cast: John McCain received 142,855 (72.5%); Mike Huckabee 16,370 (8.3%); Ron Paul 13,423 (6.8%); Uncommitted 10,146 (5.1%); Mitt Romney 9,202 (4.7%); Rudolph Giuliani 3,054 (1.5%) and Alan Keys 2,049 (1.0%).

In Oregon, 1,103,511 votes were cast, 600,312 in the Democratic Primary. Barack Obama received 349,262 (58.18%); Hillary Clinton got 245,911 (40.96%) and there were 5,139 (0.86%) write-ins. Overall, Clinton gained 149,251 votes to put her grand total at17,250,357 to Obama’s 17,101,120. Others have 1,385,992.

The evening resulted in a net gain of 0.22% for Clinton, a net loss of 0.19% for Obama, and a loss of 0.04% for others. The voters both refused to knock Clinton off, nor did they crown Obama. The tit for tat contest for the Democratic presidential nomination continues.

In Oregon, a respectable 336,718 ballots were cast in the Republican primary: 274,357 (81.48%) for McCain; 48,604 (14.43%) for Ron Paul; and 13,757 (4.09%) write-in votes.

Why are the voters doing this to the candidates, to the media, to the professional party politicians, to themselves? My guess is that the major issue in the race has become quitting. Who is the quitter? After the way the voters were burned by Al Gore in 2000, when he won the race but refused to fight for his victory through the electoral college, voters are reluctant to trust the nomination to another Democratic candidate who will not fight for his or her victory all the way to the end.

The voters already know that John McCain is not a quitter. His whole biography is one long saga of staying the course under the most arduous circumstances. Clinton and Obama, both on their first outings as candidates for president, are less well known by the public. The voters are not quitting either.

Kentucky State Board of Elections
Unofficial 2008 Primary Election Results

Unofficial Election Results Home

When do election results become official? Find out here: KRS 118.425 - Paragraph 4 (PDF)

U.S. PRESIDENT - STATEWIDE
Unofficial Election Results as of Wednesday May 21, 2008 at 06:57:14 PM EDT

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*County Statistics*
Total Counties:	120
Counties Reporting:	120
Counties Complete:	120
*Precinct Statistics*
Total Precincts:	3,545
Precincts Reporting:	3,519
Precincts Complete:	99.3%

*Democratic Voter Statistics*
Total Registered:	1,629,845
Total Voted:	700,783
% Voted:	43.0%
*Republican Voter Statistics*
Total Registered:	1,040,438
Total Voted:	197,099
% Voted:	18.9%

*Democratic Primary Results*
Candidate	Party	Votes	Overall %
Hillary Clinton	D	459,160	65.5%
Barack Obama	D	209,891	30.0%
"UNCOMMITTED"	D	17,529	2.5%
John Edwards	D	14,203	2.0%
*Republican Primary Results*
Candidate	Party	Votes	Overall %
John McCain	R	142,855	72.5%
Mike Huckabee	R	16,370	8.3%
Ron Paul	R	13,423	6.8%
"UNCOMMITTED"	R	10,146	5.1%
Mitt Romney	R	9,202	4.7%
Rudolph W. Giuliani	R	3,054	1.5%
Alan Keyes	R	2,049	1.0%

Oregon

All Results Statewide Unofficial Election Results

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View statistics by county View county reporting status

		Registered Voters	Ballots Cast	Voter Turnout
		^{_________________}	^{_________________}	^{_________________}
Democrat		878,003	611,830	69.68%
Republican		673,903	357,221	53.01%
Nonpartisan (nonaffiliated, minor parties & others)		483,763	134,460	27.79%
		^{_________________}	^{_________________}	^{_________________}
	Totals:	2,035,669	1,103,511	54.21%

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United States President
View results by county

Democrat		Votes	Percent
		^{_________________}	^{_________________}
Hillary Clinton		245,911	40.96%
Barack Obama		349,262	58.18%
Write-in Votes		5,139	0.86%
		^{_________________}	^{_________________}
	Totals:	600,312	100%

Republican		Votes	Percent
		^{_________________}	^{_________________}
John McCain		274,357	81.48%
Ron Paul		48,604	14.43%
Write-in Votes		13,757	4.09%
		^{_________________}	^{_________________}
	Totals:	336

All State

Primaries	Clinton	Obama	Others	Kerry Vote
NH- Dem	112,215	104,772	67,081	340,511	83.42%
NH Rep	1,743	1,800	1,080
Michigan	328,309	238,168	27,931	2,479,166	23.98%
SC	141,128	295,091	96,008	661,699	80.43%
Alabama	226,504	302,814	10,703	693,933	77.82%
Florida	857,208	569,041