Hillary Sweeps the South Carolina Democratic Primary

Hillary Clinton has really swept the Democratic South Carolina Primary, receiving 73.5% of the vote, to Bernie Sanders 26% of the vote.  Hillary is very popular among black voters, constituted 60% of the voters, and went for Hillary 6 to 1.  She also strongly backed President Obama, whereas Sanders was hesitant.  We also have to remember that Bill Clinton started as Governor of Arkansas, and she was First Lady there.  We also have to remember that Democratic primaries award delegates proportionately, and Clinton gets 39 delegates while Sanders gets 14.

If we look at which states on Super Tuesday are Southern states, we find Alabama at 60 delegates, Arkansas at 37, Georgia at 117, Tennessee at 76, and Virginia at 109.  This sums to 399 delegates that she would be favored in.  Even the 399 delegates out of 1,017 is about 40%.

We have also neglected the gorilla in the room, Texas, with 251 delegates.  Democrats have not won a Presidential election here since 1976.  Hispanics now make up 38% of the state, and we have to see how they split for the two Democratic candidates.

Sanders should win most of his own state of Vermont with 26, and nearby Massachusetts with 116.

About Dennis SILVERMAN

I am a retired Professor of Physics and Astronomy at U C Irvine. For two decades I have been active in learning about energy and the environment, and in reporting on those topics for a decade. For the last four years I have added science policy. Lately, I have been reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic of our times.
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