Anyone who is remotely surprised by this has not been paying attention:
Looking down the road to May 13, Senator Hillary Clinton holds a huge lead over Senator Barack Obama in the West Virginia Presidential Primary. The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race shows that Clinton attracts 55% of the Likely Democratic Primary Voters while Obama is supported by 27%. Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.
Clinton is viewed favorably by 72% of West Virginia’s Primary Voters, Obama by 53%.
Now I don’t want to throw the state under the bus (since that is so fashionable these days) because I love it here so much, but anyone who is surprised by this simply is not paying attention. Racism is alive and well in central PA, SE Ohio, and much of WV. What Carville said about central PA (it resembles Alabama) can be said about the regions I discussed, and it was why I was able to say, when I was a Republican, that most of the racists I have met in my lifetime were Democrats. I wasn’t lying.
If Obama wins the nomination, he will have to win the general election without WV, because I will be absolutely shocked if he carries it. Depressing, but that is how I see it.
See also this Politico piece about the rubes in PA.
*** Update ***
Before the stupidity in the comments section gets too out of hand, let me be clear. I am not claiming that anyone who refuses to vote for Obama is a racist. I just am not. But there are a number of things working against Obama in WV, and chief among them is the presence of a number of people who will, under no circumstances, vote for a black man. Particularly one named Hussein Obama. Hell, a cab driver I use occasionally has twice told me that he applied for the job as trapper at the White House, because come January there is going to be a coon or a beaver there. Not only does he feel comfortable telling me that, but he has told me at least twice. Why? Because I am sure it gets a lot of yuks with other passengers.
While there is racism present to varying levels in every state, what makes WV different is that there is not a presence of a large AA community who will enthusiastically balance out that vote like there are in other states. Add to it that WV is a Hillary Clinton kind of state- lots of blue-collar union types who are comfortable working with and voting the party machine. As the Clinton’s are an established name, the Clinton’s are viewed as the party candidate.
Again, I am not claiming a refusal to vote for Obama makes one racist. I am claiming that, in WV, at least, there will be a number of people who refuse to vote for him because they are in fact racist. That isn’t a smear, that is just the truth. If you can not deal with it, well, that is on you. It is also why people like me have been frequently upset throughout this campaign when we have seen what we perceive to be dogwhistles coming from the Clinton camp. Whipping up this sort of sentiment is, in my book, inexcusable.
*** Update #2 ***
Fan mail, even after the update:
Yeah, the only reason NOT to vote for Obama is that one is racist.
That is the typical smear from the Obama whores and even his campaign.
Asshole.
L2READ, jackass.
*** Update ***
For chrissakes, Armando, I have given a number of reasons along with race why Obama will not do well in WV, chief of which is that this is a Clinton kind of state with a lot of blue-collar workers. Additionally, and you can pass this on to your apparently dull commenters, I am well aware that there is sexism at play in this election.
However, race will play a factor in the votes in WV, and more so that sexism. I am sorry this upsets you delicate souls at Hillary HQ Talk Left so much, but it upsets me as well. Just for different reasons. I don’t think race will be what determines the election here in WV, but it certainly will explain a portion of the margin of victory for Hillary.