Obama’s Tuesday win could weaken recent gains by Clinton in Texas and Ohio. But the result in Mississippi also exposed racial divisions in the Democratic race.
With about 80 per cent voters’ turnout, Obama won 59 per cent vote against 39 per cent for Clinton. Although there were only 33 delegates at stake, the win could increase Obama’s lead over Clinton as the race for the nomination moves into the end game.
In the next contest in Pennsylvania on April 22, Clinton is likely to duplicate her unexpected wins in Ohio and Texas. But Obama might not lose ground due to his recent wins in the Mississippi and Wyoming caucus on Saturday.
Obama also gave credit for his victory to an overwhelming support from African-Americans, who make up about 35 per cent of the electorate in Mississippi. About 90 per cent of black voters in Mississippi supported him.
Clinton, meanwhile, had 70 per cent of the white vote.
“It’s just another win in our column,” Obama said. “What we did was to make sure that in each state we are making the case for change in our country, and obviously Mississippi responded,” he said.
About 20 per cent of whites said race was important to their votes and nearly all voted for Clinton, according to exit polls. Among African-Americans, about 40 per cent gave race as a factor in their votes.
Racism resurfaces
Tuesday night’s contest was also overshadowed by the growing row over comments from Ferraro, who in 1984 was the first woman ever to run on a national ticket as vice-president. Ferraro told a California newspaper that Obama was only ahead in the race because he was African-American.
Ferraro went further by saying she was a victim of racism – not Obama. “Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in this world, you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up,” Ferraro told the paper.
“Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?” She asked. Meanwhile, Obama began the night with 1,579 delegates, while Clinton had 1,473.
