Exclusive ABC 7 and SurveyUSA Poll: Chesapeake Primary
posted 12:50 pm Tue February 12, 2008 - Rosslyn, Va.
The poll finds 52 percent of respondents in Maryland favored Obama, while 33 percent back Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Two percent of voters support other candidates, while seven percent remain undecided. The poll has a +/- 3.7% margin of error.
The poll of 737 likely voters in Maryland was conducted Thursday and Friday. Breaking down the data demographically, white voters were split between the candidates, with 42 percent backing Clinton and 40 percent supporting Obama. African-American voters gave Obama his lead, with 71 percent favoring Obama to Clinton's 18 percent. Latino voters, a main element of Clinton's victory in California, are nearly split. Forty-eight percent back Clinton, while 42 percent support Obama.
The Maryland poll finds a sharp contrast with previous voting by women. Female voters favored Obama 45 percent to 39 percent according to the poll. Sixty-one percent of male voters backed Obama, compared with 25 percent for Clinton. Younger voters continue to be a source of strength for Obama, who has a 34 percent margin among voters 18-49. Voters 50 and older were split, with 42 percent favoring Clinton and 41 percent favoring Obama.
The demographic findings are similar in Virginia, where Obama maintains a 75 percent margin over Clinton among African-American voters. White voters were evenly split at 49 percent. But Virginia Latinos favored Clinton by 21 points, 60 percent to Obama's 39 percent.
Younger voters aged 18-49 preferred Obama by 33 percent. Voters 50 and older were evenly split.
Maryland has 99 proportionately awarded Democratic delegates at stake. Virginia has 101 proportionately awarded delegates.
The SurveyUSA poll for Republicans was conducted both before and after former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney suspended his campaign. The results indicate many of Romney's supporters, estimated at 22 percent of likely voters, decided to back John McCain, who is now considered the presumptive GOP nominee.
In Virginia, McCain attracted 57 percent of respondents after Romney's withdrawal, a gain of 12 percent from a survey conducted a day earlier. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee gained five points after Romney's departure to poll at 25 percent. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) actually lost two percentage points of support to end up at nine percent. The survey of 237 likely voters has a +/- 6.5% margin of error.
The final results could be complicated by the McCain's front-runner status in the GOP nomination. The expectations could depress turnout, and Republican and independent voters may decide to vote in the Democratic race because of Virginia's open primary system.
McCain also carries a commanding lead in Maryland. Fifty-six percent of voters back McCain, while 17 percent favored Huckabee and 10 percent Paul. Twelve percent favored other candidates and four percent were undecided. The survey of 360 likely voters has a +/- 5.2% margin of error.
Virginia has 63 winner-take-all delegates to the GOP convention. Maryland's 37 delegates are awarded proportionally.
The Virginia polls were co-sponsored by WDBJ-TV Roanoke and WTVR-TV Richmond.
|
|
|
|
Latest Comment on Exclusive ABC 7 and SurveyUSA Poll: Chesapeake Primary
Pachacutec
2:16 pm on 02/12/08
This, like most other polls, is very misleading; how are 737 "likely" voters representative of ANYTHING in the state of Maryland? Last I heard, we had a lot more people living here than that.
At any rate - voting is a precious right we have in this country and I'd urge everyone, no matter what your political affiliation, to get out there and vote. Make your voice heard!
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges.
Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly.
Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
© 2008 WJLA-TV
© 2008 The Associated Press
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.