The truth about Missouri.

[PresidentObama]

Hillary Clinton won most of the counties.

And won all of the conservative red leaning counties, including in rural areas and in my medium sized conservative leaning town of Springfield. Population 150,000.

Barack Obama won the counties with St. Louis and Kansas City.

That's why he won.

I said last year that Hillary had no chance in hell in Missouri, and she surprised me and closed the gap.

One point difference. That's it. That's all. That's what seperated Obama and Clinton.

And some of you are spinning this to be a big defeat for Clinton.

She'll still get plenty of delegates from Missouri.

And if Hillary had narrowly won Missouri like Obama did, with the two counties that include St. Louis and Kansas City like Obama did, you guys would be bitching and moaning about how Hillary can't compete in red areas of the state and in rural areas.

And before you say this was just among Democrats, the primary was open. And we have a lot of moderate Republicans and independents in the state.

[gateley]

1. With the results that close, I'd say they BOTH did VERY well! nt

[PresidentObama]

3. They REALLY did, and they're spinning it as a huge victory for Obama.

Maybe on paper. But both did very well in MO.

[Kittycat]

2. That's usually how voting goes in MO.

But I'm sure you already realized that.

[PresidentObama]

7. Well the Obama supporters are spinning it as proof he can compete in red states.

Hillary won the red leaning counties.

And rural areas.

And they were one point apart.

I'm not saying Obama can't, but the spin is INSANE!

[Kittycat]

28. He can win red states, he won several.

She made a good showing in red counties too. The point is though, we're talking about Dev v. Dem. So the data that needs to be looked at is Crossover voters. Independents that voted for Republicans in the past 2-3+ election cycles & Republicans that crossed over to vote Dem.

I think if you consider what happened in several mountain states, you'll see that Obama did have a big draw in once heavy red states.

[TwilightGardener]

4. It was close because Missouri borders both Illinois and Arkansas.

Both candidates are from that region.

[PresidentObama]

10. I really don't think that played a part. Honestly.

[UALRBSofL]

11. True, Hillary was born in Chicago and grew up in Illinois

So that might have helped also.

[Kittycat]

29. Chicago is no where near STL, and has little bearing.

Just so that we're clear on that one. I grew up in Springfield, IL - went to school at SIU, and now live in Hasterts old Chicago suburban district. My husband is from St. Charles County (just outside of st. louis)... Chicago politics to do not translate to those areas. St.L. is a different story. But if any influence carried from IL in to MO, it would be the rift between Downstate IL (south of I-80) and Chicago. There's always griping coming out of the capital about the influence in voting that Chicago has. Similar to what you saw in MO - except that MO has 2 major population holds, where IL only has one (chicago and it's adjoining suburbs).

[K Gardner]

5. I've never said that and no reasonable person would. I don't personally call a victory of 1%

to 3% anything but a tie or squeaker. But for fairness sake, please look back on all the threads last night posted by HRC supporters saying "HILLARY WINS MO! She's the NOMINEE ! MO is BEllweather!" There are dozens of them. Don't put this on all Obama supporters and try to angelize HRC posters. I think we should realize who the shrill partisans are and ignore them on both sides !

[AGirl]

6. Good post.

[Renew Deal]

8. Obama should have been blown out in MO

Hillary had every advantage and lost.

[PresidentObama]

13. Not true. Bill Clinton is widely hated around here.

And at least in my area, it seemed like Obama was running more advertisements.

[Renew Deal]

19. Clinton won there twice

MO won him the presidency.

[PresidentObama]

20. Bill Clinton is hated in many of the rural areas and red leaning counties that Hillary won.

[MoJoWorkin]

30. Yeah and Bill came here to Springfield, and he got free tv time, even on election day

he was even interviewed by local tv, so don't give me that. Clintons worked SW MO for all they could, because that is where their best shot was.

I was shocked and pleased that Obama was able to win MO.

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. MO's new Democratic Senator campaigned vigerously for Obama

You can't say that Hillary had every advantage. And you can just barely say that Hillary lost. And besides, neither contention deals with the point of the OP.

[Straight Shooter]

24. Yes, the new Democratic Senator who endorses telecom immunity.

Barack has made some very strange bedfellows in Congress.

[leftynyc]

Why is that? (n/t)

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. How many times are you gonna post this

"...if Hillary had narrowly won Missouri like Obama did, with the two counties that include St. Louis and Kansas City like Obama did, you guys would be bitching and moaning about how Hillary can't compete in red areas of the state and in rural areas."

If I were a fish in the see...if if if.

I'm not a big fan of "so and so won more land mass" arguments. We elect people based on population, not square mileage.

[hughee99]

I agree, the "land mass" argument is a loser...

Looking at a county by county or even state by state presidential election map for ANY presidential election (even Clinton's wins) in the last 30 years (and probably since '64) and the "land mass" always favors the repukes. I'm not sure why anyone would bother using this idiotic logic now because in 10 months when the repukes are making this argument (and they will), one would then have to argue against it.

[hughee99]

26. Sorry, dupe. n/t

[blm]

12. Great to know Obama is continuing his strength with Independent voters who make up a larger

part of the general election now than in the past elections.

[MoonRiver]

14. Thanks. From what you're saying it seems McCaskill's endorsement

had very little impact.

[PresidentObama]

16. I don't think McCaskill has earned the respect of voters here, so no. No real impact.

She's been a crappy Senator.

[MoonRiver]

21. Interesting. I know she herself has not stood up to the * regime much.

Seems to be a sell-out. Maybe she was shilling for Obama in the hopes of getting a cabinet position.

[PresidentObama]

23. She has one term written all over her. And possibly so.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. I know that KOLR 10 was showing ads from both sides

up until yesterday, too. And about equal in the amount of air time (during Judge Judy at least-the only program I watch other than Law & Order). Hello from an Arkansan DUer!

[PresidentObama]

18. KOLR 10 was? Hmmm, it seemed like I saw a lot more Obama ones.

Especially on FOX 27.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

27. More Obama ones only on Tuesday

Clinton's ads appeared first, about a week before Obama's. And then they were pretty equal until yesterday, when I only saw Obama ads. Kindly remember my viewing time is limited to one hour on weekdays on KOLR 10 and then one hour on Wednesday evenings on the NBC affiliate. Don't watch TV any other time.

[MadBadger]

22. While you may think she had Closed the Gap in MO, She was up 15-20 points two weeks ago.

[PresidentObama]

25. I guess after New Hampshire, I don't buy into polls much.