Democratic primary voters are dumb or smart

Let's see, those that voted for Obama generally have college educations while those that voted for Hillary are high school graduates at best.

At least this was the prevailing profiling that was in the news cycle.

Of course I had to wonder a couple of things. First, who saw this pattern among the democratic voters? The same pundits and soothsayers that predicted Obama's 10%+ lead over Hillary as late as Monday evening?

And then the next thought I had was what is the education level of the republican voters? Were those that voted for McCain as educated as those that voted for Obama, or were they mere simpletons (the media's characterization, not mine) like Hillary's supporters?

I heard no analysis of those who voted for McCain or Romney. Seems to me someone created the whole education bugaboo for reasons other than to explain Hillary's voters.

A little marketing perhaps. Voting for Obama is what smart people do. Are you smart, or do you vote for Hillary?

For the record, I'd vote for Edwards, but by the time I get to vote it'll be all over.

•  Yeah...Its over for me too

  By the time I get to vote, super "duper" Tuesday is long gone...

  They need to schedule primaries in order of voter turnout. If NH and Iowa think they matter so much, then they can show it by voting. If we use 2004 as an example, NH and IA would vote 7th and 8th respectively.

  Can we reward participation?

  Anyway, sorry to rant.

  I think the "conventional wisdom" of the media should just be tossed at this point. It does more harm than good.

  Smart=favored candidate is an interesting campaign tactic though...

  by Gravedugger on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:06:36 PM PDT

•  I try to keep away from the news cycles

  but this is an interesting take on what I assume they're talking about.

  I particularly like you pointing out the lack of analysis of the education of the Repubs.

  by twalling on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:13:02 PM PDT

•  it aint over till

  its over.  And our boy Johnny ain't dropping out.
  And other voters can make a difference.
  I just got a call from the campaign that convinced me to go to Nevada to help!!

  by laurenc on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:13:59 PM PDT

  •  Cool

    Remind them that John was there for them when Nevada needed minimum wage on the ballot and when contracts were being disputed. Go John Go!

    by cwaltz on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:16:32 PM PDT

•  Good point

  I noticed they weren't siphoning the GOP pool down to two like they did our side. I didn't realize that they were only exit polling our side for education. Thanks for pointing it out.

  by cwaltz on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:15:25 PM PDT

•  framing this as "smart v dumb"

  doesn't help Obama much either.

  i can only imagine the glee with which pundits scorn the latte liberals who support Obama.

  by CC Music Factory on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:23:06 PM PDT

  •  pundits are latte liberals.

    by masslib on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:47:08 PM PDT

•  i meant "latte liberals."

  the quotations are necessary because i don't use that epithet.

  by CC Music Factory on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:25:30 PM PDT

•  Why Polls were wrong?

  Look at the January 4-5 UNH/CNN/WMUR where Obama and Clinton tied at 33%

  http://www.unh.edu/...

  Undeclared voters, often referred to as Independents, can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary.  Currently,
  56% of undeclared voters say they plan to vote in the Democratic primary.  Among those undeclared voters who say they
  will vote in the Democratic primary, Obama holds a narrow lead over Clinton by 38% to 28% with 20% favoring
  Edwards, and 5% supporting Richardson.  Obama has led among undeclareds for the past month.  

  Look at January 5-6 UNH/CNN/WMUR poll where Obama now is 39 and Clinton is 30%

  http://www.unh.edu/...

  Undeclared voters, often referred to as Independents, can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary.  In the
  final CNN / WMUR New Hampshire Primary Poll, 60% of undeclared voters say they plan to vote in the Democratic
  primary.   Among those undeclared voters who say they will vote in the Democratic primary, Obama has widened his lead
  over Clinton to 45% to 24% with 14% favoring Edwards, and 18% supporting Richardson.  Obama has led among
  undeclareds for the past month.  

  Thus I think the polls after January 5 overstated the Independents who are planning to vote in the Democratic primary thus overstating Obama's support and understating McCains support.

  January 4-5 ---56% Indies planning to vote in Dem Primary

  January 5-6 ---60% Indies planning to vote in Dem Primary

  I dont know the actual breakout of Independents in the actual election--what percentage of the Independents voted in the Dem Primary.  I suspect --similar to the January 4-5 poll--56%.

  by timber on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:25:59 PM PDT

•  It could be spun either way.

  Smart vs. dumb or haves vs. have-nots.  

  Hillary (and Edwards) pulled the blue collar vote.  The people who have been hurt the most by the Bush economy.

  Perhaps those people don't feel they have the luxury of voting for high-blown concepts, and would rather have some HELP with the pressures that are crushing them.

  by SaneSoutherner on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:48:40 PM PDT

•  Educational level is not the best measure of

  intelligence.

  by masslib on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 10:48:41 PM PDT

•  The super-delegate system would lead me to

  believe it's not an issue of smart and dumb but rather an issue of the party machinery being inbred.

  by java4every1 on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 03:36:48 AM PDT

•  There's book smart and then there's street smart

  Seems to me that neither party has a lock on intelligent voters. Elections are mostly about perceptions. Look at all the money spent marketing a candidate.

  Call it what you want, but a candidate is simply a product designed to have mass appeal.

  Do only smart people buy Blue Ray DVD players and high school graduates buy HD DVD players?

  Smart folks drive Chevy's while dumb folks drive Fords?

  It would be interesting to know who 'saw' the education pattern of democratic voter and if they applied this same template to republican voters.

  by SpiffPeters on Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 10:51:55 AM PDT