At stake in yesterday’s primary were 158 pledged delegates, making the Pennsylvania primary the largest one remaining for the Democratic Party. Clinton’s win, however, still leaves her behind Obama in pledged delegates. Obama won 45.2 percent of the popular vote in Pennsylvania. Democratic primaries in North Carolina and Indiana will be held on May 6.
The New York Times estimated that going into the primary, Clinton had 1,481 delegates, 1,153 of which are pledged. Obama had about 1,636 delegates, 1,227 of which are pledged. A Democratic candidate needs a total of 2,025 delegates to earn the party’s nomination.
“As Hillary herself has said, tonight’s win was absolutely critical for her to stay in the race,” Mike Honigberg ’08, a member of Princeton’s Students for Hillary Clinton chapter, said in an e-mail.
Honigberg added that “the win is no less impressive given that Obama has been outspending Hillary by 3-to-1 (I believe) in PA.”
Jason Anton ’10, co-director of the Princeton chapter of Students for Barack Obama, said he did not think the outcome of yesterday’s primary would have a substantial effect on the Democratic nomination, citing Obama’s continued lead in delegates.
“I don’t think the Democratic Party, the [Democratic National Committee] or the Democrats themselves will stomach a nominee that is selected by superdelegates having overturned the Democratic choice of pledged delegates,” Anton explained. “That’s really the strategy [Clinton]’s banking on right now.”
Clinton, he added, is “waging an uphill battle.”
Clinton supporter Jacob Kosior ’10 said in e-mail he thought that the Pennsylvania primary would “have a profound impact on the race for the Democratic nomination because Pennsylvania, more so than any other state besides possibly Ohio, will show that Hillary Clinton has the electoral support necessary to win the general election.”
“Hillary Clinton’s victory in Pennsylvania shows that she will be more competitive in November because she has support in Democratic base states as well as the important swing states like Ohio, Florida, Nevada, and, of course, Pennsylvania,” Kosior added.
“The results tonight were expected, of course,” said Mark Jia ’10, northeastern regional coordinator of Students for Barack Obama. Jia added that he is hopeful for the upcoming North Carolina and Indiana primaries. “Obama has strong advantages in both of those states,” he said.
Jia added that Obama’s appeal in his speech last night to the differences between him and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) rather than between him and Hillary “is a reflection of the reality that this is a race of the superdelegates.”
“The results tonight haven’t changed the ultimate reality that superdelegates are the story,” he said.
Students join campaigning efforts
The College Democrats informed its members of “a number of opportunities” to campaign for Obama or Clinton with alumni, president Rob Weiss ’09 said, though he noted that “we haven’t set up anything exactly of our own.”
Adam Baron ’08, president of Princeton Students for Hillary Clinton, said in an e-mail that several students canvassed in Bucks County this past weekend. A few also volunteered at a fundraiser in Doylestown with former president Bill Clinton. He added that a few students also went to help canvass yesterday.
Members of Students for Barack Obama also canvassed in Bucks County two weeks ago, Anton said.
“[Bucks County was] supposed to be one of the most crucial areas for Obama to win” to clinch the Pennsylvania primary, Anton said. “This area of New Jersey especially has been very active with regard to that area of Pennsylvania.”
Weiss said that the College Democrats have not endorsed either candidate, though he added, “we’re considering [endorsing one].”
Weiss said he thought “both sides will continue” campaigning and that “we’re really going to see things decided” in the Indiana and North Carolina primaries.
“I think we’re going to duke it out for the finish,” he said.
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