West Virginia might be considered moderate as evidenced by the electorate choosing George W. Bush over Al Gore by 6.33% in 2000 and Bush over John Kerry by 12.82% in 2004, having two moderate Democratic US Senators, and with a quarter of the voters citing "Moral Values" as the most important issue according to 2004 election exit polls.
Independents Given a Voice
The Mountain State has 665,234 (56.21%) registered Democrats and 156,199 (13.20%) unaffiliated voters. For the first time in history, The West Virginia Democratic Party is allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in their party's primary. Whites makeup 95.99% of the population and African Americans consist of 3.56% of the total according to the 2005 census.
Primary Day: May 13
The primaries will be held on May 13, 2008. Polls will open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm E.T. Between April 23 and May 10, the state offers in-person early voting.
Democratic Delegates
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will compete for 28 pledged delegates in West Virginia. The state also has 10 Superdelegates, with half not currently endorsing either candidate
Clinton leads the Superdelegate count with 3 compared to Barack Obama's 2.
The Democratic Governor, Joe Manchin, and the Senior Senator, Robert Byrd, have no plans to endorse either candidate until after the primary.
Sparse Data, Clinton Ahead, Rockefeller-Rahall Factor
West Virginia polling is minimal. However, the most recent, conducted on March 3, shows Clinton ahead by 28 points increasing her margin by 7 from a February survey.
Obama has two powerful assets, Senator Jay Rockefeller and US Representative Nick Rahall, that could be used to sway voters to the Illinois Senator's side.
North Carolina Results for the 2000 Presidential Election:
George W. Bush - 51.92%; 336,475 Votes
Al Gore - 45.59% 294,497 Votes
Bush Margin of Victory 6.33
North Carolina Results for the 2004 Presidential Election:
George W. Bush - 56.02%; 423,778 Votes
John Kerry - 43.20%; 326,541 Votes
Bush Margin of Victory 12.82
Exit Poll Information
Exit poll for the 2004 election found "Moral Values" to be the most important issue registering at 25% and "Economy/Jobs" second at 21%, according to CNN.
Pat Maroney - West Virginia Democratic National Committeeman
Marie Prezioso - DNC Committeewoman
Belinda Biafore - State Democratic Vice Chairwoman
Endorsed Obama
US Senator Jay Rockefeller
US Representative Nick Rahall
Undecided
Governor Joe Manchin
US Senator Robert Byrd
US Representative Alan Mollohan
Alice Germond - Secretary of the DNC
Nick Casey Jr. - West Virginia Democratic Party Chair
West Virginia offers early voting absentee ballots with no excuses necessary for those who want to avoid the rush during Election Day. Those who are confident in their Presidential pick have until Saturday, May 10 to take advantage of this option.
May 7, 2008 is the last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot.
Those who have already requested a mail in absentee ballot must send their ballot in to be received by closing on May 12th in order to be counted.
For those planning to vote on Primary Election Day on May 13, polls open at 6:30 am and close at 7:30 pm.
West Virginia State Headquarters
191 Summers Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 346-1913
Email:
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Beckley Office
207 Prince Street
Beckley, WV 25801
Phone: (304) 252-7740
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Fairmont Office
312 Adams Street
Fairmont, WV 26554
Phone: (304) 367-1830
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