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Sussex County Democrats bucked the statewide primary results when 52 percent of them voted for Hillary Clinton, while only 40 percent voted for Barack Obama.
The county’s tally was almost exactly opposite the state’s, as Obama – the only candidate who campaigned in the state - garnered 53 percent of the statewide vote to Clinton’s 42 percent.
Meanwhile, Republican John McCain was the leading vote-getter in Sussex County as well as statewide.
Chris Lu, communications director for Obama Delaware, said despite lower numbers in Sussex, he was encouraged.
“First of all, we’re ecstatic with Barack’s overall performance in the state,” said Lu. He said a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll in mid-October showed Clinton beating Obama in Delaware by 41 to 17 percent.
“We took New Castle and Kent County and in Sussex we had a strong showing. We think our message of change and unity plays well to urban as well as rural voters,” Lu said.
But in Sussex County, with an overall primary turnout of 34 percent, Clinton topped Obama in every voting district except the 33rd District, which crosses into Kent County. Joseph Pika, professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware, said Clinton’s strong showing might be attributed to the number of older voters in Sussex. “I noted that the average age of voters in the Sussex districts that went for Clinton was higher than the average age of voters for Obama,” he said.
In Sussex County, the 2000 Census showed about 43 percent of residents are 45 years old or older, while statewide the number of residents 45 years old or older is 34 percent.
Clinton appeals especially to older voters and to women voters, said Pika. The primary results reflect “the high concentration of retirees in Sussex County,” he said.
Of the roughly 91,000 registered Sussex County voters, 30,754 cast ballots in the primary, while in Delaware, almost 147,000 people voted on Super Tuesday – a record-high turnout for a presidential primary.
For Democrats, 38 percent turned out to the polls statewide, while 28 percent of registered Republicans voted. In Sussex County, 34 percent of voters cast ballots.
Pika said lower numbers in Sussex County could be a result of attracting fewer younger voters. “The kind of mobilization that benefited Obama were new and young voters and potentially African-Americans,” he said.
Sussex Republicans
In the Republican primary, McCain garnered 40 percent of the vote, while 33 percent voted for Mitt Romney and 20 percent voted for Mike Huckabee.
Unlike Democrats, Sussex Republicans mirrored Republicans statewide: McCain captured 45 percent of votes statewide, while Romney captured 33 percent.
Ron Sams, chairman of Sussex County Republicans, said conservative Republicans most likely split their votes between Romney and Huckabee, leaving McCain as the primary beneficiary. With Romney expected to drop out of the race Thursday, Feb. 7, Sams said that should simplify the choices for Republicans.
Sams, who watched the primary returns from local Republican party headquarters in Georgetown, said, “When I look at the numbers, Romney got about 4,800 votes and Huckabee almost 3,000.” McCain received 6,000 votes in Sussex County.
“I guess more moderate Republicans voted for McCain,” he said.
“I think there was probably a group of Republicans that liked John’s position. But, I talked to some Republicans that, on certain issues, thought he was more left wing than they would have liked. I think that was the trend too, nationally,” Sams said.
Independents seek votes
Nearly 25,000 Sussex County voters who were registered as Independent or other minority parties were unable to vote in Delaware’s closed primary, which requires major party registration.
Sussex County Department of Elections Administrative Director Kenneth McDowell said he received a few complaints from the polls.
“The major complaint is, ‘I’m an Independent and I pay taxes and I’m not allowed to vote,” said McDowell. “Lots of people moved here. I’ve had a whole bunch who want to change from ‘declined’ to either party,” said McDowell.
“All 50 states have 50 sets of rules,” he said. In Delaware, however, those who wish to change party registration must do so by March 30 to vote in the state’s Sept. 9 primary election. “Other than that, we’ve found no irregularities,” said McDowell.
A few voters cast their votes for Sen. Joe Biden, even though he had withdrawn from the race. In Sussex County’s 14th Representative District, which includes Rehoboth Beach, about 73 Democrats voted for Biden. Statewide, almost 3 percent voted for him and in Sussex County, the numbers edged higher for Biden at 4 percent of the vote.
Beyond the primary
Delaware Democratic Party Communications Director Joe Sheeran said his organization has been working with the Democratic National Committee to recruit volunteers for its Neighborhood Leadership Program, whose goal is to recruit 500,000 Democratic volunteers nationwide by Labor Day. “We target those who are likely to vote in the general election and urge them to contact others in the community.” In Sussex County, he said, about 200 volunteers are taking part in the Neighborhood Leadership Program.
Sen. Tom Carper said he’s not endorsing any candidate. “I think the world of both leading Democratic candidates,” he said. “My goal is to see them run as a team. Together, they would make a strong ticket for the Democrats and a good team for America. I hope at the end of the day they can be convinced to run together.”
Democratic delegates
Delaware will send 23 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver Aug. 25-28. Based on the primary results, nine will be pledged for Obama, and six will be pledged for Clinton. Eight of delegates, called super-delegates, are not pledged to either candidate until the convention.
Because fewer people applied to serve as delegates in Sussex County, Sheeran said the application process has been reopened. The party seeks delegate candidates for Clinton and Obama in the 40th District, which includes Delmar and Laurel. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 20. Delegates for both Clinton and Obama are also needed in the 41st District, which includes Long Neck and Millsboro, but the deadline to apply is 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12. District delegates will be named throughout February. The 14th District caucus will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12, at the Holiday Inn Express in Rehoboth Beach.
In the 37th District, the caucus will be held at 6 p.m. at the Harbeson Church Community Hall, 18636 Harbeson Rd. The 38th District caucus will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company. For more information, go to www.deldems.org.
Contact Kevin Spence at k.spence@capegazette.com
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