Why did Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton?
Unlike the governor's races, it's a little easier to figure out how the senator from Illinois beat the senator from New York in North Carolina's presidential primary.
With the help of political columnist Rob Christensen, here are five:
He had ground game. Obama had 81 offices, 300 paid staffers and 15,300 volunteers — the biggest N.C. ground operation since 1984. Clinton had 20 offices and 50 paid staffers.
Demographics favored him. Obama did very well with African-American voters, who made up one-third of the primary electorate, and the college-educated.
He advertised heavily. Obama had nine ads in heavy rotation. Clinton had six ads that were not on the air as much. His ads focused on issues; hers on personalities.
The gas tax gambit failed. Clinton put all her chips on a reduction in the gas tax that was roundly criticized by economists. Obama effectively portrayed it as a gimmick.
He got out the early vote. Obama pushed heavily on the state's new early voting option. Lines were longer at some sites than on Election Day, and nearly a half-million voted that way.
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Re: Five reasons Obama beat Clinton
Not only did Obama propose a similar measure for gas when still a state senator but ... the measure was monitored and it had been effective! A pity that for one time when he could contribute something from his own experience, he decided to side with the "big guys".