Sen. Hillary Clinton won the New York Democratic presidential primary on Super Tuesday, en route to a lead in the national delegate race over Sen. Barack Obama at press time.
Clinton was the projected winner in New York with 57 percent of the total vote, losing only in one county in the state, with 99 percent of the precincts reporting at press time according to the Associated Press. The distribution of delegates had not yet been determined.
California, Massachusetts and New Jersey were also among the eight states projected for Clinton, the junior senator from New York. Obama, of Illinois, was projected to carry 13 states, including his home state, Colorado and Connecticut. New Mexico was too close to call at press time.
Clinton led Obama in national delegates, 699-598, at press time, the A.P. reported.
New York was one of 22 states to hold its Democratic primary or caucus as a part of Super Tuesday. There are 232 pledged Democratic delegates representing New York's 11,222,042 total registered voters, according to CNN.com. Only California has more delegates.
Mike Gravel, a former senator from Alaska, is still an active candidate, but did not qualify for the New York ballot.
Few people at the 2008 Presidential Primary Night Party at Tony's Family Restaurant on Burnet Avenue in Syracuse seemed surprised Clinton was the projected winner in New York Tuesday evening.
"Duh," said Matt Jones, a candidate for the Liverpool Board of Education, a Clinton supporter and Onondaga County Community College student, as the results were announced. "D-U-H."
The event was hosted by the Onondaga County Democratic Committee (OCDC), and of the 30 or so Democrats in attendance, only a few wore pins supporting U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
"I have friends, die-hard Republicans, who will vote Clinton in the general election," said Dave Capria, the town Democratic chair for the Town of Clay. "It's the experience factor."
The Obama campaign center held a separate event for volunteers and supporters, fewer than two miles away from the OCDC event. Obama was projected to finish second in New York with 40 percent of the vote.
"It's not a snub," said Lisa Daly, the Central New York coordinator for the Obama campaign, of the event. "We had a core group of volunteers, and we wanted to reward them."
William Suk, a graduate student at Syracuse University and volunteer for the Obama campaign, said nearly 100 people were at the DeWittshire Tavern, the site of the Obama gathering, at 9:30 p.m. as the results were coming in.
"Do you hear everyone clapping?" Suk asked. "We knew going in that New York was a Clinton state, but we've had a remarkably successful night."
As far as his continued campaigning for the Democratic Party, he is torn.
"If Obama wins the nomination, I'll be very active," Suk said. "Clinton, I don't know. I'll vote for her, but I don't know if I'll actively campaign."
Allen Elmore, a 17-year-old Syracuse resident, shared a similar sentiment. An Obama supporter, he said - if he could vote - he would choose Republican presidential candidate John McCain over Clinton.
"It's not because she's female, I just don't connect with her." Elmore said. "When (Obama) talks, I understand him. I vibe with him."
At the OCDC event, excitement ran high as volunteers exchanged stories about the high Democratic voter turnouts.
Diane Dwire, the Democratic chair of the county, said a co-worker called from a rural area 20 minutes after the polls opened, and he was the 80th Democrat to vote.
"People like our candidates, they like our choices," said Dustin Czarin, the Democratic chair of the 17th ward and a Clinton volunteer.
Czarin expects that Democrats will rally their support behind whichever candidate receives the nomination.
"You'll see people realize that (the candidates') differences are much smaller than their similarities," he said. "They both have the same goals."
To Czarin, there is also a good chance of a Clinton and Obama joint ticket.
"Obama would make a great (vice president)," he said, citing his lack of experience as his potential point of failure. "He could take over as president eight years from now."
lrbertol@syr.edu
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