Age and gender mattered more than race in this election

November 5, 2008

Exit polls: age was a factor over race by 2:1
Exit polls during the primaries: gender was more of a factor than race.

Sexism and ageism were more of a detriment than race in this election cycle. Yet all we heard about was racism and all three opponents ended up racists. It's what happens when you go up against a post-racial candidate. Sexism - whining. Ageism - laughed at.

White vote
1976 Jimmy Carter 47%
1996 Bill Clinton 43%
2008 Barack Obama 43%

Blacks 96%
Hispanic 67%
Asian 61%

Race a factor: obama 53-45
Race not a factor : obama 51-47

Whites (17%) race a factor: McCain 61-37.
Whites race not a factor: McCain 54-44
Blacks (32%) race a factor Obama 95
Hispanics (22%) race a factor: Obama by 67-33

Age a factor (39%) Obama 66-33

2008 Blacks 13%
2004 Blacks 11%
2000 Blacks 10%

So much for historic turnout. And had he lost by a small margin?