McCain wins in Georgia

The Obama campaign managed to turn out an impressive number of African-Americans, but it wasn't enough -- black voters could still boost other Democrats, though.

Published November 5, 2008 2:59AM (EST)

John McCain has, according to Fox News and MSNBC, won in Georgia. That really shouldn't come as any surprise -- in 2004, George W. Bush took the state with a comfortable 17-point margin. That there was any question about the eventual result is a testament to the impressive organizing work done by Barack Obama's campaign.

Principally important in making Georgia at all competitive for Obama was the black vote. In 2004, African-Americans made up 25 percent of the electorate. This year, it's 30 percent. Ultimately, since according to exit polls 73 percent of whites went for McCain, that wasn't enough to give Obama the victory. But as I wrote in a previous article on the site, it might just be enough to help the Democrats pick up Saxby Chambliss' Senate seat.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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