WASHINGTON, 12 February 2004 — Surprising no-one, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry won landslide victories in the South on Tuesday, launching him ever closer to the presidential nomination against President Bush in November.
His decisive victories in Virginia and Tennessee mean Sen. Kerry has won in 12 of 14 states holding primary elections. On Tuesday night, Kerry added the South to his growing string of primary and caucus wins in the Northwest, the Mideast, and the Northeast.
“He’s clearly answered his critics who said he couldn’t win the South,” said Steve Jarding, the 2001 campaign manager for Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, (D). “Momentum carried him through.”
Exit polls showed Sen. Kerry performed well in every constituency: men, women, blacks, the old, the young, rich and poor, according to interviews with voters. Almost 70 percent said they voted for Kerry because they feel he is the candidate that could best beat Bush in November.
Kerry won among every group but conservatives, where he ran even with major rival Sen. John Edwards from North Carolina, according to an exit poll conducted on Tuesday night. Many of the Democrats polled said they would like to see a Kerry-Edwards presidential ticket.
Voters in the South are traditionally more moderate than their Northern brothers, but voiced the same anger toward Bush and opposition to the Iraq war, according to National Election Poll exit polls.
Almost 70 percent said they opposed Bush’s decision to go to war, and about four in five said they were angry or dissatisfied with the president.
The economy, and Bush administration’s huge deficit is also a major concern to voters. Health care was also a primary concern.
Kerry understands their dissatisfaction. On Tuesday night he used his victory speech to criticize Bush for leaving the country weaker, and took aim at the president’s economic record.
Kerry’s victories claimed another victim on Tuesday night when retired 4-star Army Gen. Wesley Clark decided to end his candidacy after finishing third in both states. He flew back to his home state Arkansas, and announced his retirement from the race in Little Rock later.
Rumors abound that Gen. Clark may well become secretary of defense if the Democrats win the White House in November.
