John Edwards makes little difference in Kentucky

Most voters chose Clinton months ago.

Published May 21, 2008 12:13AM (EDT)

At least in Kentucky, John Edwards' endorsement of Barack Obama seems to have changed few minds.

According to the exit poll, only 18 percent of voters called the endorsement, announced last Wednesday, "very important" -- half of them chose Obama. But the vast majority said Edwards' support was either only somewhat or not important, and these voters broke for Hillary Clinton.

Indeed, the poll suggests most Kentuckians have been on Clinton's side for a long time: 71 percent of respondents said they'd chosen their candidate more than a month ago.

Speaking of endorsements, Obama's pastor didn't help him much. Fifty-four percent of voters -- a slightly larger share than in West Virginia -- thought that Obama shares the views of Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Asked if Obama "shares their values," a slight majority of Kentuckians said no. Nearly three quarters of voters said that Clinton shares their values.


By Farhad Manjoo

Farhad Manjoo is a Salon staff writer and the author of True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society.

MORE FROM Farhad Manjoo


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