2008Connecticut Democratic presidential primary

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60 delegates to theDemocratic National Convention (48 pledged, 12 unpledged) The number of pledged delegates received is determined by the popular vote
Candidate Barack Obama Hillary Clinton Home state Illinois New York Delegate count 26 22 Popular vote 179,742 165,426 Percentage 50.70% 46.66%
County results Clinton:     40–50%     50–60% Obama:     50–60%

The2008 Connecticut Democratic presidential primary took place onSuper Tuesday, February 5, 2008, with 48 delegates at stake. The winner in each ofConnecticut's five congressional districts was awarded all of that district's delegates, totaling 31. Another 17 delegates were awarded to the statewide winner,Barack Obama. The 48 delegates represented Connecticut at theDemocratic National Convention inDenver, Colorado. Twelve other unpledged delegates, known assuperdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

Connecticut held aclosed primary, meaning only registered Democrats could vote.

TheConnecticut Legislature voted to move Connecticut's presidential primaries to February 5 in order to increase the state's stature in the presidential nominating process, as many other states also did for the primaries of both parties. Largely due to a close Democratic race, the legislature's dream came true, as both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama devoted much attention in the state through television advertising, and even campaigned in the state the day before the primary:

• Clinton campaigned inNew Haven, conducting a round-table discussion atYale University. She had campaigned inHartford one week earlier.
• Barack Obama held a large rally at theXL Center (formerly theHartford Civic Center) in Hartford, attracting over 16,000 people.

Going into Super Tuesday, the state was viewed as a toss-up and was seen as an importantbellwether for the overall race on Super Tuesday. The predictions were right as the results gave Obama a narrow victory over Clinton; the second-closest race on Super Tuesday (only inMissouri was the race closer). Connecticut was considered an upset by the media and the Clinton campaign due to Connecticut's close proximity to Clinton's home state ofNew York.

Up until late January 2008, New York Senator Hillary Clinton seemed clearly favored to win the Connecticut primary, taking a wide lead over her second closest rival, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, in every poll. However, a poll on January 27, 2008, showed a tie between Clinton and Obama. After that, polls showed a close race. Clinton took a 13 point lead over Obama in one poll, but Obama led by 2 and 4 in 2 more polls. The final poll showed Obama leading Clinton with 48% to 46%.

The turnout of almost 355,000 voters shattered the previous record for a primary election in the state, even topping the bitterly contested2006 Connecticut Democratic U.S. Senate Primary betweenJoe Lieberman andNed Lamont.

Barack Obama's narrow win in the Connecticut Democratic Primary can be traced to a number of factors. According to the exit polls, 82 percent of voters in the Connecticut Democratic Primary wereCaucasian and they narrowly favored Clinton by a margin of 49-48 compared to the 9 percent ofAfrican American voters who backed Obama by a margin of 74-24 and the 6 percent ofHispanic/Latino voters who also backed Obama by a margin of 53-43. Obama won all age groups exceptsenior citizens ages 65 and over who narrowly backed Clinton by a margin of 50-47. Obama also won more affluent voters making over $50,000 while Clinton won less affluent voters making less than $50,000. Obama also won higher-educated voters (college graduates 57-42; postgraduate studies 58-41) while less-educated voters backed Clinton (some college or associate degree 53-43; high school graduates 55-41). While registered Democrats narrowly favored Clinton 50-48,Independents largely favored Obama by a margin of 62-32; he also won all ideological groups. Pertaining to religion, Obama won all major denominations exceptRoman Catholics who backed Clinton with a 59-39 margin – Obama wonProtestants 61-36, other Christians 63-33,Jews 61-38, other religions 65-32, andatheists/agnostics 52-47.

While all counties in Connecticut were extremely close, Obama won six of the state's eight counties – Clinton wonNew London andWindham counties in Eastern Connecticut.

• 2008 Connecticut Republican presidential primary
• 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries

• 2008 United States Democratic presidential primaries by state
• 2008 Connecticut elections
• Connecticut Democratic primaries
• 2008 Super Tuesday

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