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 County results Congressional district results Precinct results
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The2008 United States presidential election in Arkansas took place on November 4, 2008, and was part of the2008 United States presidential election. State voters chose six representatives, or electors to theElectoral College, who voted forpresident andvice president.
Arkansas was won by RepublicanJohn McCain by a 19.86% margin of victory, a much greater margin thanGeorge W. Bush attained in2004, despite a large national Democratic trend. Prior to the election, all 17 news organizations considered this a state McCain would win, or otherwise ared state. The state trended dramatically Republican in 2008, as McCain received over 4% more of the statewide popular vote than Bush earned in 2004 and more than doubled his margin of victory. Only five counties swung more Democratic in 2008, and the vast majority of counties swung heavily Republican, some by as much as 30%.[1] Of the ten counties with the largest percentage swing to the Republicans in the U.S. during this election, six of them were located in Arkansas.[2]
Obama became the first Democrat to ever win theWhite House without carrying Arkansas since statehood in 1836. Since1996, Arkansas has rapidly transformed from a Democratic stronghold into one of the most Republican states in the nation. It was also one of the six states where neither Obama nor McCain won during the primary season, and the strongest of five states that swung rightward in this election.[a]
Despite McCain's landslide victory in the state's presidential race, Democratic SenatorMark Pryor easily won re-election in thesenate election, in which he did not face Republican opposition, and Democrats won the popular vote and majority of House seats in theconcurrent House election. This was the first time Arkansas voted for a losing presidential candidate since1968.
There were 16 news organizations who made state-by-state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day:
| Source | Ranking |
|---|---|
| D.C. Political Report[3] | Likely R |
| Cook Political Report[4] | Solid R |
| The Takeaway[5] | Lean R |
| Electoral-vote.com[6] | Lean R |
| Washington Post[7] | Lean R |
| Politico[8] | Solid R |
| RealClearPolitics[9] | Lean R |
| FiveThirtyEight[7] | Solid R |
| CQ Politics[10] | Solid R |
| The New York Times[11] | Solid R |
| CNN[12] | Lean R |
| NPR[7] | Solid R |
| MSNBC[7] | Solid R |
| Fox News[13] | Likely R |
| Associated Press[14] | Likely R |
| Rasmussen Reports[15] | Safe R |
John McCain won every singleopinion poll taken in Arkansas prior to the election, with leads ranging from 7% to 29%. Although, McCain polled just in the low 50% range.[16]RealClearPolitics gave the state an average of 52.3% for McCain, compared to 38.8% for Obama. The margin of victory on election day was more than double of the RCP average.[17] The state was not seriously contested by either campaign.
Obama raised $1,004,783. McCain raised $934,884. Both candidates raised the most inPulaski County.[18][19]
Obama spent over $110,350. McCain spent only $459.[20] Neither candidate visited the state.[21]
| 2008 United States presidential election in Arkansas[22] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | Percentage | Electoral votes | |
| Republican | John McCain | Sarah Palin | 638,017 | 58.72% | 6 | |
| Democratic | Barack Obama | Joe Biden | 422,310 | 38.86% | 0 | |
| Independent | Ralph Nader | Matt Gonzalez | 12,882 | 1.19% | 0 | |
| Libertarian | Bob Barr | Wayne Allyn Root | 4,776 | 0.44% | 0 | |
| Constitution | Chuck Baldwin | Darrell Castle | 4,023 | 0.37% | 0 | |
| Green | Cynthia McKinney | Rosa Clemente | 3,470 | 0.32% | 0 | |
| Socialism and Liberation | Gloria La Riva | Eugene Puryear | 1,139 | 0.10% | 0 | |
| Totals | 1,086,617 | 100.00% | 6 | |||
| Voter turnout | 64.52% | |||||
| County[23] | John McCain Republican | Barack Obama Democratic | Various candidates Other parties | Margin | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Arkansas | 4,185 | 59.97% | 2,619 | 37.53% | 174 | 2.49% | 1,566 | 22.44% | 6,978 |
| Ashley | 5,406 | 62.55% | 2,976 | 34.44% | 260 | 3.01% | 2,430 | 28.11% | 8,642 |
| Baxter | 12,852 | 64.32% | 6,539 | 32.73% | 590 | 2.95% | 6,313 | 31.59% | 19,981 |
| Benton | 51,124 | 67.20% | 23,331 | 30.67% | 1,618 | 2.13% | 27,793 | 36.53% | 76,073 |
| Boone | 10,575 | 68.34% | 4,435 | 28.66% | 464 | 3.00% | 6,140 | 39.68% | 15,474 |
| Bradley | 2,262 | 55.98% | 1,680 | 41.57% | 99 | 2.45% | 582 | 14.41% | 4,041 |
| Calhoun | 1,462 | 65.94% | 691 | 31.17% | 64 | 2.89% | 771 | 34.77% | 2,217 |
| Carroll | 6,083 | 57.50% | 4,172 | 39.44% | 324 | 3.06% | 1,911 | 18.06% | 10,579 |
| Chicot | 2,119 | 40.69% | 3,043 | 58.43% | 46 | 0.88% | -924 | -17.74% | 5,208 |
| Clark | 4,608 | 50.67% | 4,267 | 46.92% | 219 | 2.41% | 341 | 3.75% | 9,094 |
| Clay | 3,032 | 55.02% | 2,244 | 40.72% | 235 | 4.26% | 788 | 14.30% | 5,511 |
| Cleburne | 7,962 | 70.22% | 2,951 | 26.03% | 425 | 3.75% | 5,011 | 44.19% | 11,338 |
| Cleveland | 2,451 | 69.93% | 911 | 25.99% | 143 | 4.08% | 1,540 | 43.94% | 3,505 |
| Columbia | 5,861 | 61.32% | 3,554 | 37.18% | 143 | 1.50% | 2,307 | 24.14% | 9,558 |
| Conway | 4,691 | 57.64% | 3,149 | 38.70% | 298 | 3.66% | 1,542 | 18.94% | 8,138 |
| Craighead | 18,881 | 60.97% | 11,294 | 36.47% | 793 | 2.56% | 7,587 | 24.50% | 30,968 |
| Crawford | 14,688 | 71.54% | 5,238 | 25.51% | 606 | 2.95% | 9,450 | 46.03% | 20,532 |
| Crittenden | 7,650 | 41.91% | 10,330 | 56.59% | 275 | 1.51% | -2,680 | -14.68% | 18,255 |
| Cross | 4,393 | 61.61% | 2,580 | 36.19% | 157 | 2.20% | 1,813 | 25.42% | 7,130 |
| Dallas | 1,757 | 52.95% | 1,471 | 44.33% | 90 | 2.71% | 286 | 8.62% | 3,318 |
| Desha | 1,999 | 42.73% | 2,569 | 54.92% | 110 | 2.35% | -570 | -12.19% | 4,678 |
| Drew | 3,860 | 58.40% | 2,598 | 39.30% | 152 | 2.30% | 1,262 | 19.10% | 6,610 |
| Faulkner | 25,362 | 61.59% | 14,955 | 36.32% | 862 | 2.10% | 10,407 | 25.27% | 41,179 |
| Franklin | 4,411 | 68.12% | 1,869 | 28.86% | 195 | 3.01% | 2,542 | 39.26% | 6,475 |
| Fulton | 2,702 | 57.78% | 1,819 | 38.90% | 155 | 3.31% | 883 | 18.88% | 4,676 |
| Garland | 26,825 | 61.36% | 15,899 | 36.37% | 995 | 2.28% | 10,926 | 24.99% | 43,719 |
| Grant | 5,023 | 73.94% | 1,562 | 22.99% | 208 | 3.06% | 3,461 | 50.95% | 6,793 |
| Greene | 8,578 | 63.02% | 4,541 | 33.36% | 493 | 3.62% | 4,037 | 29.66% | 13,612 |
| Hempstead | 4,273 | 58.14% | 2,869 | 39.04% | 207 | 2.82% | 1,404 | 19.10% | 7,349 |
| Hot Spring | 7,209 | 60.30% | 4,288 | 35.87% | 458 | 3.83% | 2,921 | 24.43% | 11,955 |
| Howard | 2,957 | 61.02% | 1,746 | 36.03% | 143 | 2.95% | 1,211 | 24.99% | 4,846 |
| Independence | 8,255 | 67.12% | 3,688 | 29.99% | 356 | 2.89% | 4,567 | 37.13% | 12,299 |
| Izard | 3,193 | 61.19% | 1,792 | 34.34% | 233 | 4.47% | 1,401 | 26.85% | 5,218 |
| Jackson | 3,118 | 55.86% | 2,207 | 39.54% | 257 | 4.60% | 911 | 16.32% | 5,582 |
| Jefferson | 10,655 | 35.89% | 18,465 | 62.19% | 569 | 1.92% | -7,810 | -26.30% | 29,689 |
| Johnson | 4,922 | 60.17% | 3,034 | 37.09% | 224 | 2.74% | 1,888 | 23.08% | 8,180 |
| Lafayette | 1,685 | 58.06% | 1,133 | 39.04% | 84 | 2.89% | 552 | 19.02% | 2,902 |
| Lawrence | 3,357 | 57.58% | 2,138 | 36.67% | 335 | 5.75% | 1,219 | 20.91% | 5,830 |
| Lee | 1,454 | 38.64% | 2,263 | 60.14% | 46 | 1.22% | -809 | -21.50% | 3,763 |
| Lincoln | 2,513 | 57.04% | 1,710 | 38.81% | 183 | 4.15% | 803 | 18.23% | 4,406 |
| Little River | 3,247 | 63.02% | 1,753 | 34.03% | 152 | 2.95% | 1,494 | 28.99% | 5,152 |
| Logan | 5,350 | 67.66% | 2,286 | 28.91% | 271 | 3.43% | 3,064 | 38.75% | 7,907 |
| Lonoke | 17,242 | 72.63% | 5,968 | 25.14% | 531 | 2.24% | 11,274 | 47.49% | 23,741 |
| Madison | 3,972 | 62.77% | 2,144 | 33.88% | 212 | 3.35% | 1,828 | 28.89% | 6,328 |
| Marion | 4,524 | 63.17% | 2,384 | 33.29% | 254 | 3.55% | 2,140 | 29.88% | 7,162 |
| Miller | 9,913 | 65.81% | 4,869 | 32.32% | 281 | 1.87% | 5,044 | 33.49% | 15,063 |
| Mississippi | 6,976 | 49.79% | 6,667 | 47.59% | 367 | 2.62% | 309 | 2.20% | 14,010 |
| Monroe | 1,754 | 50.86% | 1,615 | 46.83% | 80 | 2.32% | 139 | 4.03% | 3,449 |
| Montgomery | 2,365 | 65.30% | 1,092 | 30.15% | 165 | 4.56% | 1,273 | 35.15% | 3,622 |
| Nevada | 2,062 | 56.73% | 1,474 | 40.55% | 99 | 2.72% | 588 | 16.18% | 3,635 |
| Newton | 2,588 | 65.35% | 1,182 | 29.85% | 190 | 4.80% | 1,406 | 35.50% | 3,960 |
| Ouachita | 5,427 | 54.49% | 4,346 | 43.63% | 187 | 1.88% | 1,081 | 10.86% | 9,960 |
| Perry | 2,743 | 64.10% | 1,352 | 31.60% | 184 | 4.30% | 1,391 | 32.50% | 4,279 |
| Phillips | 3,097 | 34.53% | 5,695 | 63.50% | 177 | 1.97% | -2,598 | -28.97% | 8,969 |
| Pike | 2,727 | 68.76% | 1,089 | 27.46% | 150 | 3.78% | 1,638 | 41.30% | 3,966 |
| Poinsett | 4,903 | 61.84% | 2,742 | 34.59% | 283 | 3.57% | 2,161 | 27.25% | 7,928 |
| Polk | 5,473 | 71.25% | 1,957 | 25.48% | 251 | 3.27% | 3,516 | 45.77% | 7,681 |
| Pope | 15,568 | 70.51% | 6,002 | 27.18% | 509 | 2.31% | 9,566 | 43.33% | 22,079 |
| Prairie | 2,223 | 65.75% | 1,048 | 31.00% | 110 | 3.25% | 1,175 | 34.75% | 3,381 |
| Pulaski | 70,212 | 43.52% | 88,854 | 55.07% | 2,277 | 1.41% | -18,642 | -11.55% | 161,343 |
| Randolph | 3,615 | 57.21% | 2,469 | 39.07% | 235 | 3.72% | 1,146 | 18.14% | 6,319 |
| St. Francis | 3,917 | 41.21% | 5,486 | 57.72% | 102 | 1.08% | -1,569 | -16.51% | 9,505 |
| Saline | 30,981 | 69.38% | 12,695 | 28.43% | 977 | 2.19% | 18,286 | 40.95% | 44,653 |
| Scott | 2,791 | 69.86% | 1,053 | 26.36% | 151 | 3.78% | 1,738 | 43.50% | 3,995 |
| Searcy | 2,726 | 70.86% | 961 | 24.98% | 160 | 4.16% | 1,765 | 45.88% | 3,847 |
| Sebastian | 28,637 | 66.27% | 13,673 | 31.64% | 902 | 2.09% | 14,964 | 34.63% | 43,212 |
| Sevier | 3,125 | 68.23% | 1,291 | 28.19% | 164 | 3.58% | 1,834 | 40.04% | 4,580 |
| Sharp | 4,535 | 62.53% | 2,436 | 33.59% | 281 | 3.87% | 2,099 | 28.94% | 7,252 |
| Stone | 3,534 | 66.38% | 1,598 | 30.02% | 192 | 3.61% | 1,936 | 36.36% | 5,324 |
| Union | 10,677 | 62.15% | 6,190 | 36.03% | 312 | 3.61% | 4,487 | 26.12% | 17,179 |
| Van Buren | 4,276 | 63.79% | 2,151 | 32.09% | 276 | 4.12% | 2,125 | 31.70% | 6,703 |
| Washington | 37,963 | 55.52% | 29,021 | 42.44% | 1,396 | 2.04% | 8,942 | 13.08% | 68,380 |
| White | 19,467 | 72.22% | 6,732 | 24.97% | 756 | 2.80% | 12,735 | 47.25% | 26,955 |
| Woodruff | 1,206 | 43.68% | 1,412 | 51.14% | 143 | 5.18% | -206 | -7.46% | 2,761 |
| Yell | 3,808 | 63.09% | 2,003 | 33.18% | 225 | 3.73% | 1,805 | 29.91% | 6,036 |
| Totals | 638,017 | 58.72% | 422,310 | 38.86% | 26,290 | 2.42% | 215,707 | 19.86% | 1,086,617 |
| Democratic Hold | Republican Hold Gain from Democratic |
McCain won all four congressional district in Arkansas, three of which were held by Democrats.
| District | McCain | Obama | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 58.69% | 38.41% | Marion Berry |
| 2nd | 53.98% | 44.07% | Vic Snyder |
| 3rd | 64.16% | 33.45% | John Boozman |
| 4th | 58.14% | 39.33% | Michael Avery Ross |
Technically the voters of Arkansas cast their ballots for electors: representatives to theElectoral College. Arkansas is allocated 6 electors because it has 4congressional districts and 2senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 6 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 6 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for president and vice president. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them.[24] An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as afaithless elector.
The electors of each state and theDistrict of Columbia met on December 15, 2008, to cast their votes for president and vice president. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols.
The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All 6 were pledged toJohn McCain andSarah Palin:[25]
Although formerPresidentBill Clinton, a Democrat, easily carried his home state of Arkansas in1992 and1996, the state was largely considered a safe state for McCain. Early polls gave McCain a 9-point lead among possible voters on Election Day.[26] Although the state was still strongly Democratic at the non-presidential levels, on Election Day, Arkansas voted for McCain by a margin of approximately 20% — ten points better than Bush's showing four years earlier. In this election, Arkansas voted 27.12% to the right of the nation at-large.[27]
A handful of counties — some of which had not voted for the Republican presidential candidate sinceRichard Nixon won every county in1972 — swung safely into the GOP column. TheDelta county ofJackson, for example, swung from a 14.3-point victory for DemocratKerry in2004 to a 16.3-point victory for McCain in 2008. Possible factors suggested for such a large swing away from the Democrats was Obama's status as the firstAfrican American major-party nominee in a historically segregationist state still dominated by conservative whites,[28] as well as the fact thatHillary Clinton, who once served as First Lady of Arkansas while her husband wasGovernor, did not receive the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. Polling from the Spring showed Hillary Clinton defeating McCain in a hypothetical match-up in Arkansas.[29] Obama became the first Democrat in history to win the White House without carrying Arkansas.
During the same election, however, freshman DemocraticU.S. SenatorMark Pryor faced no Republican opposition, and was reelected in a landslide victory over Rebekah Kennedy of theGreen Party. The four members of the state's delegation to theU.S. House of Representatives (three Democrats and one Republican) were also reelected with no major-party opposition. Republicans, however, picked up three seats in theArkansas House of Representatives and one Democratic state representative became a Green (he later returned to the Democratic Party in 2009).
State and district results of the2008 United States presidential election | ||
|---|---|---|
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