Hillary Clinton won 60 percent of the Jewish vote in Maryland’s Democratic primary, but Barack Obama won overall.
Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) was the choice of virtually every other religious group polled, and he easily won the state in Tuesday’s vote. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won on the Republican side of the so-called Chesapeake primary., which included contests in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
In Maryland, with the exception of Catholics, where Sen. Clinton (D-N.Y.) enjoyed a slight advantage, 48 percent to 45 percent, Obama won among Protestants and voters describing themselves as “Other Christian” – the largest single religious voting bloc in the state. Nonreligious voters also favored Obama.
Overall, Obama won 59 percent to Clinton’s 37 percent. With easy victories Tuesday in Virginia and the District of Columbia, Obama for the first time has taken a lead in the delegates count.
In advance of the primary, both campaigns aggressively courted Maryland Jews. An e-mail supporting Obama and signed by several state officials, including the attorney general, was dispatched to the Jewish community.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), a popular figure in the Jewish community, met with area rabbis last week to urge them to support Clinton.
Exit polling data was reported by MSNBC. No data was available for Virginia or the District of Columbia.
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