Landslide Win For Obama In Hawaii Democratic Presidential Caucuses

On the heels of his Wisconsin primary victory, Senator Barack Obama won Hawaii’s 2008 Democratic Presidential caucuses in a landslide:

Sen. Barack Obama, who was born and raised in Hawai’i, won the state’s Democratic Presidential caucus in a landslide Tuesday. Obama had 20,974 votes, or 76 percent, to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s 6,529 votes, or 24 percent, with 68 percent of the precincts reporting.

Hawai’i Democrats turned out in record numbers at the party’s caucuses to help settle the nomination fight between Obama and Clinton of New York.

Obama ran television and radio advertisements in the Islands and talked about his local roots to help distinguish himself from Clinton, who sent her daughter, Chelsea Clinton, to campaign for her in the state.

The caucuses drew a surge of new Democrats, including many who registered to vote and joined the party just last night.

This is the pattern for Obama: he seems to be bringing in new voters to the Democratic coalition. Clinton was never expected to win this one, although there was some speculation that sending in Chelsea was going to perhaps have some impact.

Losing this primary by itself won’t hamper Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The fact that it is the 10th loss and second whopping loss in one night won’t help the momentum and imagery she’ll need the next few weeks to retake the lead in the Democratic nomination fight.