Attorney  of , Tennessee won 68,105 votes for 42 percent of the total in Tuesday's Arkansas  presidential primary. He came in first in 36 counties and finished only 16 points behind President Barack Obama, who won the primary with 95,382 votes for 58 percent. The result tops prison inmate 's 41 percent West Virginia primary showing against Obama two weeks ago as the strongest outing for a Democratic challenger thus far. According to The Green Papers, Wolfe qualified for 19 delegates, which the party has already announced they will deny. Regardless of whether the party ultimately awards the delegates, some analysts say the results provide insights into voters' perception of Obama. Peter Grier of explained that "white working-class voters", who make up a majority in Arkansas, "have been disproportionately hurt by the economic downturn, and they're resistant to what they see as Obama’s liberal health-care reforms and support of gay marriage."  Congressman of Oklahoma argued "Obama fares poorly in states like ... Arkansas because he has nothing in common with them. They are rural, he is urban. They are populist, he is elitist. And in case anyone hadn’t noticed, they are conservative while he is liberal." Former Democratic Congressman largely agreed, commenting "The most significant factor is the perception/reality that the Obama administration has leaned toward the ultra-left viewpoint on almost all issues." Arkansas Democratic primary by county. John Wolfe won the counties in red while President Obama won the counties in black. Others have dismissed the results, arguing it is a foregone conclusion that Obama will not win Arkansas in the general election, and that opposition there may be the result of racism against Obama, the first president. of published an article questioning whether racism played a role and concluded that though it likely did, "simply labeling [the people of] Arkansas who backed Tennessee lawyer John Wolfe over the incumbent as 'racists' is a major oversimplification." political scientist warned Democrats against overlooking the results, saying "Obama will never carry white working class. But he can’t afford to lose it by massive margins, either." The  asked a few Arkansas voters how they cast their ballot and why. One voter, described as a 57-year-old resident of , said she voted for John Wolfe because she "wasn’t satisfied with Obama" and had a particular concern about . An 85-year-old retiree from , Arkansas said he also voted for Wolfe, but called it "a wasted vote...I guess you just do it in opposition." The next primary will be held May 29 in Texas. Wolfe will be on the ballot alongside Obama, historian  , and activist Bob Ely.
Attorney John Wolfe, Jr. of , Tennessee won 68,105 votes for 42 percent of the total in Tuesday's Arkansas Democratic Party presidential primary. He came in first in 36 counties and finished only 16 points behind President Barack Obama, who won the primary with 95,382 votes for 58 percent. The result tops prison inmate 's 41 percent West Virginia primary showing against Obama two weeks ago as the strongest outing for a Democratic challenger thus far. According to The Green Papers, Wolfe qualified for 19 delegates, which the party has already announced they will deny. Regardless of whether the party ultimately awards the delegates, some analysts say the results provide insights into voters' perception of Obama. Peter Grier of explained that "white working-class voters", who make up a majority in Arkansas, "have been disproportionately hurt by the economic downturn, and they're resistant to what they see as Obama’s liberal health-care reforms and support of gay marriage." Republican Congressman of Oklahoma argued "Obama fares poorly in states like ... Arkansas because he has nothing in common with them. They are rural, he is urban. They are populist, he is elitist. And in case anyone hadn’t noticed, they are conservative while he is liberal." Former Democratic Congressman largely agreed, commenting "The most significant factor is the perception/reality that the Obama administration has leaned toward the ultra-left viewpoint on almost all issues." Arkansas Democratic primary by county. John Wolfe won the counties in red while President Obama won the counties in black. Others have dismissed the results, arguing it is a foregone conclusion that Obama will not win Arkansas in the general election, and that opposition there may be the result of racism against Obama, the first president. of published an article questioning whether racism played a role and concluded that though it likely did, "simply labeling [the people of] Arkansas who backed Tennessee lawyer John Wolfe over the incumbent as 'racists' is a major oversimplification." political scientist warned Democrats against overlooking the results, saying "Obama will never carry white working class. But he can’t afford to lose it by massive margins, either." The Associated Press asked a few Arkansas voters how they cast their ballot and why. One voter, described as a 57-year-old resident of , said she voted for John Wolfe because she "wasn’t satisfied with Obama" and had a particular concern about . An 85-year-old retiree from , Arkansas said he also voted for Wolfe, but called it "a wasted vote...I guess you just do it in opposition." The next primary will be held May 29 in Texas. Wolfe will be on the ballot alongside Obama, historian Darcy Richardson , and activist Bob Ely.
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John Wolfe, Jr.
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Democratic Party
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Republican
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Associated Press
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Darcy Richardson