NPR: Hillary Clinton and the "Bubba Factor"

Hillary Clinton and the "Bubba Factor"

Sen. Hillary Clinton is about as far from the stereotypical "Bubba" as you could imagine. And yet it is this very "Bubba factor" that offers her the best chance to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

For instance, look at this graphic of a "Decision Tree" that breaks down the way Democrats have voted in the primaries so far.

For instance, in counties where the high school graduation rate is less than 78 percent, Clinton has won 704 of them to Obama's 89. If the counties were in the South or Northeast, Clinton won 182-79. If they were in the Mid-West or the West, Clinton wins twice as many counties as Obama if fewer than 47% of the residents make less than $30,000 a year.

If at least 53% of residents earn more than $30,000 a year, live in a very rural area, and George Bush decisively beat John Kerry, Clinton wins these counties 48 to 13, while Obama did better in the traditional Democratic counties.

And Clinton and her campaign are very much playing up the "Bubba factor" in their campaigning. The Charlotte Observer reports that former President Bill Clinton relies on it as he campaigns in North Carolina for his wife.

Clinton, though, said he also enjoys a connection with more rural communities through his upbringing in Arkansas -- the "Bubba factor."
"I came from a poor state and a family with limited income," he told the crowd as he talked about college costs.

He said later in an interview that the smaller communities have fueled his wife's campaign, pointing out that she won an overwhelming number of counties in Pennsylvania and Texas, but they were the smaller ones.

"That's what's carrying her on," Clinton said. "This is America; the future of our country is embodied in all these communities. I went to 47 towns like this in Pennsylvania, and I've already been to 20 in North Carolina."

11:08 AM ET | 04-24-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Why is it considered appropriate in a serious column to use the word "bubba" as a descriptor of working class people?

This reminds me of the now retired expression journalists used just a few years ago in "Joe sixpack." 18th and 19th century philosophers and intellectuals often referred to ordinary people as the "vulgar" or the "common" and until recently "the man in the street." Fortunately, these expressions of disdain for the "lower" have been pretty much retired.

On the other hand, there is an excessive attention paid to phrases of self-identification with other groups, resulting in the proliferation of hyphenated identities such as "African-American," "Asian-American," "gay, lesbian, and transgendered" and the list still grows. Andrew Sullivan, when he was editor at The New Republic tired so of hearing comments prefaced with a racial, ethnic, or other group identifying phrase, "As a person of color..., as a gay man," that he called them Azzas. But it seems that in contrast with "bubba" any of those prefacing identifications demands deference to the views of the group so identified.

Well, as a liberal, white, secular, college educated male I am tired of the patronizing of working class people, whether it comes from Senator Obama or Tom Regan.

It is not acceptable to refer to white working class people with the pejorative "bubba" Tom, regardless of what other journalists are doing. You should know better Tom.

Sent by David | 11:32 AM ET | 04-24-2008

"Some" change vs "radical" change.
Clinton is for "some" change.
Obama is for "radical" change.

But ask yourself this,
How much change is going to occur in the House and Senate? (The two places where change really has to begin.)

Sent by Harold | 11:53 AM ET | 04-24-2008

LOL, check out the condescending bias in that decision tree.

It's not quite enough for the creator of the graphic to merely say Yes or No to certain outcomes, they feel compelled to put their bias into it.

"NO - This is a county with less educated voters"
"YES - This is a highly educated county"

They just can't leave data simple and alone by itself, they just can't stop themselves from attempting to influence.

Sent by deek | 11:54 AM ET | 04-24-2008

The bubba factor? That is pretty sad. If one really wants votes then they should say what is in their heart to say rather than having some "wonderful" speech typed up.
Polititians are just an elite group of actors and actresses for the simple fact that each and every one of them have us fooled.

Sent by Cara Couch | 1:13 PM ET | 04-24-2008

Commoners vs Aristocrats.
Mao vs the Intellectuals.
Populists vs Eliteist.
College grads vs High School dropouts.

This is SO funny!
GIR - Glad I'm a Republican!

Sent by Harold | 1:25 PM ET | 04-24-2008

"The two places where change really has to begin"

change began after the "whooping" of the GOP "Contract on America" in 06, but that spine thing seems to take a bit of time with the dems. maybe their increased majority in the senate in 09 will get them there. one can only hope, at least for the sake of the preservation of democracy against the onslaught of unitary executive authority.

now go ahead and scare us into unchallenging acceptance of presidential overreaching. them there islamo-megabadguysinsertyourversionofhumanevilhere
folks is a gonna getcha.

this is SO sad for most of the world.
G2BR -- unless you are suffering the recruiting/retirement woes of the NRCC, of course.

Sent by tim in exile | 5:40 PM ET | 04-24-2008

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