Bernie Sanders Keeps Rolling By Defeating Hillary Clinton In Wisconsin Primary

Sen. Bernie Sanders has defeated Hillary Clinton in the Wisconsin Democratic primary.

Sen. Sanders has now won six of the last seven Democratic contests, and his victory in Wisconsin was not unexpected. Sanders led in every recent Democratic poll of the state. According to exit polling, 78% of Wisconsin Democrats wanted a candidate with experience. Thirty-seven percent of the voters in the Democratic primary were age 18-44, and 63% were over age 45. by a margin of 56%-41% voters said selected Sanders over Clinton in terms who inspired them about the future.

A loss in Wisconsin would been nearly impossible for Bernie Sanders to come back from. Sanders needed the win in Wisconsin to hopefully propel him into the New York primary. The Sanders campaign had been organizing the state for months, and had a natural base of support in Madison, WI.

The writing was on the wall before the polls closed, as Hillary Clinton decided not to be in the state of Wisconsin when the results were announced. The Clinton campaign spent the day downplaying expectations and seemed to be expecting to lose. Bernie Sanders worked hard for this win. The Sanders campaign outspent Hillary Clinton on advertising $2.4 million-$931,000.

The final margin of victory is what matters most in the remainder of the Democratic primary. Sanders needs to win 58%-60% of the vote in Wisconsin and all of the remaining primary states. Victories matter, but what Sanders needs most are big delegate hauls, and those will only come with large margins of victory.

Bernie Sanders got the win that he absolutely had to have in Wisconsin. The campaign moves on to New York, and an Empire State primary that will determine of the race for the Democratic nomination heads for a thrilling finish or plays out the string to Philadelphia.