Democrats overseas vote for Obama

US: Expat Democrats, including those living in Ireland, have chosen Barack Obama as their preferred presidential candidate, according to results from the party's "global primary" held earlier this month.

Obama won just over 65 per cent of votes cast in the week-long poll, during which Democrats living in 164 countries voted by post, fax, e-mail or in person.

In Ireland, voting took place on "Super Tuesday" at a makeshift polling centre at O'Neill's pub on Suffolk Street in Dublin.

More than 62 per cent of Democrats living here voted for Mr Obama, with just over 36 per cent choosing Mrs Clinton.

Interestingly, Mrs Clinton's share of the vote in Ireland was almost 4 per cent higher than her overall global score of 32.7 per cent.

More than 380 people voted in the Irish primary. "It's a real record," said Kate Fitzgerald, chairwoman of Democrats Abroad Ireland. "With the US image so damaged by the present administration, Democrats living overseas here in Ireland were eager to have their voices heard. We saw a great diversity of voters taking part in the process, including many first-time voters."

The global primary results marked Mr Obama's 11th straight victory over Mrs Clinton in the race for the Democratic Party nomination.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times