With the once-crowded Republican field winnowed down to presumptive nominee Donald Trump and likely Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton nearly 300 pledged delegates ahead of rival Bernie Sanders, the scene was set Tuesday for a West Virginia primary that would change little in the electoral landscape.
Though a default win for Trump was projected by the Associated Press with zero percent of the vote counted, the Democratic race took longer to tally after polls closed at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Early reports indicated a strong showing by Sanders as Clinton spent much of the last week attempting to walk back comments that hurt her among many voters in the state. NBC News projected Sanders the winner of the contest shortly after 8 p.m.
West Virginia has been in the news over the past several days following comments Clinton made regarding the coal industry. When the former first lady promised to “put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business,” many West Virginians — including elected officials and those who make their living in the industry — were incensed.
Logan Mayor Serafino Noletti went so far as to write a letter to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., asserting neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton were welcome in the small mining town. When the former president arrived for a rally anyway, he was met by vocal protests from upset locals.
According to ABC News’ preliminary exit polling, roughly 30 percent of Democratic voters told pollsters that their family included at least one coal worker.
While the results of Tuesday’s vote might have no direct impact on November’s general-election matchup, exit polling did provide a barometer of the state’s current mood. A clear majority — about 60 percent — of Democrats expressed concern about the nation’s economic future. That number is 50 percent higher than the party’s national average this election cycle.
