Democrats divide by race, gender, class

By Andrea Hopkins

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - It's now common wisdom that Sen. Hillary Clinton attracts older voters, women and the white working class, while Sen. Barack Obama is the go-to guy for youth, African-Americans and the elite.

Retired teacher Maggie Lauria, 58, fits the mold.

"For us women, our time has come," Lauria said at a rally on Wednesday for Clinton in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

That the Democratic candidates battling to be the party's nominee for the November presidential election became so closely identified with certain voter segments has been chalked up to demographics and campaign tactics -- or mistakes.

After a big win for Obama in the North Carolina primary and a narrow Clinton victory in Indiana on Tuesday, Obama holds a big lead over Clinton in the contest for the nomination, but Clinton has vowed to stay in the race.

Exit polls from the Indiana primary showed about six in 10 voters under age 30 favored Obama, while seven of 10 aged 65 and over chose Clinton. Six in 10 whites voted for Clinton, and 90 percent of blacks favored Obama.

Gender, race and age divides can be explained by voters opting for the candidate who most resembles them. Clinton, 61, would be the first female U.S. president, while Obama, 46, would be the first black to take the Oval Office.

But working-class voters opting for Clinton and more educated professionals choosing Obama has analysts scratching their heads a bit.