The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles (LCSLA) at Loyola Marymount University reported final results from its 2008 Presidential Election Exit Poll.
More than 2,600 anonymous and self-administered surveys were collected (with a margin of error +/- 1.89 percent) from a random and ethnically representative group of residents in the city of Los Angeles who voted at the polls in 50 precincts. The project, “Los Angeles Votes for President: Exit Polls of the 2008 Presidential Primary and General Election in the City of Los Angeles,” is funded by a research grant provided by the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation. Nearly 200 LMU students distributed and collected exit poll surveys in the precincts and entered data for analysis.
“Several things are striking about Angelinos’ vote for president: Regardless of region (non-Valley or Valley) or ethnicity, the majority of Angelinos voted for Barack Obama because of his ability to bring change, his position on the issues — especially the economy — and his strong leadership. Three and a half as many black Angelinos thought race was more important to their vote for president than whites. Even so, the majority of Angelinos had made their choice for president longer than two weeks before the election,” said Fernando Guerra, director for LCSLA.
Like their vote for president, Angelinos who participated in the LCSLA exit poll were very clear about their environmental and social values.
“While there were some ethnic differences in voting patterns for state and city measures, overall, a solid majority of Angelinos thought Los Angeles’ environment could be improved by voting yes on Proposition 1A and Measure R, and no on Proposition 7. On social issues, a solid majority of exit poll participants voted yes on Proposition A (but without the two-thirds required for passage), Proposition 3, Measure J and Measure Q; and no on Proposition 4 and Proposition 8,” said Jennifer Magnabosco, associate director and senior research associate for LCSLA.
Nearly 200 LMU students distributed and collected exit poll surveys in the precincts and entered data for these initial analyses.
This exit poll was part of LCSLA’s effort to implement new sampling methodology called the “racially stratified homogeneous precinct approach.” This new method addresses limitations in standard exit poll sampling that typically has not provided accurate sampling of ethnic groups in urban settings. The 2008 LCSLA Presidential Primary and General Election Exit Polls are designed to study the relationships between voting preferences, ethnic relations, policy preferences, community attitudes, government and community action, and quality of life; and investigate the effects of precinct qualities on voting patterns. Results of the LCSLA February 5 Presidential Primary Exit Poll can be found at www.lmu.edu/csla.
The LCSLA 2008 Presidential Primary and National Elections Exit Poll project is conducted by Co-Principal Investigators Fernando Guerra, Ph.D., LCSLA director and LMU associate professor, political science and Chicana and Chicano studies; Jennifer Magnabosco, Ph.D., LCSLA associate director and senior research associate; Stephen A. Nuño, Ph.D., former LCSLA research associate and current assistant professor, political science, Northern Arizona University; and Mara Marks, Ph.D., LMU assistant professor, urban studies, and LCSLA senior research fellow; Co-Investigator and LCSLA Research Associate Brianne Barclay, M.A.; Faculty Affiliates Matt Barreto, Ph.D., assistant professor, political science, University of Washington and LCSLA research scholar; Richard Fox, Ph.D., LMU associate professor, political science; Lance Blakesley, Ph.D., LMU associate professor, political science; and Robert Singleton, Ph.D., LMU associate professor, economics; LCSLA’s Administrative Assistant/Communications Coordinator Anysia Beck; and LCSLA work-study students and more than 150 LCSLA student researchers.