Mississippi Coast follows statewide trend

The three Coast counties followed the statewide trend.

Both Trump and Clinton were taking margins of 50 percent or more that if they held up throughout the state would give them all the convention delegates that are awarded based on the percentage of the vote. And Trump, whose base includes many first-time voters, seemed to be driving a higher turnout than the last two presidential primaries.

For example, in 2012, when the GOP had a competitive primary, 5,067 voted in Hancock County, 17,617 in Harrison County and 16,185 in Jackson County.

This year, 7,251 voted in Hancock County, 24,791 in Harrison County and 20,300 in Jackson County. Trump took 4,147 in Hancock, Cruz received 2,004, Kasich 598 and Rubio 345.

In Harrison County, Trump led with 12,555 followed by Cruz with 7,832, Kasich with 2,479 and Rubio with 2,479. In Jackson County, Trump won with 9,934, Cruz had 7,080, Kasich 1,720 and Rubio 1,101.

On the Democratic side, the turnout was down significantly from 2008 when President Barack Obama ran against Clinton. It was higher than 2012, when Obama was unopposed.

Clinton beats Sanders 893-521 in Hancock County, 6,886-2,313 in Harrison County and 4,811-1,448 in Jackson County.

-- Paul Hampton

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Mississippi Coast follows statewide trend ."