Taking a look at recent exit polls from Ohio, Texas, and Mississippi, it appears as though the “Limbaugh Effect” actually had an impact on the outcomes of the three Democratic primaries.

Back on February 29, Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, in an interview on Fox News, encouraged Republican voters to cross over and vote for Hillary Clinton.

Here is an excerpt from that interview:

“I want our party to win. I want the Democrats to lose,” Limbaugh said. “They’re in the midst of tearing themselves apart right now. It is fascinating to watch. And it’s all going to stop if Hillary loses.”

He added, “I know it’s a difficult thing to do to vote for a Clinton, but it will sustain this soap opera, and it’s something I think we need.”

Well, it appears as though it did have an effect. According a Boston Globe article today roughly 100,000 GOP voters went out for Clinton in Ohio, 38,000 for her in Mississippi, and 119,000 voted for her in Texas.

Obviously, the idea, according to Rush, was to continue the internal fight in Democratic party, in the hopes that the party would simply tear itself apart throughout the process. Most GOP voters in those states believe that Hillary Clinton is an easier opponent for Republican nominee John McCain, when the general election takes place later this fall.

While I do not agree with the tactics of the GOP party, I do fully agree with the theory and understand their reasoning behind the tactics. Hillary Clinton is a very polarizing figure and would make for an easier fight for the GOP. Obviously, the Republicans need to pull any move they can in order to have a slight chance of winning the White House for a third term.

If Barack Obama were to win the Democratic nomination, the Republicans know that the fight will be much tougher. The GOP simply do not have the substance to go against Obama like they do with Clinton. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if the “Limbaugh Effect” holds up and continues to have an impact on the Democratic primary.