Barack Obama's Republican Edge (Salon)

[swag]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/08/24/obama_gop/

Aug. 24, 2007 | WASHINGTON -- It was sort of like finding a Christmas tree in a cornfield. In late July and early August, Iowa Republican voters were asked to name their choice for president in a University of Iowa poll. Mitt Romney, who leads most Iowa surveys, got 22 percent of the total. Rudy Giuliani came in second with 10 percent. But third place went to a Democrat, Barack Obama, who got nearly 7 percent -- more than Mike Huckabee, John McCain and Sam Brownback combined.

Not to worry: The Obama campaign isn't likely to join the Grand Old Party, and pollsters are convinced that Obama has exactly zero chance of winning the Republican caucus in Iowa. But something is going on. "I don't want to make too much of it," says David Redlawsk, the professor who commissioned the poll. "But I do think that the message Obama is putting out right now is the most likely to reach across party lines."

There are other signs of Obama's crossover appeal. Over the last several months, Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, has been holding focus groups for various media organizations like Fox News to find out what the public thinks of the presidential candidates. "I would ask Republicans, 'Which Democratic candidate would you accept? Who would you consider to vote for?'" Luntz says. "Obama would get more than everybody else combined. Hillary and Edwards have no crossover voters."

A recent poll by the Washington Post and ABC News revealed a third data point in Obama's favor: When asked in July which Democratic candidate has the best chance to defeat a Republican in a general election, Republicans and independents were more likely than Democrats to pick Obama over Clinton. In fact, among Democrats, only 22 percent said Obama was the best general election candidate, while 54 percent flagged Clinton as the best in the general election. But among Republicans, 33 percent said Obama was the best candidate, and 37 percent said Hillary. In other words, Republicans were about 11 points more likely than Democrats to see Obama as the best shot for a Democratic White House.

. . .

[Colobo]

1. Obama has crossover appeal. Period.

[TwilightGardener]

2. If we don't nominate him, we're idiots. That is all.

[Tellurian]

3. Obama is the Republican's Plan B..

otherwise known as a Republican Trojan Horse..

[NYCGirl]

7. And he's a MUSLIM who will DESTROY THE UNITED STATES!!

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! IM SERIES!!!!1

[Tellurian]

27. Obama continuing the pnac plan is a "Reality" series...

Tune In- not out!

[NYCGirl]

30. And what part of the "pnac plan" is he continuing, pray tell? You got a link? NT

[BeyondGeography]

8. So he's not fading anymore?

Just trying to get the latest "why Obama doesn't matter" spin from the "when is he going to go away" faction of the HRC camp.

[TwilightZone]

10. That might be the the most ridiculous claim about Obama yet.

Care to elaborate on how you made that leap of logic?

Reminds me of similar claims made about Wes Clark in '04. We've seen how accurate those were.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightZone]

14. I don't have anyone on ignore, though...

as we get further into primary season, I might have to make some exceptions. :)

PS: Yes, it is one of the posters you mentioned.

[Adelante]

16. Wes was supposed to be the Republicans' stalking horse

And Hillary Clinton's stalking horse. :crazy:

[TwilightZone]

24. Yeah, that's right.

Wow, that brings back some really bad memories. Those primary battles were insane.

[Tellurian]

26. Here's a Fact Check for you..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3472655&mesg_id=3473752

[TwilightZone]

28. If that's your proof, what's your position on Hillary taking money from Murdoch?

Quite the selective application of logic you have there.

If Obama hiring former Bush folks is proof he's a Republican plant, what does that make Hillary? She's taken money from Mr. Propaganda himself.

Claiming either of them is a Republican plant is ludicrous.

[Tellurian]

29. Quite the illogical response from you, though...

apparently you cannot distinguish the difference. Not to be expected from posters living in the Twilight Zone.

[TwilightZone]

31. Funny, but you didn't answer the question.

Do you approve of Hillary taking money from Rupert Murdoch?

[Tellurian]

32. you're funny...

reading comprehension not your strong suit!

[jmp]

4. Obama should be the Dem nominee because the GOP likes him?

Why stop there? Lieberman has even more appeal to the GOP.

[BluegrassDem]

5. He's appealing to GOP moderates and the thinkers, not the wingnuts

And if he can peel off just a few of those types of Republicans, then he can the whole thing outright. He really should be our nominee.

[NYCGirl]

6. So you missed the entire point of the article. NT

[wyldwolf]

9. Obama should be the nominee so the Republicans won't be as mean to us.

[ClassWarrior]

12. ROFL

:rofl:

NGU.

[Colobo]

13. You are being obtuse.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Will Wyldwolf be as mean to us when we nominate Obama?

Now there's a question. :dilemma:

[Adelante]

18. No, he won't

WW is a solid Democrat and will back the nominee.

[wyldwolf]

21. How much money would you wager on Obama being the nominee?

I wish I would have bookmarked the posts then collected from folks who bet the farm with me on Howard Dean in 2003.

[truebrit71]

22. Which is why it is gonna be SO much fun talking to you after HRC...

...gets a rude surprise in the primaries....

TRUST ME....I cannot WAIT to talk to you then...

[BeyondGeography]

23. I'm willing to bet you, ready now...one MILLION dollars

[wyldwolf]

17. LOL. Right. ONE year ago DU would be offended at any Dem with Republican support

[BeyondGeography]

20. Just a joke...you were for Clark in 2004 so I'll always have a spot in my heart

for you...even if it resembles a little tiny dot on the really contentious days.

:toast:

[truebrit71]

19. Typical.

:eyes:

Better yet, lets have HRC as the nominee so we're guaranteed a right-winger in the WH in 08...

[draft_mario_cuomo]

34. HRC is more electable than a candidate who would lose FL, PA, OH, and not flip any red states nt

[rinsd]

25. Oh you're bad.

:spank:

[AtomicKitten]

33. CROSSOVER APPEAL = KICKING ASS IN THE GENERAL!!!!

woo-hoo