I support another candidate, but I'm warming up to Clinton.

[PresidentObama]

I've always said I liked Senator Clinton, and have held the position that I'll support her as the Democratic nominee. Obviously I support Senator Edwards, and I sincerely hope and believe he'll be the nominee. But I will gladly support Obama or Clinton if they win the nomination. Obama was always my second choice, but I've always had some questions about the effectiveness of Hillary Clinton as our nominee and/or President. I thoroughly enjoyed the Clinton Presidency when Bill was the President, and I've always been skeptical if Hillary can make that magic happen for another eight years.

While I still firmly support Senator John Edwards, and will until he drops out of the race--I'm warming up to the notion of Hillary as our nominee. If it's bound to happen, it'll happen. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Either way, I'll support the Democrat in 2008.

I'll close with this, because I think this is important. We have an incredible field of candidates, and I hope all DUers will commit to supporting our candidates. From Obama to Richardson, Edwards to Dodd, Clinton to Kucinich, we've got the best field we've had in a while. Even without my favorite three in the race (Kerry, Gore, and Clark) I'm very comfortable and energized by this field of great candidates. I wish DU was as well. Support your candidate, and try and nominate who ever you want. But when the times comes, and the nominee is picked, will you support them? Whether it's Hillary or Edwards or Obama? Or none of the above?

I'll support Hillary. Will you?

BTW, I've decided to donate a small portion of money (with a larger portion of money to my candidate, Edwards) to every one of the Democratic candidates between now and December...unless one of them drops out. I even bought an Obama and Hillary calender today, just in case. I'm supporting the nominee, whether it's my guy (Edwards) or not!

[Dawgs]

1. You care to explain why you are warming up to Hillary?

What makes you believe that she has a better chance of winning now than a few months ago?

[rfranklin]

3. She has the support of almost all the Republicans!

They love her!

[PresidentObama]

4. I've always believed she could win. I think any of the top three could win.

Since 2004, I've fought the notion that Hillary was the Democratic nominee in 2008. While I've always had a lot of respect for her, as a former Kerry supporter, I just had a hard time for a long time warming up to her as a candidate. Edwards is my guy, but I like all three of our top candidates. I'm with Bill Clinton on this, it's great to be a Democrat with a field of people you like and admire. Even if you have a favorite horse in the horserace.

[ChiciB1]

31. I Don't Feel Warm, Nor Do I Like Having A Candidate Chosen For Me...

I truly believe it's ALL about MONEY! As time goes by and I hear Clinton, Clinton, Clinton, I find myself losing even more faith in this country that was supposed to be a Democracy!

Every time I've heard her speak, she laughs at the question FIRST, then she basically talks around the answer. I think she's much more to the RIGHT of me and I don't trust her all that much. I'm afraid she's talking a lot, but in the end she will have to deal with all those who give her all THE MONEY!!

[PresidentObama]

33. Who has chosen her as the nominee? No one, yet. So chill.

Our guy (Edwards) has just as much of a chance as her IMO. I'm just saying I'll support the nominee, Hillary or not Hillary.

[Dawgs]

37. Thanks for not answering my question. Sounds like you'd make a perfect Hillary supporter.

[PresidentObama]

38. I support Edwards, but thanks for the stupid response.

I answered it. I just didn't how you would have liked it, apparently.

[LynneSin]

2. You are a brave soul

The Anti-Clinters will soon descend upon you and call you the "Good German" for being so nice about Hillary.

Personally, I'm not too keen on her but I will vote for her gladly and with open heart if she gets the nomination.

I'm pretty much sold on Joe Biden but perhaps it's a delaware thing

[PresidentObama]

5. Biden was very warm and likeable on The View this morning.

Did you see him?

[LynneSin]

11. Unfortunately I have a job

but he's been good on some of the other talk shows.

I've met him and many of his family members - all really nice folks

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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

[PresidentObama]

7. Out of all the bullshit thrown at Hillary, that is the lamed talking point.....

That she's a masked Democrat. Give me a break. I was just watching The Situation Room with a Republican Strategist talking about how she is too left for mainstream America. Every anti-Clinton book I've ever read said she was too left leaning, and too liberal. And she was a phony moderate pretending to be a centrist like Bill Clinton appeared in 1992. And you want to say she's a closet Republican? Oh, ok. Gotcha! Pfft.

[ericgtr]

9. Not sure about closet, she openly supports most things I don't

and she definitely leans to the right IMO. I understand that you disagree and your point is taken, on the other hand I do believe that there are a lot of issues that she is way to Conservative on, just my opinion. I also believe we need a true democrat for a change, a person of peace who I really feel has the best interests of this country in mind. Unfortunately, she is at the opposite end of that spectrum in my view, she's doing what's necessary to get elected and nothing more.

[LynneSin]

13. Anyone who says they'll vote republican probably shouldn't be here

interpret that statement any way you like.

Personally only an idiot would state that a republican with the (R) next to their name is better than a moderate democrat

[ronnykmarshall]

8. Bye ....

[ericgtr]

12. Don't be putting that evil Hillary hex on me!

:o

[daninthemoon]

10. I was pretty comfortable with her demeanor Sunday. Still hoping

for someone else, but if we're not going to get another choice, I can get behind her. I just wish to hell she hadn't been such a hawk for Iraq, and if she does get potus, I would not be too shocked if things didn't change as much as I need them to.

[LynneSin]

14. We have many other choices

Primaries aren't til next year. I'm not about to give her the crown until the results are all played out.

Perhaps Bush saying that Hillary will be the nominee might end up being her kiss of death

[elizm]

30. Of course, her demeanor was fine....

...She is just freakin' UNINSPIRING!

[illinoisprogressive]

15. I will not support Hillary at all, Kerry2008. sorry but, I can't bring myself to

[PresidentObama]

17. Why? I just don't understand.

I can understand why you'd oppose her in the nomination process. But you will simply sit out the most important election of our lifetime? I can't say I will do the same.

[ronnykmarshall]

26. Bye ....

[ChiciB1]

32. Me Either... I Feel The Same Way... It Really Frightens Me! nt

[murielm99]

16. Of course I will support and vote for her.

Kerry was not my first choice in the last election. He was my daughter's first choice. She was a caucus leader in Iowa, and had a chance to meet all the Democrats. When I asked her why she chose Kerry, she gave me good answers. (I don't remember all of them right now). I wish H. Clinton's supporters at DU had an honest chance to state their reasons for supporting her, without all the negative sideswiping that happens every time her supporters post. I want to hear the supporters' reasons.

I supported and defended Kerry after he became the nominee. I gave money, and worked for him.

I think most of us will support and vote for Clinton if she is the nominee.

This is primary season. Things get nasty at DU during primary season. This time, I think there are more trolls here than usual. But DU has grown since 2003-4. We are attracting more attention.

There will always be people who call the Clintons "controversial" and "divisive." The same people say that about Michael Moore. Never mind that Moore speaks the truth, that the fact-checkers can never prove that he lied.

If Clinton is the nominee, we may see some mass tombstoning here. It is not up to me, but we may need a cleansing. We will, at the very least, need a reiteration of the rules for posting at DU. Like many others who post here, I come here to learn. I won't want to be here if every other post about Clinton is hateful and negative.

Additionally, I have been in the trenches for awhile. People who are out doing the work in the field have a very different take from people who post on message boards. I listen to the people in my precinct, county and state. I listen to the workers and the ordinary voters. I know that what I hear is a bit skewed, because I live in Illinois, Obama country. I wish some of the people here would get away from their keyboards. They might be surprised at what they see and hear. And, we need help doing the work.

[PresidentObama]

19. Great post. Interest thoughts/comments/concerns.

I hope DUers get a chance to read your post.

[William769]

18. Hillary and her supporters welcome you with open arms Kerry2008

:hi:

[PresidentObama]

20. You know whats funny that I've observed about Hillary supporters....

I've met very few that have said if Edwards (my candidate) or Obama (my current second choice) get the nomination, they simply won't vote for the nominee. I can't understand why any Democrat would simply not vote in the most important election of our lifetime. It's VERY important we have a Democrat in the White House in 2008. And if Hillary is the nominee, she's the President...period.

[William769]

21. Maybe we are a better class of people and know what the damage is

If a Democrat does not take the White House.

I for one will vote for whoever gets the Democratic nomination, and am not afraid to say it.

[Alamom]

29. Of course, ABAR. (For new members, Anybody But A Republic*n)

[applegrove]

22. I too will support whoever is the nominee - though I like Clinton much

more than the rest. I could live with almost any of them. What a great slate. I agree.

[PresidentObama]

23. Great slate indeed :) n/t

[AtomicKitten]

24. I'll cross that bridge when the nomination is done.

[PresidentObama]

25. Well said. Better than burning the bridge down...like some here want to do.

Even with our past issues with another AK, I value the fact you know this election is vitally important to the future of our great nation. That's respectable. Even though we battled many of times about Senator Kerry, if he would have ran and somehow won the nomination again, I know you would have supported him in 2008 after the nomination process. That's what's most important: electing a Democrat! Our weakest candidate is still better than their strongest one.

[AtomicKitten]

27. Cheers.

It's been a long, long time since the end of 2000 when it all fell apart. In my opinion, it is all that has come since then that fuels the flash fires around here. More than anything else including my own personal preference (Gore > Obama), I want to see a Democrat in the White House in 1/20/09 to appoint the next Supreme Court justice(s).

[THUNDER HANDS]

28. I'll vote for her, but no candidate is getting my money

after 2004, I don't think it's worth it to give money to candidates. If they want to win so badly, let them use their own money.

[2rth2pwr]

40. Only the uber rich may apply. nt

[MasonJar]

34. Thank you for the post. I totally agree that DUers need to get behind whichever of

our fine candidates ends up being the nominee. Anyone who is a DUer and will not support the democratic nominee and, therefore, unwittingly lands another Pug in the WH after these egregious years of pain needs to move on to the GOPer sites.

[emilyg]

36. Agree.

[calteacherguy]

35. Welcome to the warm up. nt

[Colobo]

41. Obama's gaining momentum, cal...

The doors will always be open for you in the Obama camp. You don't wanna miss our great victory.

[Colobo]

39. Obama will win the nomination and the country will benefit from it.

[PresidentObama]

42. He may win it. Or maybe not. It may be Edwards. Or Hillary. Or someone else.

It's anyones race to take. It's hard to say anyone WILL win the nomination right now. Hillary is the only one with a real advantage, and even then...things can and probably will change between now and then. It's going to be an interesting next few months.