Cincinnati Enquirer: "Ohio Republicans pulling for Clinton to win."

[Occam Bandage]

One of the worst-kept secrets of the Ohio presidential primary is that Republican Party leaders have a candidate they are rooting for on the Democratic side.

Her name is Hillary Rodham Clinton; and they believe that if she wins the Ohio primary and goes on to become the Democratic nominee, she will be the one who unites their dispirited and divided party and gives them their best chance of keeping the White House this fall...

To hear Republicans tell it, they're rooting for Clinton.

"There is no doubt about it," said John Becker, a Clermont County Republican who represents much of southern Ohio on the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee. "There is nobody who can consolidate and energize the Republican Party like Hillary Clinton. It will get the people out and the money will flow."

Part of it is that Clinton has what pollsters call "high negatives."

A USA Today poll this month showed that as many Americans had an unfavorable view of Clinton - 49 percent - as a favorable view (48 percent). The same poll showed Barack Obama's unfavorable rating at 34 percent, and his favorable rating at 58 percent. The Feb. 8-10 poll of 1,016 adults nationwide has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

There are many reasons for Clinton's high unfavorable rating - years of attacks by high-profile Republicans, her voting record in the Senate, her vote in 2002 authorizing President Bush to go to war in Iraq - but, in the end, there are many who simply don't like her.

TV news anchor Jack Atherton, the moderator of the Clermont Chamber debate, asked the Democrat Redfern whom he favored for the Democratic nomination- Clinton or Obama.

Redfern demurred, saying that, as party chairman, he would remain neutral. But DeWine piped up immediately.

"I'm endorsing Hillary," DeWine said, setting off laughter in the largely Republican chamber crowd.

DeWine went on to say he believed Clinton was the Democrat with the "high negatives" that the GOP nominee could exploit; and the candidate who would motivate the Republican base.

'It's all been said'
There is some polling evidence that suggests Republicans like DeWine and Becker might be right.

An Associated Press-Ipsos Poll released last Monday showed that Obama led McCain with 48 percent to 42 percent nationally, while a McCain-Clinton match-up suggested a virtual dead heat - 46 percent for Clinton, 45 percent for McCain. The poll surveyed 1,029 people nationwide between Feb. 7 and 10, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

http://www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BA/20080218/NEWS03/80218011/1002

[NJSecularist]

1. Too bad they aren't going to be able to vote in the Dem primary in Ohio

Unless they want to vote Democrat in the GE.

[skipos]

3. OH has a law that you have to vote D in the general election if you vote in the D primary?

Do you have proof of that?

[NJSecularist]

6. If you change your party affliation at the polls during the primary

It takes effect for 2 years.

[RaleighNCDUer]

35. That doesn't mean you can't vote for the other party. You don't

get a party-specific ballot in the GE.

[LisaL]

14. Of course OH does not have this law.

It's impossible.

[zonkers]

18. Since when do eleciton laws mean anything in Ohio?

[OzarkDem]

29. Please keep it up!

Every time an Obama supporter insults Ohio Dems, he loses more votes.

Please, please Obamafolk, keep it up!

[zonkers]

34. No one's insulting OH Dems.The 04 disenfranchisment of 1000's of voters by Repub. SOS Blackwell

is what I was referring to. Nothing but love for my OH democratic bros and sisters.

[RaleighNCDUer]

36. Lighten the fuck up.

How could that possibly be construed as a pro-Obama anti-dem comment?

[Dogmudgeon]

4. "Vote Domacrat"

It should really be "Democratic". Using "Democrat" as an adjective is one of those word-mojo games the Republicans play. You can hear it when party spokespeople are interviewed on news shows. "The Democrat Party ..." and so on.

--p!

[RaleighNCDUer]

37. That is grammatically incorrect.

As members of the Democratic party, we vote Democrat, which is linguistically shorthand for "vote (for the candidate who is a) Democrat".

The Democrat party is incorrect. Voting Democrat is not (though voing Democratic is equally correct).

[JimGinPA]

8. In The GE You Can Vote For ANYONE, Regardless Of Party Affiliation

No one goes in the voting booth with you.


:eyes:

[skipos]

2. So Dewine joins Coulter, Beck and Limbaugh in endorsing Hillary?

Good luck with that.

[jasmine621]

19. First they wanted Obama to win. Now it's Hillary because they

are caught in their own shit without a viable candidate of their own. I am laughing my ass off.

[cali]

5. Hill's loyal supporters here who are pushing the bullshit

that Obama is the repuke choice because they know that no one could possibly win against the universally beloved Hill, are sure to ignore this thread. They do a lot of that.

[Occam Bandage]

7. It's funny how they never actually back up that line, and ignore the literally dozens

of articles about how Republicans are worried about Obama and hope for a Clinton nomination.

[asjr]

13. I must have missed something. I

have never heard anyone offering up that logic. The Republicans truly hate Hillary Clinton and are trying some reverse psychology. I feel they are truly worried about her getting the nomination. Frankly, all these so-called polls I see saying McCain would beat Hillary is a lot of BS.

[breadandwine]

41. Another message from a right winger…

I just received yet ANOTHER cryptic message by carrier pigeon from Stella, that GOP right winger from Texas! Now she’s spitting mad over charges that Obama is lying about Hillary and NAFTA, and insisting that we Democrats nominate Hillary ---


"Lesson fer Libruls Number 7: Message to the Bamster: Shut up about NAFTA.

Dear Librul. Dang! Well it looks like time ta take yer bamboo curtain where the sun don’t shine! All right you lilly liver! It’s back ta Hillry gettin’ the nomination. Bama ain’t gonna win Texas or Ohio! It’s me again, Crumple Lips, Stella the Texan with the last word on the election, and Bama. Ohio is gonna be Bama’s DOOMSDAY. Guvner’s fer Hillry, an’ all them ‘lectrical vote machines, vote TABULATORS, all them lil electrons zippin’ around faster an’ a speedin’ lightnin’ bolt! You ever hold an electron in her hand? No way ta check up on all them SUBATOMIC PARTICLES zippin’ around. Perfect fer hackin’ inta. NSA boys uh take care o’ THAT! You KNOW you can’t beat the MACHINE. Face up TO it. Hillry’s the one you need, Hillry’s the one gonna get the nomination! Now, about NAFTA. Hillry did NOT support NAFTA, Fuster Brain. She wants ta fix it. That thing about her sayin’ it was a boon was a MISQUOTE. How are a bunch o’ underpaid Mexicans gonna take money away from American workers when the Mexicans is paid so little? Doesn’t sound like they’re takin’ much money ta ME. Ahm gonna lay it on the line again fer all you dumb libruls and THIS time I’m nailin’ it on the head, Mr. Deer-In-Headlights. First things first. Nominate Hillry. SHE’S THE ONE YOU NEED. FOLLOW ORDERS AN’ NOMINATE HER. You’ve HEARD the cry of the people, right on her town hall infomercial! It was NOT scripted. So listen to REAL PEOPLE an’ vote fer the little drummer girl. Cuz the GOP needs someone with a rubber band smile and no ideas ‘cept what she got from ‘Bama to run against so we can take back the REAL hill, CAPITOL Hill, after you LIBRULS stole it. We’re stealin’ it BACK fair an square, donkey face. Fergit about Hillry stealin’ lines from the Bamster and then callin’ the kettle black. That’s a LIE. It’s the other way round ENTIRELY. Bama’s a PLAGIARIST. Ahm just lookin’ forward ta yooz cryin’ yer lil eyeballs out when you hit that Texas an’ Ohio backstop. NAFTA? Never took away no American jobs and that is WHY Hillry was always fer FIXIN’ it from the very beginnin’ ANYWAY! You jus’ shutcher face about NAFTA and don’t think about it. Things are FINE in Hillaryland! Just FINE! Hillry says she’ll be fine and she did NOT get that line about her bein’ fine from Bill or Edwards! Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE you libruls! I love you ta pieces! I am so lookin’ forward ta Hillry gettin’ the nomination! Just like Ann Coulter’s votin’ fer Hillry! Now you march ta the votin’ booth RIGHT this minute an’ do what Stella says, Vote fer Super Girl. She can’t lose. Pay no attention to Whitewater, Madison Guaranty, Susan McDougal, Rose Law Firm, Filegate, Robert Fiske, Kenneth Starr, the cattle futures scandal, photos of Hillry smoochin’ it up with Yasser Arafat’s wife, uranium deal in Kazakhstan, Pardongate, sellin’ the Lincoln bedroom, Clinton’s third term, travelgate, Vincent Foster’s suicide, socialized medicinegate (ridiculous! Hillry has the best healthcare plan, the BEST!), Bill gettin’ impeached, skirt chasin’ all OVER the White House, Monica’s dress, Monicagate 24/7/365 and all the rest of it! But ahm openin’ up a can o’ LOSER JUICE 5000 all over Bama cuz we GOPers got NUTHIN’ on Hillry! You ferGIT about all that cuz Hillry’s a SYMBOL! That’s all you need ta know. I am woman hear me roar, in numbers too great to ignore. Keep singin’ that. Besides. After that internet contest ta pick her CAMPAIGN SONG you just KNOW she’s WITH IT on the internets! She knows all about the YOUTUBES and the Xerox machines. Trust Hillry ta protect net freedom! DLC? That stands for DO LOVE CLINTON! Ever hear the expression “Don’t fire till you see the whites of her eyes” --- I mean the whites of THEIR eyes, papaya mouth? Well fergit it. We Republicans would NEVER go dirty on Hillry! What, you think we’re just waitin’ till she gets the nomination? We LOVE Hillry! We can’t WAIT fer her ta get the Dem nomination! We just love her ta pieces! THAT’S why Rupert Murdoch loves her so much! All his hostin’ her and donatin’, an’ all? You think he’s got somethin’ up his sleave? Course not! He just loves her out o’ the goodness of his blushing little heart! I say the goodness of his blushing little heart!! Ya hear me? The goodness of his blushing little heart!! Pay no attention ta all them LEFTISTS tellin’ yuz that Hillry’s road kill in the fall. If we had dirt on Hillry, how come we didn’t FIND any? Now I been hearin’ yuz callin’ Hillry “Cruella deHill.” Now you shutcher trap! Hillry’s the nicest candidate there ever wuz! Cuz McCain’s a geezer an we need somebody really LOATHESOME on the Dermacrit side to bring out all us Death’s Head Republicans ta the polls ta vote! And McCain was never in bed with no lobbyists! Only one news organization says THAT! Bama’s a nobody but we got a dossier on Hillry the size o’ Fort Knox, motor mouth. Ya know why yer a motor mouth? Cuz you won’t shut up, raptor breath! But the Repubs? We’re nice, polite an’ quiet! You think we’re gonna be runnin’ anti-Hillry ads day an’ night? NEVER! Mentionin’ Hillry in all our fund raisin’ appeals? When did we ever do THAT? Don’t be ridiculous. Hey. We don’t even CARE about money! We’re too NICE ta use that big dossier we got on Hillry! We would never USE it because --- WE LOVE HILLRY. But Bama? He’s a cultist. Repeat after me. B.A.M.A. I.S. A. C.U.L.T.I.S.T. And a plagiarist BEIN’ as how he copied the words of his speech writer VERBATIM. Hillry would NEVER copy nobody else’s words! An’ one more thing. You don’t REALLY think Bamer can win after we seat Florida an’ Michigan, do you? Well DO YOU???!!! You KNOW it’s gonna happen. Listen ta Ann Coulter. No time ta think! March ta the slaughterhouse RIGHT THIS MINUTE and nominate Hillry! Because: We. Love. Hillry. Kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss. You better love her too. Trust me. Trust Stella the Texan. With Hillry you can’t lose. So nominate Hillry. I’m only tellin’ yooz Dermacrits ta vote fer Hillry because we Repubs have YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART, you lousy lily livered, yellow toed, turtle tummied, smash mouth, armadillo ridin,’ buck tooth, sarsaparilla slurpin,’ wild eyed cultist Dermacrits!!!!!! Again, nominate Hillry."



I still haven't figured out what to send back to Stella by carrier pigeon....

[adoraz]

9. we alwats hear this but...

has there been any state where more republicans voted for clinton?

really, Clinton is their worst enemy. I really can't see them voting for her even if she has a worse chance.

Even though I believe Obama has a better chance, if Clinton was running against me I'd be a lot more worried.

[Occam Bandage]

10. You seem easily confused. Allow me to explain.

Republican leaders are afraid of Obama, because independents like him and many Republican voters like him as well. Republican leaders want Clinton, because Republican and independent voters hate her passionately.

[adoraz]

43. yeah I know that, but does that really mean much?

I'm just saying I doubt many Republicans would vote for Hillary anyways, even if told to.

I don't think this article means much for the race, even if Republican leaders say to vote Hillary.

[OzarkDem]

11. If you believe the GOP

I have some real estate I'd like to sell you.

[Colobo]

12. They want Hillary. We all know it.

[Occam Bandage]

15. It's double-secret reverse psychology!

[OzarkDem]

27. I support Dems, not GOP'ers

that's why I support Clinton.

[Occam Bandage]

30. ...which is why you're doing exactly what they're laughing about.

[Occam Bandage]

16. kick

[OHdem10]

17. keep in mind Dukakis started with a 17 point lead over the

GOP.

[Occam Bandage]

22. Yep. McCain's close lead over Hillary would turn into a landslide.

[amborin]

20. GOP does not want Hillary

i've spent several hours skimming through some right wing blogs

the conservatives HATE McCain....many are saying they will sit the GE out....course they'll eventually vote...but still....

rethugs seem equally afraid of Clinton and Obama....but a bit more positive about beating Clinton than Obama

BUT----and this is a BIG BUT (pardon the pun)----they have MUCH MORE AMMO to use against Obama....than against Clinton---

the Obama patriotism thing is huge--and Michelle's comments did not help, she'll have to be stifled like Teresa Kerry....

the right wing has always blasted liberals for being unpatriotic.....they say liberals want to blame American first, for everything...9/11, etc......

Obama's hand on heart issue and michelle's 'proud' issue don't help

that said, if enuf folks turn out in the GE, Obama should win

but----another big but----will Hispanics vote for McCain?

if so, that's a big danger for dems

[Occam Bandage]

24. "MUCH MORE AMMO to use against Obama....than against Clinton---"

Welcome to DU. I'm sorry for your traumatic brain injury.

[amborin]

28. you clearly deny reality

do you live your entire life in denial? or just when it comes to politics?

[Occam Bandage]

31. There is always the possibility that

you are not, in fact, a TBI patient, and are simply too young to remember the '90s. But given your utterly aphasic writing style, I'm still stickin' with TBI.

[frakus6]

42. they've already emtpied their holsters against the Clintons years ago

And there is a boatload of new smears to use against Obama.

[no_hypocrisy]

21. How? By remote control? Disposal of absentee ballots?

Voter ID?

[Occam Bandage]

23. Just hopin'.

[BigDaddy44]

25. I really don't care who they want US to nominate

We will nominate the winner. Their opinion is irrelevant.

[whatchamacallit]

26. I knew the recent blizzard of "republicans want Obama because they can beat him" posts were bullshit

the Hill camp will play it anyway they can hoping to reverse destiny.

[Occam Bandage]

32. Whenever you see a flood of bullshit, it's usually a campaign covering a weakness by

accusing an opponent of the same.

[TexasObserver]

33. True. Everyone in the country knows Republicans want Hillary to run against.

This is news only to those Democrats who support Hillary and can't understand why she is THE UNITER of the Republican party, and the alienator of the great middle of indies.

[grantcart]

38. k and r

[writes3000]

39. Hello, the Republicans have been watching the Dem race...

And they've all seen what we're seeing. The "inevitable" Hillary Clinton isn't inevitable. She doesn't have the unquestionable support of the majority Dems.

They know she has high negatives. They know that the Repub side hates her.

Of course, they want to run against her. Of course.

[Occam Bandage]

40. kick