Keeping hearing of Repugs voting Obama in Open Primaries because they

[demo dutch]

hate Hillary. So WTF what does that mean, is this skewing the results? Are those voters going to back McCain in the GE? Is this part of the playbook?

This could be serious since polls still suggest that the race between McCain and Obama continues to be close. Everyone wants their candidate to win, at this point I'll take either candidate as long as there's a Dem in WH. So, please spare me your criticism, I would like some valid input!

[my3boyz]

1. Good! PLEASE let them underestimate Obama the way

Clinton did!

[texastoast]

2. Yes, they are

The Clinton-haters will try to get her eliminated so McCain faces Obama. They would vote for the dogcatcher if it meant Hillary had no chance at the WH. At least that's the plan I'm hearing here in Texas.

[Bicoastal]

3. I don't really believe rank-and-file GOP-voting citizens are part of any organized playbook.

I think about a third of the ones who consider themsleves hardcore Limbaugh fans would consider it. However--when's the last time you got into a voting booth, or better yet, participated in a caucus--and didn't basically want to get in, get it over with, and get out?

I believe this phenomenon is being overstated by Hillary supporters. The GOP may be organized, but they're not THAT organized.

[madmom]

25. To find out exactly how well organized the GOP is please read..

"The Second Civil War"...How extreme partisanship has paralyzed Washington and polarized America.....
by Ronald Brownstein. My SO is currently reading this book and occasionally reads pieces to me, it's freaking amazing what these people have been allowed to get away with. It will surely make your blood pressure go up!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. yes, yes and yes to your first 3 questions

[CottonBear]

5. My Republican boyfriend voted for Obama becuase he thinks McCain & Huck are crazy

and that they are scaring people with their 100 years of war and religous comments.

and Obama reminds him of RFK (he's 52 and old enough to remember RFK). He'll vote for Obama in the general election.

He begged me not to tell his ultra-Republican (wealthy oil executives and real estate developers) that he voted for a Democrat!

He voted for Jimmy Carter too. :)

[nonconformist]

6. Yes, yes and YES. nt

[Avalux]

7. It's bullshit. I know from firsthand experience.

Just another scare tactic; no playbook. There may be a few who are, but the majority of Republicans who are crossing over are doing it because they like Barack Obama. (the horror!) ;)

[Lucinda]

8. Yes. A large chunk of his vote has been specifically cast for that reason

Which he feeds with the Vote Dem for a day campaign he's been running.

He's hoping to get her knoced out, and turn it around to his benefit on the general. Which might work, but it's risky.

[ClassWarrior]

14. "A large chunk??" ROFL... The only "large chunk" involved here is...

...Lush Rimbaugh and his delusions of having an influence over our primary. One handful of wingnuts vote Obama out of hate, another handful of wingnuts vote Clinton out of hate - but you know as well as I do that the vast majority of people are too responsible to throw away their votes based on the rantings of a bloviating junkie.

NGU.

[Lucinda]

19. Its not just Rush. Obamas campaign has been pushing it as well.

Don't let reality interfer with your assessment though.

[ClassWarrior]

20. Pushing what? Voting for their candidate?

~gasp~ The nerve!!

:rofl:

NGU.

[theoldman]

9. Here in Texas I am starting to laugh my ass off.

Some Republicans are voting for Obama and others are voting for Clinton. Each idiot thinks they are voting for the weakest candidate. I hope their votes balance out. That way they will only make the Democrats look stronger.

[ctaylors6]

10. I think RW anti-Hillary/Bill feelings have been ingrained over much longer time

I hear some voting against for reasons like get rid of her first (have hated Clintons for years), we'll deal with Obama later. I do have a brother-in-law though who's voting for her because he actually prefers Hillary to Obama. He's going to vote mccain in GE but wants some say in D primary (we're in TX).
Personally, I've heard many different Rs talking about who they're going to vote for in the D primary here. Most are deciding which Dem would be best for republican party to run against in GE. More recently I've been hearing more of the plan to vote Obama to keep the D race going instead of get rid of Hillary. I'm starting to think those kind of R votes (the solely mischief ones) will end up a wash.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Hannity and the other MoonBats gave the dittotards their marching orders weeks ago.

[blogslut]

12. It's media mythology

And I'm sick of saying that.

Go. Dance to the machinations of the mighty Wurlitzer. Tens of thousands of Texas Republicans are voting for Obama just to keep Hillary from being the candidate. That is exactly what is happening and don't let anybody convince you otherwise!

Mark Halperin or Ben Johnson speak to four-five people who are cross-voting and that means simply everyone is doing it. Keep repeating the story: Republicans are inflating Democratic numbers! Why, they've made it look like Democrats are showing up to the polls five times more than they did in 2004!

Five times as many Democrats than in 2004. It must be those sneaky, crafty Texas Republicans.

I love that story.

[griffi94]

13. here's my personal story

both my parents are repubs. neither have voted for a democrat since lbj. both voted in the texas democratic primary for obama. both will also vote for mccain in novemeber. according to my mother this is what all her friends did. they all hate hillary very much, and since mccain is already their candidate, and since texas is an open primary, they voted obama. i'm sure others did the same, and i'm sure hillary got some gop votes as well. it's hard to tell how much it skews the results.

[peace13]

15. In my door to door for Obama

a Republican woman told me that she was thinking of voting for Obama and thanked me for taking a stand and stopping by. I said that I do it for the children and their future. Although she has young children she told me she would do it because she was worried about her future. OK. I think we have their attention. Peace, Kim

[JimGinPA]

16. 70% Of AMERICANS Oppose the War In Iraq

Why would they want to vote for Mc100yearwar?

[Cirque du So-What]

17. That's funny...Repukes in Ohio are advocating the exact opposite tactic

Ohio Republicans pulling for Clinton to win
If she's Dems' nominee, GOP faithful think she'll unite GOP
BY HOWARD WILKINSON | [e-mail]

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.

It is a belief that the Clinton campaign says is wrong; and they will campaign across the state for the next three weeks making the argument that their battle-tested, experienced candidate is the only one who can go toe-to-toe with John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee.

<snip>

With his sweep of the "Potomac Primaries" Tuesday night, Barack Obama has won eight primaries and caucuses in a row. Clinton enters the sprint for the two big March 4 states - Ohio and Texas - ahead in the polls, but she desperately needs wins in both states.

more...

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080214/NEWS01/802140346/1056/COL02

[madmom]

26. Ohio is a closed primary.. I do believe!

[Cirque du So-What]

28. It's technically 'closed' in Ohio, but affiliation can be switched at the last minute

How do I establish which political party’s ballot I am entitled to vote?

You may vote the primary ballot of the political party with which you currently wish to be affiliated. If you voted the primary ballot of a different political party in 2005 or 2006, you will complete a statement at your polling place confirming the change in your political party affiliation.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/PublicAffairs/VoterInfoGuide.aspx?Section=15

[thevoiceofreason]

18. If that's what they are doing, the karma is going to be a bitch this fall

Aka - Be careful what you ask for.

[BalancedGoat]

21. The Facts...

Some Republicans are voting in the open primaries.

Some are voting for Obama because they feel he's the weaker candidate and it gives them are better chance of winning on November.

Some are voting for Clinton for the same reason.

Some are voting for Obama because they feel the Republicans have no chance of winning and they have an intense dislike of Clinton.

Some may be voting for Clinton for the same reason, but I have yet to see anything to indicate this.

Some simply prefer Obama over McCain.

Some may simply prefer Clinton over McCain. Again, I don't recall seeing anything to indicate this, but I have no doubts that a very small percentage of Republican voters could be doing this.

Nobody that I'm aware of has been able to quantify each of the previous groups so it remains impossible to know for sure why the majority of them are voting as they are.

Those are all facts, with the exceptions of where I included "may". If you look you should be able to find articles that back up each statement. What follows is simply my opinion.

Republican voters and Republican party leaders are not one in the same. For the most part these people are simply voters showing up to have their voice counted; they are not political operatives. They've been roped into voting for republicans through fear and the use of wedge issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and immigration. For the longest time the republicans have been able to frame the issues in a way that is beneficial to them. Right now, it is our message that is dominating the airwaves. People are hearing the issues from our perspective. Some of them are coming around. They like what they're hearing on healthcare. They like what they're hearing on a number of other issues. People from all over the political spectrum are sick of the constant fighting between the parties. For that reason Obama's message is resonating with some people outside of the party. It is my belief that the majority of these Republican voters are voting for Obama because they sincerely want him to win. Not because he's "Republican-lite" or anything, but because they like his message. But just because I think it doesn't make it true.

[ClassWarrior]

22. Excellent analysis!

Combine the trends spelled out in Ruy Texiera's "The Emerging Democratic Majority" with Obama's excellent use of Lakoffian framing ("Don't Think of an Elephant"), and your final paragraph makes a lot of sense.

We all know that the majority of American citizens are with the Dems on the issues, even if they identify as Pukes.

NGU.

[demo dutch]

23. Fine but the question remains will they stay w/ the Dems? or will they vote GOP in the GE

which might get our nominee in trouble and could we lose because of it. That's my point!

[ClassWarrior]

24. C'mon, most people don't fall for harebrained strategic vote-switch schemes.

If they vote for him in the spring, most by far will vote for him in the fall.

NGU.

[BalancedGoat]

27. Depends.

The ones who are simply trying to influence our nomination one way or another are going to switch back for the GE. However, I feel those voters are a minority of the crossover voters. From my experience of talking to people in Iowa, even Republicans have good things to say about Obama. It is my belief that most of those voting for him in the primary will continue to support him come November. Though, I have nothing to support this other than anecdotal evidence and a gut feeling.

Anyone who tells you they know better is just trying to portray their opinion as fact.