NEWSWEEK: 1 out of 4 Clinton supporters would vote for MCCAIN?!

[Bicoastal]

That is, if HRC failed to get the nomination. (On the other side, only 10% of Obama supporters would do likewise.)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/123582 (Thanks to ruggerson.)

Off the top of my head, I can't figure out who this is worse news for. This statistic would be awful for Obama if it came true once he got the nomination, but it punches a big hole in the theory that the REAL Democrats (ie, the party faithful) are lining up behind Hillary.

Edited for clarity: I have no idea if Newsweek polled members of the party, or simply people who were going to voted/had already voted for HRC. All the article said was this--

"It's unclear exactly when the primaries stopped being a joyous occasion for the Democrats. But as the weeks have ground on, the intensity between Democrats who disagree has calcified, the vitriol grown fiercer. According to exit polling in the Texas primary, 91 percent of Clinton supporters said they would be dissatisfied with Obama as the nominee; 87 percent of Obama fans said they would be dissatisfied with Clinton. Nationally, a quarter of those who back Clinton say they'd vote for John McCain if Obama won the nomination (while just 10 percent of Obama supporters would do the same if he lost)."

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

1. fear of a black planet

[polpilot]

89. No surprise here. Hill & Bill (like their buddy Lieberman) are closet REPUBS!!!

[TwilightGardener]

2. And yet, Obama still does well against McCain in most polls.

[TahitiNut]

16. That's why there's so much vitriol and venom aimed at "leftists" and "Naderites."

The "centrist" extortionists who threaten to vote GOP have a 2::1 per capita vote-swing advantage over the "leftists" who'd stay home or vote 3rd party. When, however, MORE than twice as many folks would withhold their support when they see the Democratic Party swinging too far to the right, the corporatist hostile takeover strategy runs out of leverage. Thus, they must crack the whip of 'shame' and 'betrayal' over the New Deal liberals and "leftists."

It's a strategy!

[TwilightGardener]

19. Interesting theory--food for thought.

[TahitiNut]

57. As an independent liberal, I've been watching it evolve for over 40 years.

I've peeked inside the partisan machinations of both parties over that time. It's why I choose to adhere to a poltical ideology rather than partisan allegaince of any kind. The appetite for partisan power in the GOP led inexorably to their "deal with the devil" and the 'negotiations' are taking place (and have been) as we post inside the Democratic Party 'establishment' as well.

Consider (just as one of many "for instances") ... why is it at all believable, to any rational degree, that impeachment has been "off the table" due to concerns about prevailing in November 2008? (Think about all the dimensions of that allegation.)

:shrug:

[TwilightGardener]

66. I figured that impeachment was "off the table" perhaps because

Democrats didn't want certain things investigated--in other words, no clean hands among many Dem enablers, the misdeeds weren't exculsively the property of Chimpy and the GOP. I agree there's a lot of conservative Dem/GOP overlap that prevents the Dem party from fighting the GOP agenda properly--you are on to something.

[catgirl]

21. Exactly. They were interviewing repugs as well.

and the reps want Hillary to be the candidate (easier to beat).

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. Got some bad news for the Rethugs - there's a new sheriff in town.

[TheDonkey]

3. Race in America

still matters unfortunately to many bigots still in the Democratic party.

[0007]

4. This pisses me off!

[EmilyAnne]

5. Who cares. The election isn't tomorrow. There is so much time for people to learn about this

candidate. I don't think as many people are paying close attention to the primaries as we think. Once the run to the GE starts, more will start to pay attention. They will find out why they can't support McCain.

I wouldn't worry about such an early poll.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

36. Same here.

[TahitiNut]

6. "Blue Dog" Extortion strategy.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/TahitiNut

[Tesha]

7. The DLC aren't real Democrats; they only used our party to gain power. (NT)

[bilgewaterbill]

8. That means Hillary's supporters are racist on a scale equal to the repubs!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. The Ferracist branch of the Democratic party.

[leftynyc]

98. So, according to you, the only reason

a democrat wouldn't vote for Senator Obama is because he/she is racist? Do I have that right?

[dkf]

9. I think these are people who voted for her, but actually want McCain in November.

Its the Limbaugh voters...

[MoJoWorkin]

29. Ding. ding. ding! You are exactly right.

that is what the exit polls in MS indicated, and it was due to the Repug/Rush crossover factor.

Don't anyone get their panties in a wad over this.

[State the Obvious]

10. I would interpret that as 3 out of 4 Clinton supporters would NOT vote for McCain.

The 1 out of 4 supporters that would vote for McCain are probably Republicans anyway.

[anigbrowl]

22. and 9 out of 10 Obama supporters would stick with the Democrats.

I'm not sure what your point is here. However you look at it, 25% of Clinton's backers are willing to vote Republican.

[State the Obvious]

37. 25% of Hillary supporters would vote for McCain, 75% of them would NOT vote for McCain.

So many Republicans have been encouraged to vote for Hillary...with the assurance that McCain could beat her in the GE.
I"m saying that the "1 out of 4" (25%) are Republicans ANYWAY.

They would NEVER vote for the Democratic nominee in the first place.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

53. Would NEVER vote Hillary, but would sure as hell not vote Rethug either.

[CitizenLeft]

33. or Reagan Democrats...

...those people who have always called themselves "Democrats" but who consistently vote for the Republican. Even Hillary can lose a number of these voters to McCain - they only voted for her in the primary. Doesn't mean dookie in the GE. Ohio is swarming with them.

[onehandle]

11. The election looks like it will be closer than ever. Too bad we didn't nominate Edwards.

The candidate that polls showed had the best chance to win.

oh well...

[cali]

14. pollls over a year out are meaningless

Personally, I thought Edwards was a lousy candidate for the general with obvious flaws. It's all speculative, but I don't regret that Edwards is out of it.

[onehandle]

24. As recently as just before Super Tuesday.

By that reckoning, current polls are... flawed.

No matter what the delegate count, Democrats are currently 50/50 for Clinton and Obama... or the counts and polls are meaningless.

We'll see.

Either way, they need to get together and decide this thing. Both of them are hurting our chances.

Both of them.

[buff2]

46. He was a lousy candidate

Until Obama got his delegates.How nice. :eyes:

[krawhitham]

12. So you are saying 25% of HRC voters are crossover rethugs

who are afraid of facing Obama in the GE

[Umbram]

17. I wonder if the same percentage of them are represented here at DU? (nt)

[billbuckhead]

18. Probably half of Hillary supporters will vote for McCain as whites rally around their candidate

Reverend Wright was a bad thing for Hillary's opponent.

[TwilightGardener]

39. You just confirmed what I've been thinking about Hillary supporters.

Hint: it ain't flattering.

[stillcool]

45. I'm glad to hear you admit that...

[Forkboy]

60. You're one demented individual. But we all knew that already.

[bigdarryl]

13. this story is BULLSHIT PAPA McCain hasn't been scrutinized lately because

everything is concentrated on the dem's side so no negative news on him is going to boosted his poll numbers. but i assure you that will change in the general election. then we will see how many of those voters are quick to support him.

[seafan]

15. Would these be the Rush Listeners or the Grudge Holders? n/t

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

41. Grudge Holders with a smattering of Red-Necks

The core of the Hillary crowd see this election as "their" time. Above all else, they place penultimate
importance on electing a woman. IMO, a lot(probably that 25%) of the women who back Hillary see this as the last and only
chance of electing a woman president in their lifetime. If and when she loses the nomination, their bitterness
at losing this chance will make them lash out at what they perceive to be the cause:
Barack stealing it, when in fact it was Hillary's to lose from the get go.

And you know what? As white male, I would have gone along with them on this journey
if a better candidate like Barack wasn't running and if the woman wasn't Hillary.

[slinkerwink]

20. why else do you think Clinton gave the nod to McCain?

[TwilightGardener]

23. Yep.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. What a disgrace she is for doing that.

[IndianaGreen]

74. Hillary would rather see McCain in the White House than Obama

that way she still gets a crack at the nomination in 4 years.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

25. Tells you everything you need to know about Hillary.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

30. What a vile, dumb thing to say. Does Al Sharpton tell us everything we need to know about Barack?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. No, how idiotic. 1 in 4 supporters of Sharpton for president wouldn't vote for McLame.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

54. The point is that Sharpton supports Obama, but that's not Obama's fault.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

82. Why is that a bad thing? Hillary supporting McLame, any rational person sees why that's bad.

[Cha]

26. Oh really?

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

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

[xultar]

42. I alerted on your post. Just wanted you to know that this Black woman didn't

appreciate it.

[easy_b94]

49. wink ;)

[Kahuna]

50. I've found that out already right here on DU. nt

[Beregond2]

32. "Dissatisfied"

How does "dissatisfied with" translate to "would vote Republican?"

[debbierlus]

34. You are not calculating all who would stay home, if Clinton nominated

Most Obama supporters would not vote for McCain, but they won't go out & vote for Hillary either.

They need to share a ticket - and both sides need to unite.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

84. That would be me, regardless of whetther Hillary is the nominee or Obama's choice for VP.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

85. That would be me, regardless of whetther Hillary is the nominee or Obama's choice for VP.

[Vinca]

35. Well, they're crazy if they do. They should picture their child

in the flag-covered box if they vote for McCain. McCain is a warmonger and somebody's kid will be sacrificed.

[Tellurian]

38. If Clinton supporters stay home and Red States vote for McCain..

Welcome President McCain!

[xultar]

40. But Obama says his supporters would stay @ home which is just as bad.

Remeber, OBama said that he could get Hillary supporters to vote for him if he got the nomination, but he said his supporters wouldn't vote for her. Which equals either voting for McCain or staying home.

So, I assumed he meant they'd stay @ home.

[anonymous171]

43. Voting FOR McCain is worse than voting 3rd party or staying home.

[xultar]

47. Every Democrat who votes for a third-party or stays home is voting Rethug.

[Forkboy]

61. That's not how democracy works.

Your attitude smacks of entitlement. A party has to earn our votes, they aren't owed to them.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

88. Not true.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

59. Yes, much worse. It's a math thing.

As I point out around here until everyone must be sick of it...

A Dem who votes for McCain is like two votes.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

87. No question.

[stillcool]

48. No. He didn't. What he said was..

that he was drawing support from Independents and some Republicans, while Hillary was not.

[Tellurian]

67. Thats right. Hillary has the Dem base secured..

Bambi has appealed to crossover votes and Indys.

With the mess Obama is making of things, Hill supporters will never vote for him.

[stillcool]

94. You would never have voted for him...

regardless of what he has said or done. You have made that quite clear. I like how you speak for everyone who has voted for Senator Clinton. Does that have something to do with your participation at your site?

[LisaL]

65. And DUbamas keep on posting how Obama supporters

will not vote for Hillary and even threaten riots if Obama is not nominated.
And then they got a gull to whine.

[dempartisan23]

44. clinton is mccain

i am starting to realy dislike her. i have news for hillary. if its her vs mccain there is no point in voting for her.

[Tellurian]

71. Republicans WILL vote for Hillary.. They will not vote for Obama!

He's lost their support after the damaging Wright fiasco. Republicans always wave the American flag. Obama no longer demonstrates American values. That will be his Waterloo!

[cooolandrew]

51. Hardly surprising HRC did endorse him. It's only their kids future and only dems fix stuff.

[GoldieAZ49]

56. PEW Research on Feb 28th reported this

25% of white democratic voters would vote for McCain over Obama

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=398


Add to that his pastor of 20 years video playing I would bet it goes up to 75%

Nice to hear G D America on every news show on Palm Sunday, it may go even higher.

[Vinca]

58. Does that mean Hillary has captured the racist voters? That's

the way it sounds.

[LisaL]

64. Way to go, DUbama.

The best way is to make someone vote for your guy is to insult the hell out of them.

[LisaL]

62. I don't know where have you been.

All those posts about democrats losing younger voters and black voters unless Obama is nominated.
Doesn't seem to jive with your post.

[Perry Logan]

63. R.I.P. the "Obama is electable" meme.

[Bicoastal]

68. Right next to the "Hillary is not divisive" headstone.

[LisaL]

69. Which will be next to the Obama unites us all headstone.

[justinsb]

70. Maybe President Obama

can find room for all those headstones in the Rose Garden?

[Bicoastal]

72. In the "Hillary hasn't been running an excessively negative campaign" plot

of the "Bill and Hillary Clinton represent the best the Democratic party has to offer America" graveyard on the corner of Smear street and Swiftboat avenue!

[Tellurian]

73. All done by Dumbama himself..

no one else to blame here but himself..

[Bicoastal]

77. Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.

[onenote]

83. Did you bother to check the poll? Even with the defections, it shows Obama doing better than Clinton

NOt very convenient for you, but if you're going to claim that this poll shows that Obama isn't as electable as HRC, wouldn't it help if the poll showed Obama doing worse than Hillary? It doesn't. It shows that Obama is the stronger candidate. Why? Because it also shows that while Clinton LOSES to McCain among independents, Obama wins, and by a significant margin.

The whole story can be a bitch, can't it?

[IndependentDem]

75. this is just sad

i dont understand how any dem can condone voting for any republican or not voting and therefore giving your vote to the Republicans. these people need to remember what is at stake here, go over to freerepublic for a little while-- see how they are cheering for idiots like Sally Kern and Hagee. do we really think that they are better than clinton or obama? i just dont see it.

[npincus]

76. Probably the older folks going for Clinton would preffer the AARP candidate

to a whippernapper like Obama.

[GOPBasher]

78. That's great. The primary divided us, and the GOP has a nominee settled.

It's just like us to ALWAYS pull defeat out of the jaws of victory.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

79. NOT ME! I'm in the 3/4 category. I WILL SUPPORT THE DEM NOMINEE

Even if it is Obama, who worries me (not nearly as much as ANY Republican though).

[IndependentDem]

80. Good for you! hopefully the other 1/4 will come around too. n/t

[onenote]

81. Once again the most misused, misunderstood, misstated poll of this election appears on DU

This poll has been discussed ad nauseum on DU. And misused and misunderstood. Here's a link to the poll: http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/398.pdf

It sure sounds alarming when you say a quarter of Democrats who back Clinton will defect to McCain if Obama is the nominee, but only 10 percent of Obama's supporters would jump to McCain in HRC gets the nod. But, that ignores much more meaningful aspects of the poll results, such as:

Overall, according to this poll, Obama beats McCain 50/43, while HRC beats McCain 50/45.

And while the poll shows that, among Democrats, HRC beats McCain 89/9 and Obama beats McCain by only 81/14, that supposed advantage for HRC evaporates when you consider that among independents, Obama beats McCain by 49/43, while HRC LOSES to McCain by 50/44. And among repubs, McCain picks up four percentage points that he loses to Obama.

The fact that this poll actually indicates that Obama would be the stronger candidate is even clearer when you consider that a lot of the Democrats who claim that they'd jump to McCain is likely to shrink as the election nears, whether or not the candidate is HRC or Obama -- voters often end up returning to the party no matter what they say earlier on). But the independents have no historical loyalty to sway them to shift ground, so those poll results may well be accurate not only now, but also at the end of the campaign.

[RiverStone]

86. Does it also mention the indies and disaffected pukes that would vote for Barack?...n/t

[onenote]

90. yes. That's the point. The alleged defections by Democrats are more than offset

by the fact that Obama does enormously better among indies than Hillary and marginally better amongst repubs.

[Labors of Hercules]

91. and more than 1 out of 4 who voted for Obama so far...

would have voted for Hillary 6 months ago.

What's your point?

[Auntie Bush]

92. About 8 out of 10 Obama supporters here on DU have said they wouldn't support Hillary if she

was the nominee. In fact polls have all said a higher percentage of Hillarites would vote for Obama if he were the nominee than the reverse.

[beachmom]

99. Oh, really? Care to back that up with some proof, Auntie? nt

[tabasco]

93. Hillary and many of her supporters are more republican than Democrat.

The result is not surprising.

[moondust]

95. Let them start their own party.

Maybe they could get Nader to help out with that.

[bunnies]

96. I wish they'd have given us the ages of those 25%.

Id be willing to bet they're all older voters.

[MBS]

97. this does not surprise me at all n/t

[ecstatic]

100. Bring on the $5 gas and milk

If they're that dumb, then they deserve what they get!