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If not Obama, then McCain?

January 23, 2008 5:26 PM

In an interview with the excellent David Brody of CBN, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, says of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, "I have no doubt that once the nomination contest is over, I will get the people who voted for her. Now the question is can she get the people who voted for me?"

At The New Republican's "The Plank," Jason Zengerle says: that the "Clintons' strategy seems to be banking on the idea that even if they take the low road to winning the nomination, Hillary will still get Obama's old supporters in the general election, because those voters will have nowhere else to go."

Zengerle doubts that many would vote for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., assuming he's the GOP nominee, despite Andrew Sullivan readers expressing such a sentiment but he asks "what if they just stayed home? It's probably not an electability argument Obama can make too explicitly without sounding like a spoiler--I'm actually surprised he made it as explicitly as he did to Brody--but it's something to think about."

I actually don't find it beyond the realm of imagination that enough Obama supporters might vote for McCain to put him over the top in a McCain v Clinton showdown.

That's not to say it would happen, but consider this --

1) McCain might have an easier time pivoting to the center after securing the nomination than Clinton might (and imagine if Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., were on the ticket.)

2) Despite his solid conservative voting record,  and his ardent support for the war in Iraq, McCain might at least make a "change" versus "more of the same" contest a wash given her time as First Lady, her partisanship, and the race she's running against Obama.

How will Obama's African-American supporters respond if this race continues to proceed the way it does? The university elites that former President Clinton derides? The independents and the swing voters who like Obama? Would they turn out for Clinton in November if McCain (and Mike Bloomberg) were on the ticket?

Just throwing it out there. What say you?

-- jpt

January 23, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (188)

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I had hoped after 8 years the democrats would finally get it together...but alas, the party is divided and trying to be too many things to too many people. I am a 39 year old, white gay man and I have supported Hillary since 2005. All of a sudden every one is on this Barak bandwagon which his speeches may appear motivating but it is nothing that we haven't hear from either party nominees since as long as I can remember..change, bring the bipartisan to an end...alas I thought this was the year the Dems would come togehter...instead they are ripping themselves apart and I for one want no part of it..I would rather vote for McCain.

Posted by: Keith Rhoades | Feb 27, 2008 12:02:28 AM

I'm a 50 W/M engineer. A staunch social moderate and fiscal conservative, I voted for John Anderson back in 1980, after my generation made the mistake of electing Jimmy Carter a man of dreams and no plan. Carter gave us rapid inflation, sweaters as an energy policy and the Iran hostage crisis. Wake-up America,it needs to be Clinton or McCain.

Posted by: moderateJoe | Feb 15, 2008 12:41:37 PM

McCain: A Democrat in Republican clothing!

I'm a staunch Republican and Mitt Romney supporter, however if McCain gets the nomination I will vote for Osama, I mean Obama. Not because I like him, but because right now he seems to me, to be the lesser of the three evils that comprise the axis of evil (Clinton, McCain & Obama).

Posted by: anonymous | Feb 6, 2008 7:42:13 PM

John McCain just got the endorsement of ultra popular Gov Crist of Florida.

looking more and more like mccain will get nomination & could beat hillary (if she wins)

Posted by: Jim | Jan 26, 2008 8:46:20 PM

As a white male, I have wanted to see a woman as President for decades. We finally get a woman candidate and it's Hillary. Now I say that we need to wait longer.

I am a strong Barack Obama supporter. If he is not the Democratic nominee, then I will vote for Bloomberg.

Posted by: Larry P | Jan 25, 2008 7:26:22 PM

I'm yet one of those lifelong Democrats who'll vote for McCain or Bloomberg (or stay home) if Hillary gets the nomination.

I hope anyone else who feels the same way will join me in calling all three campaigns to let them know of my decision.

Posted by: Dave | Jan 25, 2008 4:54:14 PM

I'm white, female, 27, and I have never been involved in politics before this year, apart from a passing interest and a sinking feeling about who's running our government. This past year, getting rid of Bush got me curious, and I found Obama. Since then, I've been following the campaigns closely, and after hearing the misrepresentations coming from Clinton and those who represent her, I found myself looking at the Republican side, something I never imagined I'd do. If Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee, it will force me to take a serious look at the Republican nominee. Here's hoping I won't need to do that.

Posted by: Aja | Jan 25, 2008 4:46:54 PM

I was really happy to see that we had 3 strong candidates running. I was thinking this is a win-win-win for the Dem party. However, after seeing how the Clintons intentionally distorts the facts of all her opponents it makes me wonder what else will they do to get back in the white house. I mean look at the attacks she is making on Barack. This is going to hurt any nominee of the Dem party.
1. Accusing him of supporting the troops after the war was already authorized eventhough she voted for the war.
2. Accusing him of being too progressive..."he supports single-payer health care" eventhough she know what he said...strange how the clintons try to make this out of an attack.
3. Accusing him of not being pro-choice...even after Parent Planhood denounce the accusation.

How can I vote for a democrat that is using replubican attacks. I can't. I will not vote for Hillary if she is nominated.

Posted by: Marcus Thomas | Jan 25, 2008 4:33:41 PM

Hillary has some done some major damage with me....I would consider voting for McCain or not voting for a president at all....

IN FACT: I can honestly say, I am not even sure I would support a ticket of Hillary and Barack, because I DO NOT want the Clintons in office in any way at all.....Ofcourse I believe Barack is going to pull this thing out and it won't be an issue.

I am just tired of politics as usual and I want to get involved in my country again that has shut me out with Bush and the Clintons...

Posted by: Kelin | Jan 25, 2008 4:06:00 PM

After reading all of the posts above, I have to wonder about the support base for HRC after her attacks on Obama. (I am a 35YO w/f who is college educated, and a registered Democrat.) After watching the news clips and reading the posts on cnn/fox/etc. and seeing how her campaign is being run, I am hoping that the people who went out to support her in IA/NV/NH are regretting their decisions now to vote for her, and also regret their support for her sham of a campaign. For the first time in years, there is a candidate on the ballot who is pulling people together of all races/religions/ethnicity to pull towards one common cause. It is time for this country to come together and work together, not have the split through our country that we've had for so long. I have already made the decision to vote Republican, or write-in on the ballot if I can, if Obama does not make it to November. But with all of the negative press lately, I'm keeping the faith that he will and will bring all of us together.

Posted by: KB | Jan 25, 2008 3:03:50 PM

Don't forget Obama left Nevada with the same about of delegates as Clinton. Also if you count just the state delegates, Obama is ahead by one...FYI It at over until its over:)

Posted by: page | Jan 25, 2008 1:47:46 PM

Although I am a Obama supporter I am in no way associated with his campaign. That being said there is now way I would vote for the "Clintons" after what they are pulling in this campaign. It’s a demonstration of everything I hate about politics…it’s sickening.

Posted by: Ian Page | Jan 25, 2008 1:37:02 PM


I too am a lifelong democrat and based on the Clinton's Rovian tacitcs campagin tactics, WILL not vote for Hillary if whe wins the nomination. I used to support the Clintons but now am more than disgusted by them. The media portrays this anti-Clinton sentiment as how Blacks feel but the media is wrong on this. I am a white female and have many white female friends who feel as I do.

Posted by: Holly in IL | Jan 25, 2008 12:43:51 PM

I can promise you without a doubt I will not vote for Hillary...my family neither...or so at least that's what said at the dinner table. Huckabee for me, Romney for others and McCain on my sis' side. We prefer Barak. He's fresh, honest, and inspiring. I dunno maybe I could swing for Mccain. I prefer an honest person and not a dirty fighter.

Posted by: Will in california | Jan 25, 2008 7:48:44 AM

I'm a a latino male in his mid 30s, I voted Democratic all my life, voted for Bill both times, voted for Kerry,...voted for Gore. Of all the losses the Gore loss broke my heart the most.

I support Obama but seeing how the "grand Clintonian strategy" has unfolded, Obama will lose Super Tuesday.

Something to chew on

From former Clinton adviser Dick Morris.

I have seen evidence of this before the article came out.

I will NEVER NEVER vote for Hillary after they implemented these tactics on Barack and come election day, I will do what my conscience demands and write in Barack's name.

I am so proud of him and I would rather see him succumb to garbage tactics like this while maintaining the moral high ground rather than stoop to the level of the Clintons and resort to lies and race-baiting.

And UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should Barack even CONSIDER being Billary's VP. Doing so would BE A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND TO EVERYTHING THAT HE STANDS FOR.

BARACK, DO NOT EVEN ENDORSE THESE TWO,...BUT IF YOU MUST, MAKE THAT ENDORSEMENT PHOTO-OP A PLATFORM FOR A RANT ABOUT DIRTY POLITICS AND THE NEED TO CHANGE WASHINGTON!

ON ELECTION DAY PROUDLY WRITE IN BARACK!!

Posted by: Marc in NYC | Jan 25, 2008 7:30:54 AM

The Clintons have alienated so many people that it is impossible for the majority of Obama to vote for Hillary. Many of them are already warning they will choose either to stay at home or vote for the republican, whoever it will be.
Remember that the fact that Hillarry whas been voting with Republicans as in the case of Iraq war, it will be hard to to fault McCain for supporting the war. And people will see the point. On the other hand when McCain refers to the Clintons controversies, of the 90s, Hillary will on the defensive. The electorate would rather vote a president who will work for them than one who will spend time fending off controversies!

Posted by: norm | Jan 25, 2008 6:54:54 AM

Are you a registered Democrat?

Will you never concider voting for Hillary?

Then tell the DNC ... copy and paste this link and fillout the form to let our party know that we cannot stand for this style of politics as usual!

Posted by: Truth | Jan 25, 2008 5:27:58 AM

Jeff Wrote below... "I know this is hard for Clinton supporters to swallow, but I think they drastically underestimate the strength of Obama's support amongst people who feel that divisivness is the NUMBER ONE problem in this country, more important than any other single issue."

Couldn't agree more... and with that being said, Clinton is the most partisan candidate on the table... I could never nor will I ever Vote for her... I realize that our problems don't just stem for Rep's or Dem's. It's the way we approach our politics. This constant bickering between "Conservatives" and "Liberals" the left vs. the right. I would vote for anyone but Clinton... shes too partisan to solve any real problems. Obama has the record, intelect and wisdom to bring people together from both sides of the spectrum...

We have a once-in-a-generation chance in this election to bring the country together – to forge a new majority – that can finally tackle the problems that George Bush made far worse, but festered long before he took office – problems like health care and energy and education that we’ve talked about year after year after year. But to do this, we need a President who can unite this country around a common purpose – who has a proven record of getting beyond the bitter partisanship and polarization that you see in Washington and reaching out to both parties to actually get things done. Obama is the one candidate who can bring this country together so we can move forward together.

Posted by: Gobacktosleep | Jan 25, 2008 4:33:55 AM

Anybody BUT Hillary, I can no longer stand LIARS (Twin Liars) Hill & Bill.

Posted by: Peter | Jan 25, 2008 3:46:12 AM

Heck people - don't just sit at home and not vote if Clinton goes up as the nominee - actively vote in the other direction - or you might just find you'll cop another 8 years of Clintons. You just can't let this dynastic tag team pattern continue! It needs to be broken - move forward.

Now the next 4 years are going to be tough in terms of economy - no matter what. If they don't go for Obama - well then those chips can fall on a Rep presidents head.

However, even though the economic situation is going to be tough - it is still worthwhile putting Obama in there because I think he will do much to improve foreign relations.

Posted by: Jay | Jan 25, 2008 2:55:44 AM

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