Political Punch

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.

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.

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).

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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:)

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

Benj - it might take a long time to get everyone on board with the idea of unity - and some people will never want it - but even if it did take several generations, as you suggest, that first step has got to start somewhere - so why not now? Unless there is a mandate to achieve that, then several generations or not, you won't even be heading in the right direction - so you're argument to me is defeatist - it will take too long, so why even try - is what you seem to be saying.

This world is really fractured and it continues to fracture further - and people are easier to control by those who don't really have the people's interest at heart when we succumb to divide and conquer.

So these people who divide and conquer - they keep making things incrementally worse - and things have gotten to a point now where - for so many reasons - we can't let that happen anymore.

So get behind Obama because it is actually all of you that are going to create that together - he's trying to inspire you to believe in yourself as a people.

OBAMA IS SO SELF RIGHTIOUS. HE WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE. HILLARY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL. ALL OBAMA DOES IS WHINE.IF HE CANT STAND THE HEAT HE NEEDS TO GO CRY ON HIS ADOPTED SISTERS SHOULDERS(OPRA)

Alot of you are saying that Obama can unity this country. How will he do it that others cannot?. How does he unite a country with such an ugly history? Can he do it in 4 years or overnight? We need several generations to do this...he still has a long way to go.
Another thing, whether America votes for HRC or not..life goes on. She will continue to serve her constituents as a senator. Whoever goes to the HW will get the country down the drain. Its amazing how many of us -Americans in general like to be ahistorical. We do not want to look at history and see the good and the bad that we have experienced realistically. We are too emotion-driven-when it comes to voting. Do you vote a candidate because you like them or because they have good ideas for this country. What does liking have to do with whatever the job entails? This talk of like and hate reflects on our history-a history of hate.....racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamaphobia etc.

I'm one of the independent 50+ group that will have a bit to say about our next president and it won't be for Clinton.This country has health care, education, war, economy issues and more. The last thing we need is a president so locked up in her own pride and self-interests that she can't run a clean campaign or answer straight questions. A strong woman president might be good for us but Clinton obviously needs to cling to her husband and let him do half her dirty work to keep her hands marginally clean. We need a president who can help us out of the mess we are in as a country, not further cloud it.I would very much like to vote for a Democrat this year - a rare occurance for me- and the only one that would make me change to a republican will be Hilary. If she wins the nomination , I pray for us all that McCain is the republican I vote for. I will not be staying home or refusing to vote. I actually look forward to possibly being able to vote for someone instead of against someone else. I will vote for Obama or Edwards or I will vote against Hilary. It is that simple- I think we need a president that puts US first not herself.

I'll never vote for Hillary. If she gets the nomination, I'll either vote for the republican or a third party candidate.

I am also a liberal Democrat and an Obama supporter. But both my husband, my two young daughters who will be voting for the first time, and I simply cannot under any circumstances vote for the Hillary dynasty. I am vehemently opposed to the Iraq war; yet if Hillary is the nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for McCain. When is the Democratic party going to wake up? Obama has a genuine chance to bring this country together. The antiClinton vote is huge and crosses all party lines. We are disgusted with this power hungry, dishonest couple. If Hillary wins the primary, McCain wins the election.

I considered voting for Hillary over Obama; now, I cannot imagine voting for her at all.

Hillary and Bill's behavior have pushed me clearly into the Obama camp. Experience means little when accompanied by such a lack of character. Clearly, Hillary and Bill are directly involved in disingenuous personal attacks. I will be sad for the country if she wins.

I am an ardent Obama supporter. For the first time ever, I gave to support a campaign. I will, under no circumstances, vote for Hillary Clinton. I am a 53 year old Black female who typically supports Democratic candidates. But this is one time I absolutely refuse to vote for a Democrat if that Dem is Hillary Clinton. I will vote for McCain, if he wins the Republican nomination, instead. I will not vote for Romney or Huckabee either. If it's Clinton against anyone but McCain, I will vote Independent or write in a choice, or leave it blank.

I am an ardent Obama supporter. Hoewever, if he does not get the Democratic party's nomination for President, I would not want him to take the VP slot. Although I voted for Bill C. twice, I will never vote for HRC. The race baiting of Billery has sickened me. If Hillary is the nominee, I will likely vote for McCain--even though I oppose many of his policies.

As one of those "university elites that former President Clinton derides", I definitely won't support HRC if she wins the primary. The lies and manipulations Billary has been engaging in over the last few weeks are exactly what's wrong with politics today, and why I've backed Obama since the early days of his US Senate campaign.

Interesting isn't it that for a couple who so vehemently objected to the politics of personal destruction, the Clintons are expert at it.

The media supporters of Obama see the end coming and are starting to flock back to their former darling -McCain. get ready for the gushing about him now. At least until Romeny pulls ahead on Super Tuesday.

Go Obama, get ready for your speech on Saturday and come out strong, unity as always and this will give you a chance to tell us more of what you stand for, for those who claim they do not know you well. WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU!!!!

Well folks, the general consensus here is that we ALL want OBAMA to be on the ticket! I think there is a very good back up plan in case this doesn't happen which is to vote for ANYONE BUT HILLARY, whether being a Republican OR Democrat.

Let's all hope that Obama gets in there!!

The Clinton's don't need to embarrass our country any further.

Just the comments here show that Obama's question about his supporters voting for Clinton is a valid one and one that should be considered now, so that voters and party have time to think about it, instead of later. Maybe it wasn't 'politic' for him to say what he did -- but it was honest and it recoginized a real problem. You know, I'd sort of like to have a president who deals with truth and real, not made-up or self-created, problems!
-- Count me as another life-long Democrat (white, 60s) who will never vote for the Clintons. I've done so in the past - 4 times!!! - but never again, not after seeing how they choose to campaign. We can be sure they will govern the same way. (Plurals deliberate)

The general sentiment of the many comments preceding mine bears out what I have to say in response to your question, Jake: Sen. Clinton's "negatives" are far too strong for her and her Husband-Who-Will-Not-Shut-Up to count on regaining voters who voted for Sen. Obama in the primaries. The way in which Sen. Clinton is conducting her campaign, with her loose cannon of a husband injecting his unhelpful opinions where they're not needed, does nothing to enhance her reputation and does everything to create the impression that Bubba would indeed be the "power behind the throne." Were I a seer, I would predict that many will vote for McCain or for a third-party candidate over Sen. Clinton. As one of the earlier posts here read, "ABC--Anybody But Clinton."

Well clearly the Obama campaign is down its last legs throwing out this bunch of BS. by the way, McCain will not be the GVOP nominee in all likelihood. Romney will crush him on Super Tuesday.

To all the Previous Posters:

Good Morning:

This is not a question; but a statement.

Both my husband & I are registered Democrats and have always voted accordingly. We are in our early 50's, white and college educated and live just outside the Beltway.

However, we believe that it is VERY important for the Democratic Party to note that we will NOT vote for the Clintons (PLURAL), if THEY get the nomination.

At that point, if there is an independent we will cast our vote with them; OR leave the Presidency portion of the ballot BLANK.

If the Democratic National Party is serious about regaining NOT only the White House but a MAJORITY in both the Congress & the Senate to actually get some programs and laws passed; then, allow someone who can UNITE the country and bring over BOTH Republicans and Independents to vote for him.

The absolutely unbecoming behavior of former President Clinton is appalling and with so many media outlets vying for their market share, believe me, the American Public gets to see this!

The Democratic "Super" Delegates had better think long & hard about whom they back or the DNP will find itself perhaps either losing the Presidency AND the Congress to the Republicans AGAIN.

This is only ONE example of reading the posted remarks of thoughtful and caring Americans. This is NOT 'sour grapes' but a decision based on the notion that this country & the Democratic Party needs to move forward and get this country working again.

Thank You
D. Carnes

I volunteer on the campaign, and I'm actually hearing A TON of independents and Republicans AND even hardcore dems saying this EXACT thing. They will vote McCain maybe, but NEVER Hillary. I hear this dozens of times, daily.

something to chew on...

If HRC is elected, guess who will
be running the country...
Not HRC.

I'll vote for either Edwards or Obama in a heartbeat, but I won't vote for Clinton unless she puts one of them on the ticket. Otherwise, I will just leave that spot blank on my ballot. I've always voted for Democratic candidates and I'll still do that on the down-ticket races.

Omigod, I want to invite ALL (that is, except for a nutty handful of you who will rally around HRC if she's nominated - which she is likely to do b/c of her admitted "Hispanic" and "woman" firewalls - remember Bill winning on the "soccer moms" - well this year's "ClintIN groups" are the not very educated and/or intelligent women & Hispanics) of you guys over to my house in MD for a round of anti-Clinton group therapy!!! I had no idea there were so many other disaffected Americans out there !!! I was giddy after the Iowa caucuses, stupidly thinking that maybe regular "silent majority" type Americans really could get it right - see through all the Clinton crapslinging. It ain't going that way, folks. With the recent primaries going down, and with Obama being totally on the ropes with all of the rehashed crap (Refco - which was last year's news, the silly Reagan comments, the "race" card). Obama hasn't fended off the double-teaming very well, and rather than most folks coming out the way most of us have (i.e. I will NEVER, EVER vote for HRC), it seems that (as usual in this country) the Rovian, Carvillean tactics are totally working again. I pessimistically believe that HRC will win the Dem nod with her women & Hispanics (the majority "minorities"). Four years of McCain or Bloomberg may actually convince the country to go with Obama the second time around. I shudder at a Romney win but I don't think that can happen (HRC would beat him). WE ALL absolutely have to stay home (or vote Republican) if we have any pride left at all at being an American. Between GW Bush & both Clintons, this country is perceived by the world at large to be a caricature of its former self. There will be no consensus in another Clinton White House (just like the 1990's). US & world events are going to throw the economy into a shambles which won't be retrievable by anyone who becomes president. I have totally come to believe that there are just too many gullible, naive, easily manipulated voters in this country for a sane candidate to ever prevail to the White House, absent some catastrophic situation (which you'd think THIS YEAR was providing). The fact that Clinton continues to win is a recurring nightmare to me --- and that sense of elation AND HOPE that I had last month has evaporated in the face of a Voldemortian force taking over the Democratic Party here. I'm just somewhat heartened to read of so many others who see clearly too --- I even have a Spanish professor who believes the shady emails about Obama's alleged Indonesian madrassa & his alleged use of the Quran to swear his oath of office. I am sick, sick, sick for my country, but I have to agree with those of you who say --- we deserve this --- we deserved George W Bush b/c of the naivete, fear & stupidity of enough voters in the areas W needed to win (this is all about electoral votes now anyway). I am sick, sick, sick --- just as I have not listened to my president give a single speech for the last 8 years, so I will not listen to HRC give any speech, or discussion. But, I don't think that Obama was up for the tug of war --- and the Clintons & their supporters smell his blood. All of our longing for nobility, hope, truth in politics & government is really as vaporous as a feebly-summoned JK Rowling "patronus". In other words, Obama really needs a Professor Dumbledore (like old Joe Kennedy) telling him like it really is, and I haven't seen one emerge to help him out. Please stand by your words here - and sit out the election. If she were to lose in November, perhaps something may change next time around. If we don't sit it out (and we all "kiss - ugh, barf - and make up" or if we - as the NH Democratic Party insiders who employed unethical poll tactics & the last minute lying abortion email letter - "just get over it, it's politics") then we'll have no one but ourselves to blame with the Rovian/Carvillean politics continues in the USA> The decline of Rome may pale in comparison to what may await our country. Stay home, and pray.

polls have mccain beating all democrats

foregone conclusion?

This is the kind of divisive politics that Obama is pandering nowadays - the desperate person that he is. But the concern should be the other way around. Clinton will beat McCain - that's a forgone conclusion. Obama has no chance. If he cannot even beat someone who uses only facts against him, how could he win over a honed and perfected machine that will use facts and a ton of lies to go with it?

I am a registered Republican that for the first time will be voting for a Democrat, Barack Obama. If Hillary Clinton is the nominee I will be depressed and go back to voting for the Republican Nominee.

I'm a registered Independent supporting Obama. IF HRC becomes the nominee, I don't have a problem voting for McCain and letting the GOP clean up their own mess. HRC won't win in the general election, her political career will be over in terms of future presidential runs, hence officially ending the Clinton sphere of influence. This will open the door for Obama to run again and win in 2012 for the Dems.

I'm with everyone else here - the Reagan quote twisting by HRC is what has put me over the top. BUT - I have an observation:

Although the feedback on this board is impressive, remember that we are all here because we surfed our way to an article entitled "If not Obama, then McCain?" Of course you're going to get a bunch of comments from people who would vote for McCain. It's why we all clicked on the link...

May I offer a suggestion? No matter who the nominees are for either party, should you NOT like the choices and decide not to vote, please don't stay home. Still go and vote for all of the other races and issues. You can always leave the presidential race blank. The candidates for other local races and propositions/initiatives suffer if you stay home.

I was a lifelong Republican. I turned 18 in 1972, the first election where you could vote at 18 instead of 21. I voted for Nixon and am the only person in America other than Bruce Herschensohn to admit to it. :)
I voted for Regan in the 1976 primary vs. Ford and in the 1980 and 1984 elections. I dropped out of the party when the first Bush became President. I have NEVER voted for a Democrat in any Federal election. But I intend to vote for Obama if he is the nominee.

I disagree with many Obama positions on economics, govt regulation, etc, but he was right on Iraq and that trumps everything. He might raise my taxes, but I'd rather have fewer dollars coming home than more body bags coming home. I gave up politics in disgust awhile ago, but Obama gives me hope.

Hillary is running a campaign of lies against him which is what I would expect of her. I truly cannot understand why she continues to get votes even allowing for my differences with other voter's ideology.

For me, it's Obama all the way. If he is not the nominee, I will vote Libertarian.

p.s. I'm a white male, 54 years old in a couple of weeks. This is not about skin color or gender, it's about protecting the lives of our young soldiers who have been stupidly placed in harm's way.

I am going on record. I will definitely vote for Mccain or Romney (Who says Mccain has this in the bag???) over Hillary in the general election if she were to win the nomination. I would never give another Clinton a vote in my lifetime. I've had it with them. There are many I know who have expressed the same sentiment. Many will vote for Mccain or just stay home. Hillary is not an option.

The most important thing that you forgot in the election is that the majority of the voters are independents. Not democrats, not republicans. So, the extreme left wing of democrats not voting for Hillary and the extreme right wing not voting for McCain will not affect the final outcome of the election.

Judging from the independents' opinion on the war and the economy, it will be a stretch to assume that they will vote for a republican, any republican, this time.

So, if some of you lifelong democrats want to stay home on the election, enjoy a day off.

The rest of us, the majority of the people, will make our choice. My guess, this time, it will be Hillary.

I echo the sentiments of many Obama supporters here. I am a converted Republican only 2 years removed. I support Obama because he WILL unite this country. But, if the Democrats do what they do best and nominate another loser candidate like Hillary, I will either vote for McCain if he's the nominee, or not vote. I hope ABC picks up on the overwhelming sentiment here that AMerica is tired of this ridiculous politics of lies and slander and what honesty and goodness back into the White house and do a major story on this. Even Hillary supporters have to be looking at themselves now and wondering just what they are doing supporting this filth.

This post is great and very refreshing seeing that the media has really appeared to like HRC lately. I thought I was the only one that has decided to stay home or vote for Bloomberg if HRC gets the democratic nomination.
I would love for other news outlets to highlight these views.
I think it’s so obnoxious that the Clintons think they will get Obama supports in the general if she wins. I will NEVER vote for her but I will say I voted for her husband twice and Gore and Kerry.
I just don't trust her.
This race is not over contrary to the crazy people that think our country needs Bill and Hillary in the White house again.
I really think these above posts from others are the new beginning of Barack winning the democratic nomination and the presidency.

Go Obama!!

Gore was my candidate of choice. I believe he was cheated out of the Presidency through dirty tricks, some incompetence, and some bad luck in 2000. I urged him to run this year (not that I have any special influence), but he didn't listen. In 2004 I watched as Dems nominated a candidate I knew in my heart the American people would never elect, even though Kerry's a war hero and an intelligent and honorable man. I campaigned for them all, and supported Clinton during his 8 years in the White House as well. In fact, I have always defended the Clintons against attacks by my Republican friends. I am now supporting Obama 100%. I believe he has more potential to lead and unite this nation than any other candidate. By the way, I work in a very conservative environment, and so many colleagues say they might vote for Obama, but never ever would vote for Clinton. I echo the thoughts of others who have posted. Originally, I thought I could vote proudly for any of the Dems in the race. But the sleaziness and dishonesty of the Clintons, especially the former President, have angered and disgusted me. I STILL BELIEVE THAT OBAMA WILL BE OUR CANDIDATE AND WIN THE PRESIDENCY. But if Clinton's negative attacks do the black magic those type of Swiftboat ads have done in past elections, and she wins the nomination, I seriously do believe I will vote for McCain, first time ever vote for a Republican. Character, honor, integrity and moral values are pretty important to me. If Clinton is our candidate, we lose in 2008, there is no question. If that is the case, Dems will have once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by nominating an unelectable candidate. I have to continue to hope and pray and work to make sure that doesn't happen. I urge everyone to do the same.

My friends just got back from SC where they were canvasing for Obama. They were shocked. Everyone they talked to said if Obama doesn't get the nod, they're going to vote for McCain. Most of these people were African American. The Democratic party takes the African American vote for granted, certainly the Clintons do. Well they seem to be miscalculating.

I don't like McCain and will never vote for him. But if Hillary gets handed the baton. I'm staying home. She and Bill make Karl Rove seem tame.

Another NO on Hillary. They already had 8 divisive, scandal-ridden years. They are so last century. And if they win, I am so moving on.

I'm a white woman in my mid-fifties, a Democrat (and a lawyer myself), who loved Hillary. Not any more. I now find the two of them to be disgusting, ugly Americans.

I think I will write in Obama. A great idea. I would have found it more than difficult to vote for McCain.

I will never ever vote for Hillary! I am an Obama supporter and it just DISGUSTS me how Hillary and Bill are twisting Obama's quotes. They should know that many of Barack's supporters are ardent supporters and keep up with everything in the campaigning almost obsessively. I will vote for Bloomberg before I vote for Hillary. Or maybe I will just write in 'Barack Obama' on the ticket. But, I will never vote for hillary!!!

This also won't happen, but consider this: Lieberman switched. Why not Obama? If McCain is the GOP nominee, and Hillary runs against him, how would it be if McCain convinced Obama to join him on the ticket? Obama could extract a pledge from McCain to serve only one term., taking care of any age issues. He could announce that, although he and McCain differ on some issues, that he has respect for McCain's long battle for campaign finance reform, since he (Obama) helped write and pass Senate Ethics reform. He could say honestly that McCain and he are on the same page when it comes to changing the partisan deadlock in D.C. He could say he will be the more Liberal voice in the White House, and has McCain's promise to consult with him seriously, and actively work for bi-partisan solutions. He would be implying that, if he and McCain are successful, he may ask voters to judge four years of McCain-Obama by considering him for President--as a Democrat, of course, in 2012. It won't happen, and he may yet win the Dem nod, but if it were to be dared, it could work....not just to get two people elected, but to make Americans demand more from their leaders.

No way I will ever vote for Hillary after what she and Bill have tried to do to Obama. I will either skip that part of the ballot or vote for McCain in protest. Hillary cannot lead this country after the way she's conducted herself. It's shameful and I won't support it.

It's likely Hillary will win the nomination and face John McCain.

I want to read this blog if it becomes official. Who will have a change of heart if Hillary proclaims she wants to unite the party & unite America?

I don't think she would select Obama as her V.P. since he would likely overshadow her. Even if she did, I don't think Obama would accept it.
He is still very young and has just started his political career. Obama would probably want to run again, maybe in 2012 or 2016.

opinions?

Hillary lost my vote in the general election. I have a new rule. I only vot for honest people.

Oh, yeah. I do not make a great mathematical sample, but here's one Dem who would vote for McCain -- or, what the hell, no one -- if the Clintons get the nomination. I haven't defected once since 1980, when Jimmy Carter gave me the vapors, but there's no way that I can countenance the return of these two dirtbags. And if four years of John McCain is the price to pay for getting the DLC out of our lives, then, OK with me.

I will not vote for Clinton.

I might vote for McCain because if he wins, we might be able to talk Obama into running in '12.

If Hillary wins, Obama will not run again.

So I will do everything I can in my own humble way to get out the vote for Obama, but if that fails, I will consider my alternatives and vote other than Dem.

The absolute only way to put a stop to this sort of campaigning is to send a message we won't tolerate it.

I am a lifelong Dem. I really liked Bill Clinton, voted for Gore, voted for Kerry.

I already e-mailed the DNC to let them know that if Hillary is the nominee, I will either vote for a Green candidate or Bloomberg (if he runs). I am an Obama supporter, but would happily back any other Dem nominee that might have made it in (Edwards, Biden, Dodd).

But never Hillary. Not after her Rovian style slash-and-burn, turn all the positives into negatives style of campaigning.

And my respect for Bill has dropped tremendously after he decided to play the role of official attack dog. How unbecoming of a former President. Even George HW Bush did not stoop that low when his son was vying for the nod in the Republican primaries.

Hey all you that have posted, many of us have already e-mailed the DNC and stated our position. If you haven't already you should let them know how you feel. Anyone got that link?

I wasn't polarised before this. But after the past few weeks, I have an intensely negative view of Clinton. Her VP is irrelevant, as Bill will overwhelm pretty much any sub-Presidential office (and given the past week, he'll possibly overwhelm the President herself).

I find Obama honest, inspiring, thoughtful, and most of all, someone who's got a long history of cooperation with Republicans. I'm not interested in a President who will ram through a handful of Democratic motions against a partisan Congress. I'm interested in a President who will be able to move legislation large and small in a direction that benefits the entire country.

Initially, I thought I'd vote for whichever Democrat got the nom. But now I don't know. I know we're all supposed to vote, but what do you do when your only true representative's been knocked out by someone you truly don't believe will look out for your (or anyone else's) interests?

I had been a Clinton supporter, even though I thought Bill was a loser of massive proportions. I quickly switched after investigating her ethics, and then watched as she unraveled here in Iowa.

Now, the idea of a vote for Clinton's two-headed machine causes me to shudder. Having watched her carefully on a number of occasions, watched her avoid certain people in crowds when she could, having heard her answer one way from the stage, and then seek out the gent asking the question to tell him a different answer, having watched the way she treated her staff, having watched the way she used Tom Vilsack (whom I believe was a willing participant)...no one who had seen what I saw could ever support their campaign. It is completely insane to think she can unite this sorely split nation; that split started with Reagan and since GHWBush has only grown. Period. No thank you!!!

I see a lot of passion in all these comments; I remember Senator Obama saying change happen for the ground up. If you believe he is the one. I would like to challenge all of use to start a grass root campaign for Senator Obama. We can start with our family, friends, use your e-mail list, phone list, my space, face book etc. We might be ordinary people but if we work together we can do extra ordinary thing.
Obama 08!

I'm afraid to think of reading this blog, which I will, in March, if Clinton gets the Dem nod. She will change on a dime, if she has knocked out Obama with enough low blows. She will 'be' (or, at least, appear) kinder and gentler, and so will Bill. She will start pulling in big names to supposedly join her upocoming administration. She will make some BIG promises. She will dominate the news. She will decry nasty politics, and pledge to be the first President to have been elected after a clean campaign. It will turn my stomach if I read on here that people are buying it...because it will be the only way for Clinton to win the General...to erase the huge negatives she has now by reinventing herself. If anyone calls her on such hypocricy--which--mark my words--will come if she is nominated---she will cry 'foul', play the victim, and laugh all the way to the Oval Office. If Obama gets the nomination, it promises to be a campaign to change the face of American politics--whoever the GOP nominee is. There will be some dirty things said about Obama, of course, but having taken it from Hillary and Bill and won, he will have the political credentials to take the campaign beyond the level we've been forced to endure for decades. At this point, it is up to Democrats, and Democrats only, to give the country a new direction, or more of the same old stuff.

I am voting Obama in 2008.

Jake-

Thanks as always for the thoughtful work.

I am a huge Obama supporter and a lifelong Dem. I gave money and voted for HRC for Senate. After her vote for the war without reading the NIE and her willingness to say ANYTHING in this election, I cannot vote for her for president. I will not vote if that is my choice.

Also, there are at least half a dozen dems in my family that have said under no circumstances will they vote for Hillary.

I think with her high negatives, she is doing things to win the nomination that will make her unelectable in the general. McCain will appeal to some Dems and many independents. Hillary's support from the African American community will be so damaged that I think many will just stay home.

This is going to be a tough Nov for Dems if HRC is the nominee... and unfortunately that includes our House and Senate candidates too with her at the top of the ticket.