Civil War: Split Decision Divides Democrats

Democratic Civil War on the Web

In this civil war, Clinton supporters trash the "Obamabots" and Obama supporters bash the "Clintonistas."

Last week, a Clinton supporter was so upset by the venom toward Clinton on Daily Kos that she called for Clinton backers to boycott the site.

Founder Markos Moulitsas was not moved.

"It is Clinton, with no chance of victory, who is fomenting civil war in order to overturn the will of the Democratic electorate," he wrote. "As such, as far as I am concerned, she doesn't deserve fairness on this site."

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Of course, Clinton supporters give as good as they get.

On the more Clinton-friendly site, mydd.com, posters yesterday said Obama's association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright made his candidacy untenable.

"Obama is ruined for the general election. The entire country is laughing at those who voted for an unvetted, unqualified candidate whose background is just now being explored," one said.

Another poster quickly added, "The only ones that are supporting Obama on this are the ones that say anything to further their guy. End justifies the means. They don't care if they lie, twist, call rude names, just as to further their guy."

Deep Divisions

Evidence is emerging of just how damaging the split might be to the Democrats.

Exit polling during the Ohio primary found that 51 percent of Obama voters would be disappointed if Clinton was the nominee. And 57 percent of Clinton supporters said they would be disappointed if Obama was the nominee.

The carryover to the general election? A survey by the Pew Research Center found that one in four Clinton voters said they would back Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., over Obama, while one in 10 Obama voters said they would vote for McCain if Clinton were the Democratic nominee.

Joe Andrew, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and Clinton supporter, said the popularity and anonyminity of the Web is amplifying the debate and making the gulf between Obama and Clinton supporters wider.

"The communication is much more personal and direct. People are saying things to each other they might never say at a union hall or a community meeting," he said. "It's like the wolves are let loose in people's souls."