If not Obama, then McCain?

McCain is pushing it, but if Obama doesn’t pull it off, Bloomberg starts to sound like an option. A lot of people out there will not vote for Hillary — I know I won’t again.

Take a look at the number of “new voters” that Obama has attracted from the Independent and Republican ranks. I seriously doubt they are going to be motivated to support HRC in November. The scorched earth, win at all costs tactics the clinton’s are now using to attack Obama are REALLY angering his supporters and many African Americans. I think the Clinton’s are making a very serious mistake in assuming that everyone will “rally around” HRC if she’s the nominee. I’m a life-long Democrat, as is my 78 year mother and neither of us will be voting for HRC in November.

I think the main group you’re forgetting are the Independents. They will go for McCain: (1) he has a history of moving Independents to vote for him, (2) he has the campaign finance reform stuff under his belt, (3) he and Hillary BOTH voted for Iraq and he has LED on the issue more than she has so the purity of her leave now stance is not solid, (4) without purity on Iraq he is also a soldier and Vet who would attract a lot of support from Vets, (5) he puts Hispanics in play again with his immigration stance being very favorable and he puts African Americans into play if reaches out to them after the campaign the Clintons have run.
She’s already losing to him in match ups. Her negatives are higher. She has no purity on Iraq and can be labled a John Kerry like flip-flopper.
I think she goes down if she’s the nominee and McCain locks down the nomination.

Ive said before. I’ll say it again. If Clinton is the nominee I will vote for McCain. At least he’s honest. Im an African American man and Ive never voted Republican in my life but I may have to. Clinton is running a horrible campaign. Scoring political points but she is awful. Kind of like how Bush used Swiftboaters. Sure..he won the campaign but the American voter LOST…BIG TIME.

As an African American myself, I will be voting for McCain if Obama doesn’t win the nomination.
I’m an African American Indepedent. The democratic base/clintons have just shown to all blacks that they dont really care about us. They like us enough to vote for them, but not to lead.
Lets see how the democrats do without the black vote.

I will absolutely vote for McCain if Obama does not win the nomination. Our country can withstand another four years of a Republican President. We cannot withstand another four to eight years of the lies, money, power, connections, favors, etc. that goes along with the Bush/Clinton oligarchy. Clinton is running a dishonest campaign that plays to the ignorance of the ill-informed, out of touch voter — and she KNOWS it. I’m disgusted by it and will never support her.
Imagine she actually wins the general election (and I don’t think she would for the reasons in this article) — then after eight years America is sick of the Democrats and Jeb Bush runs. . . By the end of his eight years Chelsea will be old enough to run. It’s sick, and it has to end.
How can we call ourselves the greatest democracy on Earth, when only two families have been in power for a quarter century??
I gotta go. My blood pressure is rising as I type.

I can only speak for myself (and I don’t seem to follow the norm with American voters) but I don’t like divisive campaigns and Hillary is running one that I would expect from either Bush or people like him (Guilliani, Romney). McCain isn’t running in a divisive campaign so I don’t rule him out.
I’m an Obama &/or Edwards supporter. I hate the Clinton tactics and if she continues with this horrible style of politics and somehow wins the nomination, I will NOT vote for her. I will vote for McCain even though he’s a War supporter (she is too just not as open about it).
I think you’ve hit something here with this article. I have to agree with what you’re saying but then HRC may pull in Obama as a VP and really throw a wrench in the system. Then what will I do, I don’t know.
At this point, I’m inclined to vote this way:
Obama vs. Anyone OBAMA
Edwards vs. Anyone EDWARDS
HRC vs. McCain MCCAIN
HRC vs. Guilliani HRC
HRC vs. Romney HRC
HRC vs. Huckabee DEPENDS??
HRC vs. Ron Paul PAUL

To clarify: I didn’t feel that way a week ago. But the Clintons have taken off the mask and reminded us just how fast and loose they are with the truth. I don’t think they’ll be able to get me to trust them again.

Obama is not presidential material-period. He does not have what it takes to be president of this country. He has absolutely no international experience. I shudder to think how he would handle the middle east situation. He may be able sound like he knows what to do, he does not.
I am a senior registered Democrat and I will throw my vote away to the republicans rather than vote for Obama and there are lots of people out here that think exactly like me. And I would rather see a Repbulican back in office than Obama. So, let’s just wait until the last vote is counted in November and then we’ll see.

This election is about two (2) things.
Just about everyone’s an independent now, and the numbers are growing every day.
The make or break issue is TRUST.
Combine those two, and Hillary Clinton isn’t even in the running. McCain, and perhaps Bloomberg, are definitely possibilities (especially with a Democratic Congress to block their more problematic programs.) (Note how those two points also account for Ron Paul’s otherwise inexplicable support.)

I’ll never vote for Hill, she’s fooling the democrats the same way George Bush fooled her into giving him the authority to go into Iraq. Lies.

As a lifelong Democrat, I am extremely upset with the sleazy campaign that the Clintons are running. They have distorted Obama’s record, have played the race card, and have told outright LIES. If Hillary is the nominee, I will vote for Bloomberg or stay home. I will NEVER vote for Hillary. Not only has she divided the party, she will further divide the country, bring down congressional candidates in “purple” states, cause Bloomberg to enter the race and split the Democratic vote, and LOSE the White House for the Democrats. I have spoken with hundreds of Democrats across the country who feel the same way.

If Obama is not the nominee and because of the way the Clintons are playing what they perhaps think of as a game. I can not and will NOT VOTE. I will stay home and sit on my hands too.
They ( Clinton dynasty) have a blatent disregard for everyone they don’t need but also for the DNC. They don’t care about how they obtain power and therefore, really about America, So then why should I? At least that’s how they make me feel.
With Obama – I feel proud to be an American and will do everything I can for the man.
With the “Clinton duo” – I feel ashamed and disheartened.
W/F 43 NC

I am a life-long independent who changed my affiliation to Democrat to vote for Obama in FLorida. I voted for BIll CLinton twice. I have always voted Democratic. If Hillary is the nominee, I will vote for any Republican and all other Republican’s on the ballot. SOme will say this is cutting off one’s nose to spite their face. I will do that to not reward the CLinton’s for being so thirsty for power that they will openly lie about another candidate of the same party. Some say, well that’s politics. Yes, but I think people are really sick of this style of politics. The Clinton’s are a disgrace.

I’m an Obama supporter and quite simply, Bill’s wife will never get my vote.

It is not only vote for the Republican, I will donate to any republican nominee. This is America, not Saudi Arabia ruled by corrupt monarchies. I greww Bush-Clinto and Bush-Clinton the rest of my life. I like to eat different kind of food everyday and I want a fresh president to watch during my dinner please.

I’m a democrat/independent, registered independent in NH, but a two-time Bill Clinton voter. I’ve been a hard-core Obama supporter for months here in NH (as well as a donor and volunteer). I wasn’t inclined to support Hillary in the general election to begin with, but thought I’d be able to do it, holding my nose if necessary.
But now, seeing that she can’t even keep her attack dog on the porch, I know that I could never trust this woman as Commander in Chief.
Seeing that she wraps herself in the flag of Feminist Cred while allowing her husband to run to her rescue constantly, I could not vote for her to help uphold our civil rights.
Seeing that she touts her “conversation with America” while disallowing individual blogs on her website (while Obama’s site overflows with blogs, including my own), I could not vote for her to uphold free speech.
Howard Dean needs to hear that if Bill C. doesn’t tone it down, and if Hillary refuses to keep her campaign discourse above the belt, then Obama’s voters will NOT vote for her in the fall. They will go to Bloomberg or McCain.

I’m an Obama supporter who voted Democratic all my adult life, but will vote for McCain if Obama does not win the nomination. My mild dissatisfication of Hillary has grown to full-scale disgust and loss of respect for this woman over the last few weeks.

I am independent, hispanic, and I love America.
I am for Obama and have no doubt he is the best choice for America now.
I really don’t contemplate the possibility he wouldn’t be the democratic candidate.
In case he is not I know I have a number of options regarding the general election. I know voting for Hillary is not one of those options. I will never give my vote for her and I mean it.
I would be happy with a woman on the White House, but an independent strong, honest woman. Hillary has no credibility. She is getting dirty in the campaign. I cannot imagine her without Bill, she is always under his command. She is not the kind of woman I would like in the White House.
In two words: Hillary never!
But I am happy and confident Obama will prevail. I see him in the With House in a year from now. I am sure about that.

I am an Independent and the reason I am supporting and involved in politics and these campaigns is because of Barack Obama’s abilities to inspire, motivate and organize to bring this country together and heal us from the divisions that have made as stagnant for quite awhile.
I believe He is the only candidate who appeals to the majority of Americans and even the world. While Hillary and Bill are quite opposite and are very divisive as we have experienced in these past few weeks.
In the case of voting if Hillary vs. McCain wins the nomination; truthful I would rather stay home and not vote or vote for any independent that will arise amidst this selection.
Hillary and Bill have been playing a very dirty game – manifesting their true nature of lies and lack of integrity. Ready to do anything at any cost to just win favor or election without careering who is harmed. That kind of politics drives us more apart and not together. I DONT WANT THAT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS!
HILLARY YOU DONT HAVE MY VOTE!

I am a Barack Obama supporter who will definitely vote for John McCain if Hillary gets the nomination. She voted for the war, for the Lieberman-Kyl Ammendment (McCain did not) and has run the most disgusting campaign I have seen in my 47 years. She does not come close to representing me and I will both vote republican and leave the democratic party if she is nominated.
There must be a standard that we follow in our election process. We must be able to expect some degree of truth from our candidates. Hillary is a disgrace, and Bill is even worse, and I will have no part of putting them back into the White House.

I’m another life-long Democrat who would vote for McCain (and maybe Romney) over Clinton. This is my logic. We are at a historical moment where the public is very turned off the Republicans. There is an opportunity for a big shift to the left, if the Democrats handle it correctly. Electing Clinton will alienate the independents needed for this shift and her tactics will have the public turned off the Democrats by the end of her first term. As long as it not the most radical choices like Huckabee and Guiliani (either of whom would lead to disaster), another Republican term would not improve the Republicans’ standing with the American people and the big shift of the left is still possible.

Give me a break folks! So many of you say you won’t vote for Hillary Clinton if she wins the nomination. BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WILL DO in the general election! That’s because if Sen. Clinton DOES win the nomination, Sen. Obama will be her running mate. Sen. Clinton knows what she is doing. She knows that Sen. Obama will leap at the chance to be the first African-American Vice-President. And she also knows that there is no way that Sen. Obama will leave the Democratic Party split. This is all calculated by the Clintons! Trash Sen. Obama to win the nomination and then kiss and make up to unite the Democratic Party. It is Clinton Politics 101.

I don’t think Obama would accept VP to Hillary. And even if he did, I wouldn’t vote for her. Let her lose the election, end the oligarchy, and in four years maybe we’ll have another chance to vote for Obama. Or heck, maybe he’d run Independent with Bloomberg?! In any case HRC will NEVER have my vote.

James Danley:
There is no way that Hillary Clinton will select Barack Obama as a running mate, and to promote such a message is irresponsible. First, any VP to HRC will be inconsequential because Bill will function as the VP, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury. Any cabinet members role will be minimized by the loud presence of Bill Clinton.
Second, there is no way the HRC is going to allow a VP who gets bigger crowds and draws more attention than she does.
So for voters who think that they will get Barack if they vote for Hillary, they are sadly mistaken. It’s not going to happen.

Good Post Jake. After having spent the the holiday weekend with Obama supporters and some Clinton supporters in SC, I think Obama’s reading of the situation is accurate. To what degree, I don’t know, but there’s no doubt that a significant segment of Obama supporters will not vote for the Clintons after the past few weeks.
The Obama supporters, myself included, feel the Clintons have gone too far and become those politicos Obama warns we need to remove from power to address the big challenges facing the country. It’s important to remember that voters who support Obama, be they Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, gravitate to him because of the promise of a break with the past and old style politics.
The Clintons, by their behavior, become a self-fulfilling prophecy that presents a barrier to that progress and by extension, do not deserve the votes of those who seek reform and fundamental change in our politics.
I myself won’t vote for a republican, but I cannot vote to put Bill and Hillary back in the White House.
For me, that time has come and gone.

I had a client in my office this evening telling me that Hillary’s attitude towards Obama reeks of unconscious racism. It seems that some deep-seated archetypal feeling is telling her (HRC)that Obama is just another “black” man who does not deserve to stand in her way. I tend to agree with his observation after replaying in my mind her tone of voice and the accusations that she leveled at Obama on Monday night, inter alia:” You never take responsibility for anything (blah…blah….blah). What a magistral lack of respect. Maybe, she thought that she was talking to her gardener or her private chauffeur. Even Ms. Daisy would not have talked to her chauffeur (Morgan Freeman) like that. Now, what does it take for people to see the light? That woman and her nostalgic husband are in it to satisfy their sick egos and they are ready to go as low as possible to go back to the White House. It’s a pity that the blind masses seem to be willing to send them back to Washington for another serving of moral deficit. As for me, it will be McCain or Obama and no one else.

I am a lifelong Democrat who voted for Bill Clinton twice. I’ve never voted for a Republican. But if Hillary Clinton is the nominee in November, I will be voting for McCain. I may disagree with him on some issues but I respect him. I do not respect the Clintons anymore.
I think this is a widespread feeling among Obama supporters (and keep in mind there are many Obama supporters. This is not a fringe group. He’s getting the votes of nearly half of Democratic primary voters). This is an aspect of this campaign that the media should explore more over the next few weeks.

And, by the way, I was never even an Obama supporter originally. I’m an Edwards supporter. The writing’s on the wall. See it and weep.

Hillary and Bush are similar in many ways. They both run for president with the help of a close relative who is a former president. They are both arrogant because they get to high offices with their relatives’ fame and resources rather than being really qualified for the jobs. They are both partisan to the extreme because of their arrogance.
So what can we predict what Hillary’s presidency will be like from Bush’s presidency?
Bush is so partisan that he can not get anything done for the country. That is why he has been using the Iraq war to distract people’s attention. Hillary will have this same problem that Bush has. Because of her partisanship, she will not be able to get anything done, either. Then she will again need a war in Iran to distract people’s attention.

I didn’t expect Obama to come out and be so blunt about this issue, though it is the truth. I’m an Obama supporter and supply to the ABC factor, Anybody But Clinton. I pledge that I will not vote the Clinton’s back in the White House and I definitely will cast a vote. Who I WILL vote for is still in question. Whether it would be the republican nomination, Bloomberg if he throws his hat in the ring, Ron Paul if he decides to run Libertarian or any other party is still in question. But again I want to repeat, ABC’s.

WOW! Great comment from Mark.
After that, thee’s almost nothing else to say. But let me just add this:
If Democrats are willing to nominate another candidate who “voted for the war before he voted against it” like in 2004, there’s no reason why they won’t vote for McCain. McCain against Clinton is guaranteed victory for Republicans because McCain gets McCain Democrats the way Obama gets Obama Republicans. McCain gets Independents, Clinton doesn’t. I will NEVER vote for a polarizing candidate. I’d be glad to vote for McCain.
Erase any dream of Obama as VP from your head. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. Frankly, only a stooge, a spineles, power-hungry nincompoop will accept a VP spot from Hillary knowing that Bill will be the active VP. The real VP will be treated the same way the Clintons treated AL Gore. Obama is too much of a visionary. He’d rather be VP for McCain or Bloomberg. Think about it: Can America really elect a woman (a flawed one at that) over a war hero with outstanding national security credentials? Not in a million years. Clinton’s only chance is against the lesser Republicans.
DO NOT DISCOUNT Obama crossing. Liebermann did it and won as an Indie; Bloomberg did it and won as a Republican. McCain can blast Clinton for mistreating Obama, and then offer him the VP spot. Whether he accepts or not, the message is gone through and McCain has secured some Democrats.

I won’t vote for Clinton if she is the nominee and I voted for her husband, Al Gore and Kerry in the last 3 elections. The way they are attempting to tear Obama down is all too reminiscent of what Karl Rove did the last 2 times around. Winning back the White House isn’t as important to me as voting for someone I respect and I no longer respect anything about the Clintons. I’ll vote for McCain or Mayor Bloomberg in Nov.

It’s A-B-C-simple… Anybody But Clinton.

I decided I couldn’t vote for Hillary because it will do too much of a disservice to women. I am a professional (Ph.D. from Yale) female and am really concerned about electing someone who graduated at the bottom of her Yale class and biggest claim to fame is that she married the smarted guy in her class. She is not going to be a good example for young girls. And if she fails it will be much harder to elect the next female.
My husband won’t vote for her because he doesn’t want another 4 years of bickering and stalled politics. He remembers the 90s and how the Clintons couldn’t get anything done ’cause we were all focused on Bill’s sex life.

I will never, under any circumstance, vote for Hillary Clinton or help to fund her success. I am disgusted by the dishonest, manipulative campaign that she is running. Our country can withstand another four years of a Republican candidate. What we cannot withstand is another possibly 8 years of the Bush/Clinton oligarchy and the lies, money, power, corruption, influence, favors, etc. that goes along with it . . . Enough already. Let us end this while we still can, and move forward. John McCain will have my vote before Hillary Clinton ever will.

I am a lifelong Democrat, but after witnessing the kind of voter intimidation and suppression I saw in Nevada, I have now been pushed over the edge, and I will not vote for Hillary Clinton if she is the nominee. This is a very difficult choice for me.
If Bloomberg is the nominee, I would vote for him instead.

Well, I’m a Republican Obama supporter, so no way in heck I’d vote for Hillary Clinton. I would intentionally vote for someone I didn’t like if it meant a vote AGAINST her.
The Clintons can screw off.

“They will say, “John McCain is a distinguished American hero. He has served his country well. But his time was 2000. He would have been a great president. But he is just too old now to be president.”
Oh, that’s a brilliant strategy. Insult all the senior citizens… who VOTE more than any other age group. (And McCain will just drag out his 95 year old mother, who still drives herself all over Europe, for a great counter-argument).
And I would think an argument like that could easily backfire on the Clintons. McCain could just as easily substitute a few words and say “They have served their country well. But their time was 1992-2000. They had their chance in the White House.”

I have voted down the line democratic my entire life. I have never voted for a Republican, and had even voted for Bill Clinton twice. But if Hillary Clinton becomes my party’s nominee this election year, I will make sure I get out and vote against her.
Although John McCain doesnt match up with any of my democratic Ideals, he does have something that Hillary clinton doesnt have. I feel that he is honest, has integrity, and he has character!
I can in no way see myself reward Hillary Clinton for the way that her, her husband, or the people around her, has run her campaign. Her win at all costs attitiude, have lost her my democratic vote!
I feel that If I was to give her my vote after all of this negative campaigning that she has done against Senator Obama, that I will only encourage more of the same type of campaigtning from our future leaders.
Maybe if she loses because she has no character, it will make others think twice about running the same type of campaign in the future!

I’m a Latina, and I am a strong supporter of Senator Barack Obama.
I would NOT vote for Hillary!
I would NOT vote for the Republican candidate, either. I need to live with a clean conscience.
I would either write in Obama’s name, vote for Bloomberg, or vote for the Green candidate.
But I truly believe that the PEOPLE will prevail and we will deliver Barack Obama to the White House.
Obama ’08

Ditto. I am independent and have been drawn to Obama’s candidacy b/c of his message of inclusion and a transformative type of politics. It’s time to let go of the divisive politics of Karl Rove and the Clintons. Many of my independent and democratic friends would RELISH voting for McCain over Hillary. Hillary has 50% negatives. Why do people want to ignore that and pretend it doesn’t exist??

As an Independent Obama supporter, I think if the Democrats are too stupid to nominate Obama, they don’t deserve him. Anyone but Hillary and Bill (again). I don’t know ANYONE – Dem., Rep. or Independent – who DOESN’T feel this way.

Never for Clinton. We don’t want another 8 years of bickering and no work in Washington.

Iam a longtime Democrat, and have always voted theparty, but after Hillary’s behaviour and dirty politics against Obama, I will not vote for her. She is a disgrace to American women; when they vote for her just because she is a women and ignore her dishonesty and abuse of her fellow candidate. I had thought to stay home if she is the nominee, but these comments gave me some interesting ideas for options. I am not fond of holding my nose to vote.
Sara Kay

I previously always voted Republican, but I am voting for Obama in the upcoming Illinois primary. If he does not get the Democratic nomination, the Democratic party will definitely lose my vote and several other people I know like me (who switched because of Obama). I would indeed most likely gravitate back to one of the Republican candidates in November. (I’m 30 and the people I speak of are in the 25-35 age range).

I previously always voted Republican, but I am voting for Obama in the upcoming Illinois primary. If he does not get the Democratic nomination, the Democratic party will definitely lose my vote and several other people I know like me (who switched because of Obama). I would indeed most likely gravitate back to one of the Republican candidates in November. (I’m 30 and the people I speak of are in the 25-35 age range).

I clicked on the link above to go immediately to the Brody interview with Senator Obama, and discovered that his statement came in response to a question on whether Hillary Clinton would be “a drag for down-ticket races as a presidential candidate.” Senator Obama’s answer is eminently reasonable and simply a statement of truth – he does win the areas and voters that she does not, and she does have higher negatives than the other Democratic candidates. I think it is much more likely that Clinton supporters, being almost certainly Democrats, would turn to Barack Obama, whereas Obama supporters, who include not only Democrats but Republicans and Independents, would be much less likely to see Hillary Clinton as an acceptable substitute.
Let us remember that her husband never got even 50% of the popular vote, and that when the Clintons finally vacated the White House, they left fewer Democrats in office than were there when they arrived. I think Senator Clinton on the ticket in November would have at least as damaging an effect on other Democratic candidates.
It’s possible that the media could try to create a story that isn’t there by suggesting that Senator Obama’s statement was provocative rather than part of a thoughtful response to an important question. On “Countdown” tonight, Keith Olbermann and Dana Milbank suggested that Senator Obama might be viewed by some as a kind of spoiler. I think that anyone who actually pushed that point that would be saying in effect that Hillary Clinton has a predetermined right to the Presidency.
In any event, Senator Obama’s campaign, like America, has always been about hope, hard work and the miracles ordinary people can pull off when they join forces with a leader who unites rather than divides.

I am a lifelong republican and could actually vote for Obama if he had a little more experience.
If Hillary was to win the nomination, I would love to see John McCain extend an olive branch and ask Obama as his running mate.
I think they could do something that no 2 people can in many decades in D.C.
Then I would like to see McCain/Obama clean house in US Congress including the constant bickering Pelosi.
Did you know that Congress had a lower approval rating than GW Bush?

I have been so excited for this election, and the past month has made me so disgusted. The conduct of the former president has destroyed my opinion of him. Hillary’s tactics have been absolutely shameful. and I am far, far from alone.
I was not an Obama partisan. But I now believe he is our only hope.
I will not vote for her under any circumstances. Not only can Hillary not win the general after her shameful performance, I think if she did, it would be bad for the party.
Divisiveness IS the number one issue. the way Bush tore this country apart is the single worst element of his presidency. Hillary and Bill are only making things so much worse. Instead of the Republicans being the party of division, it’ll be us.
The whole thing is just sad.

I jave just got my citizenship and will vote for the first time this year. My husband is a die-hard republican, who has consistently voted for a republican in all elections for over 30 years. This time around we are both Obama supporters and have made several donations to his campaign.
If he is NOT available in November, we will each vote for McCain or Huckabee and will sit out if they are not available. I think a lot of people are like us, who are temporarily attracted by democrats because of Obama and will never vote for Hillary.

I will never vote for Hillary. I will not stand with a president who lies and says whatever she needs to get in to the White House. This campaign has just shown what kind of person she really is. I am totally disgusted by her. Women across America need to wake up and see what she is doing to win. Don’t just vote for her just because she is a women, what kind of message is being sent to our children and grandchildren, win, win, win, do whatever it takes!!!!
So wrong!!!!!!!

Obama do you need some cheese for that whine. You know it works both ways. Hillary supporters may not support you.
I thought you were such a great uniter, now look at this, you are creating division. I know you got your spin from Karl Rove. Lol, I am a uniter not a divider. Republican spin written all over the place.
I will never ever vote for Obama.

Qster– in all fairness, he is talking about the independents and republicans he’s been able to attract and comparing that to Hillary who always wants to fight against republicans, ie. vast right wing conspiracy. that is what she claims as her strength. being able to ‘take them on’ ‘ive been standing their attacks for 16yrs’, etc etc

Wow, this is like reading the obituary of the Obama presidential campaign. Sad.
Not to worry, there will be equal or more lifetime republicans not voting for McCain.

Me too!
plus my husband
and my parents!

What Obama meant was that she would not get the votes of the Independents and Republicans he has been attracting to his campaign. The other truth is that devoted democrats like me are so disgusted and betrayed by the Clintons’ disrespectful, dirty, lie-filled campaign, that we are sorry we ever voted for them in the 90′s! I would never vote for Hilary. The Clintons are alienating so many people right now.

>>and imagine if Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.,
I would never vote for Hillary in a million years; however, if McCain put Lieberman on his ticket, I wouldn’t vote for McCain in a billion years. If it is Hillary vs. McCain, I’d probably stay home — there isn’t much difference between the two. But the smarmy, patronizing, bomb-everything Senator for Israel is the worst of the lot. You are misreading Obama supporters, Jake, if you think Lieberman would edge them towards McCain.

I’m 68 years old and a lifelong democrat. I have never missed an election and I have never voted for a republican for anything – including dogcatcher.
Hillary and her husband are running a sleazy campaign and are a disgrace to our party. If it’s not Obama, I’ll vote for McCain or stay home.

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.

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 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!!!

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 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.

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

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.

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!!!

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.

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!!

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 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’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…

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.

polls have mccain beating all democrats
foregone conclusion?

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.

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…

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.

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)

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!!!!

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.

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 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’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.

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)

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.