How Voters Think

[hoosier]

Recent polls show that McCain would be competitive with either Clinton or Obama; Romney would not.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/national.html

These polls are probably not very meaningful right now. Many of those voters who do not vote based on party affiliation will probably wait until they know who the nominees are before comparing candidates.

Yes, agree, it's hard to measure in a poll how much a given candidate would motivate the opposition. If I were a Repub, though, I'd much much rather see Hillary than Obama right now.

[The Leaper]

If I were a Repub, though, I'd much much rather see Hillary than Obama right now.

I would agree with that. The GOP doesn't seem to really be behind any candidate very strongly...McCain has yet to garner 40% of the vote in any state, even though he seem the prohibitive frontrunner.

The one thing that can save them is the threat of Hillary Clinton in the White House. That will be enough to get the rich ass economic wing and far right evangelical wing to the booth, as both groups despise Clinton...and would seriously consider voting for Satan over Hillary.

Obama, while just as liberal as Clinton, doesn't have the negative hatred that Hillary has...and probably would be able to get in easily because of a significantly stronger democratic voter turnout.

[Harlan Huckleby]

You can tell who the Republicans are most worried about by who they attack the most this time of year.

What people say they'll do 9 months from now doesn't mean much. Hell, Hillary had 30 point leads in many state polls just 3 months ago! The general election campaign will shape everything.

I'm confident Clinton would be a strong candidate. Obama could be even better, but I wouldn't count on it. I'm comfortable backing the winner of the upcoming Obama/Clinton contest rather than theorizing how each will come out of a future campaign with the republicans.

I started having some doubts about McCain this week. He looked tired and old at the debate, and didn't look good last night on Leno. Age is a problem for him. Obama is going to look like McCain's illigitimate grandson if/when they debate.

[Joemailman]

I've seen a number of times this year where McCain seemed to be looking old and tired, but he always seems to bounce back. If this campaign were being held 2000 years ago, he would be endorsed by Lazarus.

[RashanGary]

It always looks like McCAin has a big swollen left cheek (If you're looking at the TV it's on the right).

It's strange looking.


Yes he is VERY old. I just keep hoping he wins because the conservative media is going absolutely crazy and I love it.

[Harlan Huckleby]

It always looks like McCAin has a big swollen left cheek (If you're looking at the TV it's on the right).

McCain had melanoma (skin cancer), had lymph nodes removed from his face. Not sure why it is still all swollen-up several years later.

I see many parallels between John McCain & Bob Dole. Dole was an older, disabled war hero, likeable guy with a sharp wit who worked well with Democrats in the Senate. He got trounced by Clinton.

I liked Hillary's response to the kenard about family dynasties: "It did take a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and it might take another Clinton to clean up after the second Bush."

I think Hillary can win people over in a campaign. She's a decent speech maker and a superb debater. Her negatives are that she is an insider, and the second-hand gossip that she is a witch. She will never win-over the Leapers of this world who heard on talk radio in 1994 that she is a bitch - that's his story and he's sticking to it. I believe most of those covetted Independents that we are always talking about can be won-over by her steadiness and intelligence.

Obama will be diminished in a general election, the halo will come off. His membership in a segregated church is going to be played up, for instance. Not sure whether McCain will make Obama look unprepared for a presidency (which is true enough in my view) or McCain will just look very very old. If I had to guess: Obama is going to win the nomination and then the presidency. He's got that media mojo workin, and he's so charismatic.

[Joemailman]

It always looks like McCAin has a big swollen left cheek (If you're looking at the TV it's on the right).

It's strange looking.


Yes he is VERY old. I just keep hoping he wins because the conservative media is going absolutely crazy and I love it.

Ann Coulter has endorsed Clinton because she Says Clinton is more conservative than McCain. I actually think the Talk radio conservatives might prefer a Dem win the election rather than McCain. A McCain win could spur a resurgence of moderate Republicans who have been marginalized since Dole lost in 1996. Besides, a Dem in the White House, especially if it's Clinton, with a Democratic congress, would be great cannon fodder for their agenda.

[Joemailman]

Good article on the Republican Civil War:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8268.html

[Harlan Huckleby]

people on the extremes always hate the centrists within their own party much more than people on the other side of the fence. The obvious reason is that centrists marginalize the true believers.

Ralph Nader hated Al Gore far more than any Republican. Gore presented alternatives to Nader acceptable to left-leaning people, made Nader less relevant.

The most vicious Hillary Clinton talk comes from Progressives. The MoveOn.org people hate the Clintons above all because moderate democrats block their rise to power.

I'm not a bit surprised that Ann Coulter despises McCain, even though McCain is obviously much more of an ideological ally than the democrats.

[RashanGary]

I love the hate that is being spewed toward McCain right now. If he wins it's going to be so funny to see Hannity and Rush flounder around, not knowing what side to take. A big part of their success is the "us against them" mentality. They're going to have a hard time when none of the "us's" are left. All they can do is sti and bitch about both of them. It will be funny to hear the big optimists be optimistic about this one

I want Hillary and McCain to duke it out in the general. It will make for fun radio (for those of us who want to see the far right taken down)

[Harlan Huckleby]

Been listening to a Barak Obama rally - Oprah, Stevie Wonder, Carolyn Kennedy, Michelle Obama.

They repeated the word "brilliant" about 100 times. Everyone is inspired. The main theme seems to be that if Michelle & Barak could start from such humble beginnings and be sent to the White House, then we are in a new era.

I don't know, it is all just like a Tony Robbins seminar.

We can change the world - yes we can! yes we can! yes we can!

But the only change they are really talking about is electing Obama, that's the whole show.

[Joemailman]

Details about what Obama would change should come out more in the general election if he is the nominee as he will need to distinguish his policies from those of the Republican. He and Clinton don't differ that much on policy, so the talk is all about change vs. experience.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I know that political rallies are pep fests. I just don't like the religious revival feel to the Obama events. They talk like they are on a righteous mission of good versus evil, but actually they just want to get somebody elected.

Obama says that he will fight special interests, he's down on lobbyists. I really doubt that he will attempt to do anything significant in this area. Campaign Finance Reform, the real solution, seems dead in the water because of First Amendment concerns.

It seems to me that Ralph Nader is the one on the scene that is talking realistically about fighting corporate control of the government. The major parties are not in a position to reform themselves. I'm not anti-corporate, corporations should be able to lobby government, they are an important part of society. But Nader is the one speaking truth to power, as they say.

Obama may very well beat Clinton in California on Tuesday. If he does, the Obama triumph will be all but inevitable. I think the Clintons lost the election in South Carolina.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/ca/california_democratic_primary-259.html

[esoxx]

Fuck the Pats!!!! oops wrong thread.

[Freak Out]

Have Clinton or Obama talked about the Pentagons budget at all?