Obama Seen As Stronger Candidate Versus McCain

Hoping to woo superdelegates, Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has turned to the argument that she, not Sen. Obama, is the best Democrat to take on John McCain in the general election.

Exit polls from Tuesday night, however, do not support that argument. In Indiana, despite the fact that the numbers portend a Clinton win, Obama is viewed as the nominee best able to win the White House, by a margin of 50 to 47 percent. In North Carolina, according to CNN, that divide is even more pronounced: "voters gave the edge to Barack Obama: 54 percent thought he was more likely to win in November, while 40 percent chose Clinton."

There are other telling signs. Forty-five percent of Indiana Democratic primary goers said Clinton was dishonest, versus thirty-three percent for Obama. Sixty-six percent said Obama shared their values. Sixty-three percent had the same opinion of Clinton. That spread was even greater in North Carolina, where 69 percent said Obama shared their values compared to 61 percent for Clinton.

There was one saving grace for the New York Democrat. The numbers suggest that there may be more defections to John McCain should Obama end up the nominee.

Fifteen percent of North Carolina respondents say they would vote for the Arizona Republican should he and Clinton face off in November. That number rose to 19 percent if it were McCain v. Obama. In Indiana, meanwhile, 17 percent of voters said they would support McCain if he were facing Clinton, while 20 percent said they would back the McCain if he battled Obama.

Comments

[pbfishtaco]

McCain can't even get 80% in his own primary RUNNING UNOPPOSED (apologies to Ron Paul, media blackout king).

[biwee]

Bush, a true IDIOT, has destroyed the Republican Party. Obama will easily defeat McCain in Nov.
It will not be the rout of 1984 (Reagan over Mondale), but it will be bad for Republicans. I continue to wonder why any patriotic American would vote for a Republican.

[chris615]

On a real note if she really means that she'll back whoever gets he nod. I hope it proves true. Because it looks like he is on track to win and of course the party politics will be that she will be his VP candidate and I know it's going to hurt her. But let her have her moment to VENT and then lets move forward!

It's the only way we Dems will win and after seeing McCain saying he want more Supreme Court judges like Alito, and Roberts. Us Democrats need to realize fight the real fight come Nov AND it's not Obama-vs-Clinton

Wake up before it's too late!

OBAMA/CLINTON 08'

[bentenrai]

Since Hillary pledged that she'd fight like nuts to get Obama elected should he be the nominee, chances are at least a good portion of her currently reluctant supporters will tag along. But then again, we all know how much Hillary respects her pledges.

[Sctt859]

How the hell can the repugs use rev.wright and ayres and rezko if it had little effect on him now? How the hell will it work in the future?

[dm92]

they used it in a special congressional race in LA last week - tying the candidate to Obama and Pelosi and lost a seat that had been a gop stronghold for 30 years. People are tired of the BS.

[Rasteira]

Independents decide elections, not democrats, not republicans.
Independents often lean to the left or right but are most likely void of bias.

[S1m0n]

"There was one saving grace for the New York Democrat. The numbers suggest that there may be more defections to John McCain should Obama end up the nominee."

Given that Indiana is an open primary, and given the well-documented Limbaugh-led campaign encouraging republicans to vote in the democratic party primary, calling these "defections" from the democratic party is a considerable stretch.

The likeliest explanation by far is that these are voters who have never had any intention of voting for either democrat in the general. They won't be 'defecting' when they vote for McCain, they'll be going home.

[dartagnan]

The exit polls suggest that if it wasn't for Flush Rimbowl's moronic minions, Hillary might not have eked out her slim victory in Indiana.

[Counterglow]

"The numbers suggest that there may be more defections to John McCain should Obama end up the nominee."

I bet the sales figures for white sheets are uncommonly high in those towns, too.

[rzan]

If the democratic party decides against Obama due to these numbers, then it will forever be the party of racism. We cannot pander to the lowest members of humanity.

[Counterglow]

Beautifully said.

[Fleisch]

I'm enjoying the fact that McCain is still losing 25% of the votes in the Republican primaries.

[dm92]

Me too, and NOBODY on the news is talking about it - he lost about 28% of the gop vote in PA.

[Dave1955]

So am I.

My faves are the Paulites, who really ought to just go ahead and form their own cult, replete with secret handshakes and funny hats. I can't imagine these guys voting for McCain in the general election. (I can't imagine them voting for Obama, either, but then, they were never Democratic voters in the first place.)

[lafrance]

In a passionate campaign like this one, it is simply stupid to ask people if they would vote for the other guy before the process and grieving time was over.
People are dug in and extremely loyal to their candidate the longer it goes on and are answering out of passion and not rational.
That is the dumbest thing to ask people right now.

[stormwater]

Here's the thing with Hillary. Barak has chosen not to revisit Monica, Paula, Jennifer, etc., etc., etc., does not mean that the Republicans won't. And it isn't just a hit on Bill, it speaks to her character that she can 'forgive' these instances and stay with him. Then you have the funding for his library, the Marc Rich pardon, her brother's involvement in pardons, again etc., etc., etc.

If any of these get the same playtime as the Wright 'controversy', she's dead meat.

[Myshkin57]

I completely agree. How many people either do not remember all the gory details of the Clinton years or were not at an age to be interested in politics? Her argument that she's vetted has only stood up because Obama has been trying not to have this party pulled apart.

[rzan]

I remember it all very well. Bill Clinton should never have been impeached. He lied about having an affair, which was absolutely nobody's business except for his and Hillary's. They dogged the man to a ridiculous extent. Philandering is not a new behavior in the presidency. Think of FDR and DDD and JFK, all cheaters, all married to wonderful women. It will, however, be a nice change of pace to have a man in the white house who respects and obviously loves his wife.

OBAMA '08

[rzan]

Sorry, Bush. You also obvoiusly adore your wife, Laura, and for good reason. It is your only redeeming quality.

[Veeve]

Dude, you are 100% correct, 0% incorrect!

[Counterglow]

The Republicans would kill to have Hillary as the nominee. Failing that, they'd like to see as much damage to the party and Obama as is humanly possible.

[S1m0n]

"..it speaks to her character that she can 'forgive' these instances and stay with him..."

And cozying up to Richard Mellon Scaife--is it also a sign of her character that she can get into bed with Mr rightwing conspiracy himself?

[Softnsweet]

S1mon,

It speaks to her judgement as well. Hillary is all for Hillary. Everyone knows it.

[Wellstone6]

Bull. Obama revisited every mean right-wing smear against her: She's a liar, she's a panderer, she'll do anything to win., she has no values, she has no scruples. Then he added in she and Bill were racists as well for good measure.

The reason they didn't use the Lewinsky and other "weapons" is they were afraid of a backfire.

If they'd lost Indiana and North Carolina, what would you bet they wouldn't come out.

This thread is misleading, and pandering as well. Theonly people who think that Obama would be a stronger candidate were exit-poll interviews, and we know how reliable they are. They are still waiting for Kerry to go into the White House based on exit polls.

[Daisy1111]

Good points, Wellstone.

[Softnsweet]

You are lying Wellstone6, you idiot. Obama has never called Hillary a liar and that she was racist, but I am telling you that she is a liar, a panderer and racist. So are you!!

[egal]

Oddly enough, the more vicious Hillary gets, the less she's trusted; but the less she's trusted, the more her followers circle in the wagons, refusing to see anything negative about her and lapping up every shred, no matter how untrue or irrelevant, of negatives about Obama.

Since the MSM seemed to be going along for that ride, I wonder how they'll react to the reality that most of us aren't drinking her kool-aid (it's a registered and capitalized word, but not in this context)--most of us are actually out to elect the person who seems the best for our nation rather than defend minds already made up.

[zull2]

I really want to hear from those people who voted for Clinton, then answered the poll question that Obama would be a more electable candidate.

At this point in the race, it's not about your fave. It's about electability, because the total number of remaining delegates, split even slightly unreasonably, just aren't enough for Clinton to win the nomination outright. Her "nuclear option" won't happen...Obama's already proposed multiple fair plans to seat the Florida and Michigan voters. Florida couldn't pay for another primary, and Hillary didn't want a caucus and didn't want a 50-50 split of the delegates (which is about what she's winning in these primaries anyway). The superdelegates have been falling in line with Obama at a faster rate than Hillary is picking up any new ones. That means that this race at this point is about electability and getting a Democrat elected in the General.

Remember last year when every Clinton supporter felt the urge to snobbishly ask every Obama supporter "if my candidate wins the nomination, you'll vote for her/him...right?" Well, back atcha.

[Wellstone6]

Obama and his surrogates BLOCKED every attempt at a plan for a revote or new election, in both Florida and Michigan. Even when it wouldn't cost anyone a dime.

[dm92]

Quite frankly, I am not so sure she would have taken enough votes in MI or FL to signicantly change the map - every calculation right now is based on the current results which were completely bogus! I don't care that his name was on the ballot in FL, people knew it did not count and many turned out at the polls because of a local initiative on the ballot that affected homeowners. I can't believe when I hear her and her people say that it was his decision to take his name off the ballot in MI - she is on tape on NPR saying that neither election will make a difference - she thought it would be over by then.

[avicenna]

I think Hillary can run with McCain though - she'd crank up his right-wing electibility. At this point - from guns to gas tax to obliterating nations - she outstrips McCain's questionable republican history.

[BadgerBoy]

My dog could be mccain, he at least is man's best friend. mccain isnt even liked in his own party.

[Daisy1111]

So naive -- Rove will get McCain into the White House.

Rove got Bush a second term when Kerry looked like a shoo-in,

[PollyTics]

It's curious that by a margin of 50 to 47 in Indiana voters think Obama is a better candidate against McCain, while in North Carolina (which Obama won in a HUGE manner) the ratio is only 69 to 61. What's it all mean? Beats me, but it is clear that this is VERY good for Obama's campaign tonight.

Will Hillary bow out? Heck no, she has already proven she's in this one to bloody up her Democratic opponent and drawing this entire Primary out as long as possible. Perhaps Rush Limbaugh's disgraceful Operation Chaos is really working to her benefit "big time".