McCain's Rough Night Overshadowed By Clinton's

As the battle over Indiana progressed between Sens Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, a set of depressing polls numbers were finalized for John McCain.

In the GOP primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, the basically uncontested Republican nominee did not gain more than 80 percent of the vote.

In Indiana, McCain earned the backing of 78 percent of Republican primary voters, with exited candidates Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney gaining 10 percent and five percent respectively. Congressman Ron Paul, who is still in the race, has received seven percent of the vote.

The numbers were even worse in North Carolina, where McCain won 74 percent of the vote, with Huckabee earning 12 percent, Paul earning seven percent, and four percent of Republican primary goers simply voting "no preference."

None of these totals, to be sure, will affect the Arizona Republican's almost certain path to the nomination. But it has been more than two months now since McCain became the presumptive GOP candidate, and in each state election since he achieved that measure he has continued to lose a relatively substantial chunk of Republican support. In Pennsylvania, for example, McCain won 73 percent of the vote, with Paul pulling in 16 and Huckabee 11.

The troubling figures, however, may be the popular vote totals - individuals who McCain will theoretically have to woo back into his good graces. In North Carolina more than 105,000 Republicans did not vote for McCain. And in Indiana, 85,000 voters - whether they were Republican, Democrat or Independent - cast their ballots for someone other than the Arizona Republican.

The totals reflect roughly 90+ percent of the totals reported in each state, and will likely change, but not by much.

Comments

[ajax2]

The numbers deserting McCain for Huckabee and Romney show a colossal Rush Limbaugh failure of biblical proportions.

[Chavez08]

Vote Ron Paul in November!

[GrandpaMcCain]

~snicker~ Yeah! Bring his total voter base to a total of 6 people!

[BlueInARedState]

Excellent idea. Will make the Dem nominee a shoe-in.

[Angelus2007]

This has to be the most pointless post I have ever seen. Most people who win the nomination still don't get over 80% very often. In 2004 Kerry won the nomination on March 11th, and there were 19 contests after the March 11th date, and only 3 times did he get over 80% and twice he actually recieved less than 50% (North Carolina-Edwards home state, and Alaska where he got 48%). So as much as I love any ominous news regarding McCain, this post is pointless since it is commonplace for people to vote for candidates that have left when the nomination is wrapped up.

[Schvenzlerman]

Perhaps the Dems only gave Kerry 80% after his competitors for the nomination exited the race, but has a number in that area historically been the case for the GOP?

[Angelus2007]

I am not sure when Kerry's opponents left the race. But March 11th he had enough delegates to win. And it looks as if Bush in 2000 was in the mid 70s in most states after Super Tuesday, and Dole in 1996 was in the 60's even after he won. I couldn't find anything for 1988, 1980 (1984, 1992 and 2004 were all uncontested). I am just saying while there are those in the republican party that don't like McCain, not matter what they will like him better than Obama or any democrat for that matter. Just like I don't like Obama, and would prefer Clinton or any other dem, I will still vote for him becasue he is better than McCain.

[mjc]

I thought I posted this but maybe not. Don't be fooled by the number of Republicans NOT supporting McCain. They will be in the fall. In Indiana lots of Republicans I talked to were voting in the Democratic primary, either to upset Clinton or hurt Obama. They will be there for McCain in the fall, along with independents and Democrats who do not care for Obama.

[mjc]

While the numbers and percentages Stein posts are rather surprising, remember that many Republicans, and I talked to a lot of them in Indiana, were busy voting in the Democratic primary, either to upset Clinton or to hurt Obama. Don't think for one moment that there won't be plenty of Republicans to elect McCain, and add to his total a lot of independents and Democrats.

[2bad]

So, you're saying Bush/McCain Republicans would rather play idiotic political games than show support for their candidate and contribute to the greater cause of making America a better place for everyone. Pitiful!

[toby25]

First of all these are no Bush?McCain republicans...because it is a weak comparison outside of left wing land. ...and yes, they did play political games because it was fun and available to do. The democrats would be doing the same exact thing if the situation presented itself.

[fact finder]

mjc; And vice versa. No one knows for sure what the out come will be until the end, except those who have predetermined the out come.

[BillyShears]

Yep good 'ol Weathervane McCain - ya know - "any way the wind blows'.
People don't like that so much

[glesslib]

He is so out of touch and such a panderer that it's probably hard for even the most dedicated Repubilicans to swallow the pill. And his confusion on the issues is becoming harder to mask.
His handlers are going to have to give him a script and insist that he stick with it. 71seems t o be too old to be ad-libbing and trying to think on his feet.

[ajax2]

As the only candidate, McCain made a mockery out of Soviet style elections. In the past, most Soviet officials pulled 95% or better.

[iBgood]

Awww Poor mccrazy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7xgtAWfSWM

[TrueBlueMajority]

now THIS is good news. Lots of Rs are so unenthused by McCain that they may sit this one out.

OTOH, he may pick Romney or Huckabee for his VP and that could shake things up a bit.

[kdublya]

Ring. Ring.
Ring. Ring.
Ring. Ring.

Rush: Hello?

John: Limbaugh.

Rush: You got 'em.

John: Limbaugh, you boob.

[dramatic pause]

John: ...Wrong Primary!!!

hahaha

[iPolitics]

20%+ against McCain after he's official. Conservatives don't want to vote for the guy.

[ZsaZsa]

The pundits are always speculating as to whether Clinton's supporters will stay home or vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee, but I don't hear anyone talking about what these voters for Huckabee, Romney, and Paul will do in November.

[kellygrrrl]

so when Cindy and John did their write-in vote in 2000
I wonder if they knew how that was going to come back to get 'em

Operation Write-In

spread the word among the Repubs in your life!!!!

[kellygrrrl]

LOL!!!!