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

[Sundialsvc4]

A "so-called campaign" like this, with "so-called candidates" like this who are lubriciously hand-picked by offstage party deal-brokers, simply confirms to me how utterly void our "so-called political system" has become, at least from the point-of-view of these two "so-called parties."

I am realist enough to understand that the Royal Succession will be implemented by computer ... there being no valid reason to impose "paperless-voting" against so much sensible public objection ... and I wonder if the American people (wherever they are) truly fathom what the future may bring. (I shall, nevertheless, Vote for Anyone Else.)

All three of these "SOC's" are sitting United States Senators who repeatedly voted for war and who continue to proclaim the same stanza. Never mind that many German and Japanese officers were "hung by the neck until dead" for these war-crimes; which they are. Are you truly prepared for the possible (even NON-military) consequences of being the resident of a country that is now a Belligerent? What if your "almighty Dollar" suddenly became worth no more in the world's eye than a 1930's German Mark?

If you're still cropping grass in the pasture while these clouds continue to loom overhead, perhaps you should look up into the sky.

[SethBLiNK]

Any democrat who thinks electability is the main issue is off the mark. Once the dems stop fighting each other and focus on the "real opponent" this race will be easy.

[paixa3]

You are SO WRONG with your assessment. Remember, there are the myrids of ignorants who continuously re-elect a nearly despot congress and president.

I think you should re-assess and surely encourage the Democratic party to bash mcInsane daily, else you lose.

[simplecitizen]

What we see here is taking up positions that common sense tells you the vast majority of the American people don't believe in ( also known as shoring up your base) will probably lose you more votes than you'll gain. McCain is in a box with the burden of the last 8 years weighing him down. Contrast his campaigning skills with a young dyamic speaker like Obama and you can see the elder weary old style of McCain is magnified ten fold. If people vote their hopes and dreams and not their prejudices November will result in a landslide victory for the Democrats in both houses of Congress and the Presidency. Perhaps then this country can move foward without the obstuctionists in Congress blocking every peace of legislation that will help the American people.

[Bozwellian]

WHY do NONE note/list the MCCain FLIP FLOPPING on so many of the ISSUES ? Strange and realize so many did intentionally use blindeye assumptive/presumptives during these Bushlerized years but like WOW, McCain is flipping as well as FLOPPING and few bother in the MSM to even note it or comment and all just pretending NONE notice !!!
Frankly, whoever gets the CIC is in for tremedous "against all odds" of bringing the change we truly are in desparate need of...AM still of the mind(conspiratorialists sorta) that the GOP actually did want Hillary and Bill to BE returned to the WH so they could REALLY finish them off..TO have them BLAMED and SHAMED one final time and use the one 4yr term to regroup and make a major comeback in 2012. They will attempt to now shove it on Obama , use it to attempt to prove that indeed all are OT created any too equal and the failings and ocnsequences that will come up in HIS first 4yrs will be their rant as proof of such....going to be "interesting" for sure to watch this all discombobulate further !!!

[gbht12]

If I was sympathic at all for Republicans I would feel bad BUT I don't feel bad for this old fool. For someone that said he would not use his military records in the campaign. Now we see him in ad's promoting his military record. John , your SAT scores are not something to brag about, you finished what almost last in your class?

You just voted for the torture bill, what is with that? GI BILL is another factor, you support the troops, you feel their pain? I don't think so! You treat our soldiers like toy soldiers and you literally make me ill.

[halyscomet]

McCain can still keep his Senate job.

[ejay579]

This dottering old fool does not realize that he is a sacrifical lamb.

[McFlipFlop]

Yep, the patsy.

[bigironal25]

All folks need to do is watch how"Crash" moves around! He doesn't walk but instead totters, which makes him look light years older than he really is! Go to bed, McFebble, and stay there! You are one crazy old fart! Watch out for those wet ones!Tee Hee!!

[CarolinaDem]

We seriously need to work the John Hagee issue. That guy has devoted, demented contributors throughout the swing states, and all of them are known to other people as nutcases being dangerously exploited by the big fat nutcase in Texas. He sells them foreign policy as religious magic: donate to the cause of the EXPANSION of Israel 'from the Nile to the Euphrates', its Biblical Solomon's Empire borders, and you will have your prayers answered. The middle east position alone is dangerous as hell. Connecting it to the Apocalpyse seems nutty to Americans, but clearly and definitively Crusader Christian to every marginally educated Muslim. We're as likely to get McCain stripped clean of that taint in a new American Presidency as we would to keep Bush from being seen as a Texas oil man. This is a killer foreign policy liability unless he explicitly rejects Hagee's dream for Israel, and that's a political killer for McCain's funding sources.

[speakingtruth2power]

The polls that are showing McBomb as a close

competitor for either Democrat are pure Bushit!

Is the MSM is setting the stage for voter fraud??

[TrollsTakeYourMedstoo]

I still maintain, as I have all along, the repube party will not let him be their nominee. They will pull some type of crap at the convention to keep him from running so they can insert Mutt. It's the only hope they have.

[waynesmyer]

"Don't worry Cindy, It's gonna be just swell! THE HILLARY JUST PROMISED ME THAT I CAN BE HER SECRET COMMANDERESS IN CHIEF GUY! ain't it wonderfall? what true Blondes can do? Cindy! Uh, Cindy ? Cindy? Damn, must be a bad connection! Cindeeeee?
p.s. This was a secret AT&T phone tap! Sen. Johnny "Bomb! Bomb!" McCain, REPUKE-Arizona

[gomonkeygo]

Don't worry, McCain has a bag full of lies and fake promises to use on these guys. I think there's one that includes the word "Fatherland" in that bag. It's the slimy one hanging out of Rove's ass.

[MissingAmerica]

Perhaps McCain should take this as a sign that we do not need more government, we need a more responsible government. We do not want to regress to the days of the back-alley abortionist. We do not a country where the women are looked down upon and considered to be nothing more than a breeder, a productive possession. We want equal pay for equal jobs, and we want our own choice in how we choose to exercise our faith or not. Moreover, we want to return to a peaceful country, with our money returned to our school system and our scientific laboratories. We want to be in charge of our own destiny, and that means returning manufacturing and jobs to this country. That means no more taking money from our current landlord, The Peoples' Republic of China. In other words, Mr. McCain, take this as a sign that we want America BACK!

[lizinatl]

Well said!!! ...and we're taking it back...one vote at a time!

[speakingtruth2power]

Populism is the cure for the cancer of corporatism.

[barbarianatthegate]

MissingAmerica, you've said it all!

[olivia]

All that blathering on yesterday about constructionist judges did not help McCain.

Earth to McCain: a majority of Americans do not want to make abortion illegal. That poll has been taken many times with the same result.

Fight poverty, support education, keep the jobs here, raise the minimum wage, and haul in the men to share the responsibility for a child. Then I will believe you are more than a politician exploiting a wedge issue for a few votes.

[nativeeyes]

The Cherokee, Sioux, Apache, Navajo, Penbobscot, Seminole, Holopaw, Chickasaw, Black Feet, Micmac, Aroostook, Chippewa, Cree,Pequot and Arapaho Tribes THANK YOU VERY MUCH NORTH CAROLINA... For choosing for what it right and for our bright future..

YES WE CAN...


OBAMA 08'

[txgal44]

Love it!! That brought tears to my eyes.

[MsLiz]

McCain's VP choice will be interesting because he has to choose someone who, if elected, may very well have to take over. However, many of the better Republicans will not be willing to run for VP if they don't think McCain can win.

I also wonder if McCain's health is worse than he admits. Imagine if the Republicans have to select another nominee at the convention.

[RomeyDA]

Will get rougher
When McCain was just in New Orleans spreading rhetoric recently

Truth is instead of helping the area rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast get back on their feet, McCain actually voted to deny emergency funding to the area, and he voted against giving victims of Katrina access to Medicaid and unemployment benefits.
[McCain Campaign Email, 4/22/08; 2006 Senate Vote #112, 5/4/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #285, 11/3/2005; 2006 Senate Vote #6, 2/2/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #229, 9/14/2005; 2005 Senate Vote #234, 9/15/2005]

Hagee proably told him HOW TO VOTE

[CaseyBabes]

Sam, what's with all the numbers' crunching? You manufacturing news, or something? McCain is well aware that a serious proportion of Republicans are against his candidacy so he expects a contrary vote........and got it. He's dealing with it by especially directed comments at the opposition, such as his Supreme Court nominees will be "conservative" in the molds of Roberts and Alito. Politics, as usual.