Re: I'm so dissapointed at tonight's primary resul
Guys, I'm having a major change of heart.
While I still think Hillary will make the best President, I'm a rugged realist; I see how the press hates her, how many people hate her--even pro-Obama people hate her. It puzzles me, but it is what it is.
By contrast, Obama is a media darling. People seem to love him everywhere; hell, even red states voted for him. (He hasn't been Swift-boated yet, but that's another topic). Republicans and Independents are voting for him.
While I'm still a Hillary supporter, I'm beginning to think an Obama victory will be better for the Democratic Party in November; a nominated candidate who's loved will do better than a nominated candidate who's so widely hated.
I think he'll win the nomination, so, from now on, he has my support.
Yes, the media loves Obama. And he has avoided any scruitny during this campaign. (Both of which make it remarkable that Senator Clinton has been so resilient throughout this campaign, considering the odds she has and continues to face.) But I doubt that the love-affair will continue into the general election. They are building a pedestal that they hope to tear down later.
You also make an interesting comment--one cited by the Obama campaign--that he is winning Republicans and Independents. But Senator Clinton is doing remarkably well among the Democratic base. And these are the voters that form the core of our Party and it takes the base to win elections. That's how she's still kept this race competitive and has won the larger states. Remember this is a campaign for the
Democratic nomination. So why do we want a candidate who is leading our Party away from its core values (i.e. universal health care, standing against privatization of social security)? That's why the Democrats are voting for Senator Clinton--they want a candidate who will stand and fight for these values. And the blue-collar, pocket-book voters who are voting in droves for Senator Clinton are the most reliable voters by the time the general rolls around--and the same goes for the older voters and strong Latino bloc firmly behind her. The younger voters and Independents on which Obama banks his candidacy have historically failed to deliever on Election Day. So it's a roll of the dice. And given what the next President will face, the stakes are to high to take a gamble on America's future.
Let's take a look at Arizona, for example. It's a red state and the primary was a competitive race. Senator Clinton won by a decisive 10% of the vote.
The exit polls reveal the following:
She won 53% of the female vote, to Obama's 40%. Females have historically been crucial to Democratic victories in the general election.
Of all respondents, 53% named Clinton the "most qualified to be commander-in-chief" while 34% said the same of Obama.
Of those who say that they are falling behind financially, Clinton leads 52-40.
Half of voters called the economy the most important issue and of those, Clinton wins 54% to Obama's 38%.
Among white Democrats, Clinton leads 57-37. Among Latino Democrats, she wins 60-37. Among union members, Clinton wins 58-33.
What's more, in this red state, more Democratic voters said they would be happy if Senator Clinton won the nomination than if Obama won the nomination. Likewise, more voters said they would be dissatisfied if Obama wins than if Clinton wins. So do you expect these folks to stay galvanized and get out and vote?
You cannot win a general election by ignoring your base.
LOL
