Clinton is going to lose in a general election

[Harmony Blue]

She doesn't come off as genuine and has a very abrasive personality. In addition, she refuses to push away from the corporate DLC. It is a shame it has come to this.

[wyldwolf]

1. wishful thinking?

[highprincipleswork]

117. It's definitely not wishful thinking.

If Hillary becomes the Democratic nominee (is not and should not be a foregone conclusion), then she will likely face real defections from Democrats of all ages for the perceived unfairness of the nomination process. Should that occur, that will hurt far more than the DNC, Hillary Clinton herself, or Clinton supporters here care to admit.

Combine that with other perceived negatives, and the poster may have a point.

I disagree with Hillary on so many things, and do not want to see someone of her political ilk in the White House, but I would bend heaven and earth to see a Democrat in the White House.

HOWEVER, with all the shenanigans around the debates and the clear favoritism not only in the mainstream media (giving other candidates so little coverage and just assuming Hilary is the one) BUT IN MY OWN PARTY LEADERS IN THE DNC, that is what calls for a response. How does one have a response to that? I have already called the DNC till blue in the face. They definitely get none of my money, not now, not till they change their ways. What's the final act of non-acceptance of this rigged system? To withhold your vote, which I'm not saying I will do and I'm not saying in any way is a good idea.

But supporters of Hillary Clinton, can you not understand why people would feel like doing this if they feel the system is rigged, and when even impartial outside observers recognize the symptom of this?
Can you tell me why the DNC and Hillary herself do not devote more care to the maintaining of a fair and less debated system, when the potential fallout is surely the loss of money, support, and perhaps even votes?

For party unity, this should be solved now, by bending over backwards to resolve these issues. If Hillary is as strong a candidate as you say she is, there should be no problem. And even I will admit she has done great in debates, so again, no problem. Why not join the call for more debates???? Would do a lot to remedy an extremely large potential stumbling block for the general election.

Wishful thinking? No, nobody wants to see Hillary lose the general, if she is the nominee. We just want a fair process.

[wyldwolf]

118. The left says that in every election year

But these defections are REALLY going to happen this time, huh?

[MattSh]

119. So the Democrats think the left are dumb beasts...

who can be kicked over and over again without any payback?

Geez, not even dumb beasts are that dumb.

[RBInMaine]

133. The ultra left kicks ITSELF over and over again by NOT VOTING and being the TEA LEFT.

You are talking about the TEA LEFT. The "left" are liberals who will overwhelmingly support the Dem nominee which will be Hillary and not a self declared socialist. The mega left, which is what you are talking about, are those who say Obama is a "Republican" and that Hillary is a "Republican" and who think a guy, well meaning as he is, can win the nomination as a self declared socialist. You are talking about the Ralph Nader crowd. The Dennis Kucinich crowd.

Last night's debate showed Hillary Clinton in FIRM command of the issues and brilliant and PROGRESSIVE as ever.

MANY in the far left don't even bother to vote in off cycle years, many do insane protest votes or whine and bitch and huff and puff rather than voting at all because of irrational purity or not being "excited" enough.

The vast majority of mainstream progressives will vote for the Dem nominee, and, again, it will be Hillary.

[highprincipleswork]

122. In short, yes. And lack of enthusiasm through similar tactics, has lost us many recent elections.

I'm really unsure where the cynical skepticism comes from. Yes, Bernie is a unique candidate, who truly advocates for the things we stand for and who has shown his support for years and years through word and action. O'Malley, really much the same.

How cynical are Hillary supporters, to not honor the passion of the other side? How blind to what is going on does someone have to be not to see and feel the passion and the numbers from the other side.

Lack of enthusiasm on the Democratic side has been happening for some time, because it is hard not to notice that Democrats either cave in to Republican positions during negotiations or actively support them during their campaigns! Do you really think that lack of enthusiasm does not lose our elections, lose us majorities in the House and the Senate, etc.? It obviously does.

And this time it's worse, because we are actively supporting two other candidates who we believe are more authentically going to advance a Progressive agenda.

Why not just create a level playing field, especially if your candidate is so f'ing good? The truth is, you don't have confidence in that. And so, the dirty tricks begin, the innuendo, the self-satisfaction in her numbers, the denial that the process looks and feels rigged, even to outside observers.

Yes, unless real efforts are made to make this a fair and level playing field and not an apparent coronation, I suspect you will see many defectors from the Democratic side. Some will not give money, some will not volunteer time, and some will not vote.

[brooklynite]

2. You realize that, in the real world outside the DU bubble, almost nobody knows what DLC was?

[cantbeserious]

6. And Is That Not The True Travesty - The Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks Want To Keep It That Way

eom

[Harmony Blue]

17. A lot of people know about the DLC

but not many know about the PNAC.

[Ned_Devine]

41. That's true...but if they did, can you imagine?

Most people think it's a financing company for buying cars

[Scootaloo]

61. You realize that too many of your arguments rely on "people are too stupid to know better"?

[JackInGreen]

102. And they'd love to keep it that way

I'm sure you agree.

[JaneyVee]

3. Yeah ok.

She will wipe the floor with Republicans.

[Dem2]

4. I couldn't disagree more

Her voice is very easy to listen to, while also being strong and convincing.

[Gloria]

5. Get your vision checked...

She was smart, quick, detailed....

Please, get off this vague schtick....

[Dawson Leery]

7. Sour grapes over her win tonight.

[Juicy_Bellows]

8. I do not think she can win a general either.

I hope we don't have to test that theory and put Sanders up.

If we don't well let me just say, bookmark this thread.

[Harmony Blue]

15. Agreed

Her foreign policy is unrealistic. Her spending spree she wants to go about is unrealistic. Her goals are unrealistic in the face of Republican obstructionism.

At least Obama has been pragmatic throughout his term. Hillary? She is full of wishful thinking.

[Juicy_Bellows]

19. I agree but I think her 'wishful thinking' is nothing more than window dressing.

I can't for the life of me think she will do anything that she says she might do. I tend to believe her when it comes to war and military intervention as she has a history for that. The good stuff? Well, color me periwinkle unconvinced (It's a new J-Crew color).

Cheers.

[DhhD]

139. At the debate last night, she was proud of what she left in Libya. Many died there.

It was the same mistake made by Bush administration in Iraq. In comes more war contractors to set up first for a Shiite government in Iraq and now a Sunni reformation/Plan to resettle displaced Daesh Sunni soldiers. Clinton is in the 1% and looks after her interest.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Well at least we agree on one thing. Sanders isn't going to be the nominee

[Beaverhausen]

10. Which republican, in your view, can beat her?

[Hepburn]

14. All but Carson.

[Beaverhausen]

20. Really? Fiorina? Paul? Jeb!

Well, you are entitled to your opinion of course.

[Hepburn]

25. No, add Paul and Fiorina...

...but IMO, even Jeb has a chance against her. Pretty sure tRump would beat her and so would Cruz and Rubio.

[EndElectoral]

47. I think Rubio could beat her if he can make traction in the primary.

Trump is an enigma to me. I am baffled at how he is still there, but I keep meeting people, even Democrats, who plan to vote for him over Clinton. It won't be as easy as many here predict.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. I'm bookmarking this for November 2016

I'll repost it then so we can all laugh.

[Harmony Blue]

18. I am going to be crying not laughing

it is going to be sad.

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. Uh huh

[jfern]

99. None of us are going to be laughing at Hillary's failed campaign

[DesertFlower]

12. i think she did very well. i've never been her

fan, but after watching debates and benghazi hearings i've changed.

still supporing bernie, but it's likely she will be prez.

[Robbins]

38. No

she will lose.independents don't like her,and some bernie supporters won't vote for her.

[onecaliberal]

56. Her negatives are very high. She can't win. Just look at numbers.

[pangaia]

39. I still think she is with the disaster capitalists.

We need more wars, er 'conflicts,' so Lockheed Martin can sell more weapons to destroy more stuff and maim more people. Then the construction companies they bought can rebuild and the health care companies they bought can heal the maimed...

The whole thing just sucks..

[Starry Messenger]

13. Nope.

[SheilaT]

16. I agree. What I don't think her supporters are understanding

is the depth of hatred of her out there. It's bad enough she's not universally loved within the Democratic Party, but never mind that. Most real Dems will vote for her if she wins the nomination. Although a significant percent probably won't, and that alone will probably cost her the general.

But it's the radical right that hates her viciously, and they'll come out and get everyone they know to come out and vote against her also.

Not to mention, no matter which of the many Republicans get elected, at least 40% of the electorate will think that guy (or gal if it plays out that way) is absolutely right about everything, won't have a clue to what extent they are voting against their own self interest, and they'll be cheering all the way to see Hillary go down in defeat. It will be ugly.

Of course, those who vote for Hillary in the primaries and caucuses will often be voting against their own self-interest also, but don't understand that.

[Harmony Blue]

21. That hatred is rooted to the fact that she IS the ESTABLISHMENT

She is a to the core exactly what everyone HATES about Washington right now.

Establishment Jeb Bush has gone down in flames. The sentiment in OUR country is ANTI ESTABLISHMENT.

Wake up people.

[SheilaT]

50. I think it's more fundamental than that.

She's a woman. A lot of the right, especially the far right and even more especially the religious right, really believes that women have no place in the public sphere on her own. It was just barely okay for them when she was the wife of the President and had the nerve to be an intelligent woman who wanted to perform as her husband's equal. They cannot stand that sort of thing.

But a woman as President? If she wins the nomination, you can be sure that all of the religious right will be making up bullshit about what the Bible says about women as proof that she shouldn't be President. And they'll make sure that they, and all of their wives and daughters, vote against her.

I do not believe in that religious crap, not in the least. I am not at all a fan of Hillary's, but that's because I think there are many reasons she's a very poor choice for President. While I do more or less understand the fierce devotion of her followers, I think they are completely blind to how she is perceived out there beyond their small circle.

[rjsquirrel]

128. It's misogyny straight up

Even on DU, it's because she's a woman.

The OP is a perfect example.

As if a grandpa socialist is what America clamors for!

Idealism and naïveté, heck of a drug.

[SheilaT]

143. To simplify the dislike of her, and to dismiss at

misogyny just ignores the depth of dislike for her. It is NOT purely misogyny. It isn't. It's really not.

People dislike her for her various policies, changeable as they are. They remember her Iraq War Vote. The recall how willing she is to bomb women and children.

Yes, for the extreme right, there is a strong element of misogyny, but don't think for one minute that a misogynist voting against her is still voting against her.

[rjsquirrel]

145. Yeah right

That's the ticket.

Go white guy!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

22. The hate is deep

The right wing dead will rise to vote against her

[Beaverhausen]

23. The radical right didn't hate Obama?

[Hepburn]

31. IMO, to me that was unfortunately hatred based on race and hidden as anti-liberal.

I strongly supported Obama and in one or two discussion I had, slips were made by those opposing him and it became clear it was racial. Lots of bigots out there...and some cannot hide it very well.

[Doctor_J]

35. Obama had all of the new voters. Hillary has gone out of her way to push them away

That is the big difference.

[SheilaT]

57. What Hepburn and Dr J said.

Yes, the radical right did hate Obama, but he drew in millions of new voters who were able to give him the votes needed to win. With Hillary, there's almost no new voters for her. And a lot of older voters -- by which I mean those who voted in 2008 and 2012, regardless of age -- who are very turned off by her and who may not bother to vote.

[brush]

26. But why is she consistently polling nearly double Sanders' numbers . . .

if she's so universally disliked?

Bernie can't seem to get past 30% — ever.

What's up with that?

[Robbins]

34. he has gotten over 30% in some national polls

i see your clinton supporter who uses them selectly.

[Hepburn]

46. I don't think she is and I do believe that the DNC stunt this week was done to hurt Sanders

because they know that Hillary's numbers are nowhere near what is being touted.

Back 8 years ago, I found people who were all over the place in supporting different candidates -- and not just Dems. Now? I often hear from people is how much they hate Hillary and they will not vote for her. I don't even know most of those who comment. I was a the grocery store the other day and someone say my BERNIE sticker and, wow, they launched into what a @#$% Hillary was. This gal was in my age group and she really lit up about Hillary. And...what's odd when this happens, her policies are not referred to...it's just a very personal hatred for her. I truly don't believe that she can win. And the Repukes scare me. IMO, if she is the nominee, we will lose.

[brush]

76. One grocery store anecdote does not disprove all the polls though

Why can't Sanders break through?

In '08 there were three major candidates that were within a few percentage points of each other in the polls — Obama, Hillary and Edwards.

Now, O'Malley notwithstanding, there are only two major candidates and Sanders won't benefit from picking up points like Obama did in '08 from Edwards' imploding campaign so that possibility is not on the horizon.

So why can't Sanders budge his numbers up?

[Hepburn]

82. That was only one example...

...the hatred is stated all the time. I get some anti-Hillary remark said to me on a regular basis. Never anti-Bernie, but a ton of anti-Hillary.

By this time 8 years ago, I saw some evidence of support of all the Dems. I live in L.A. County in a very populated area of the county and there are masses of people. I have not seen one Hillary sticker on any car anywhere. But, I have been confronted with positive statements re Bernie and statements of absolute hatred for Hillary. I have worked in political campaigns since JFK in 1960...and this is the first time that I am getting reactions like this. It just different and the hatred is there.

I don't think the numbers are right on.

[SheilaT]

58. It's also true that many polls show that

Bernie gets more votes against any of the likely Republican nominees than she does.

What's up with that?

[brush]

86. Not actually relevant though if he doesn't get to the general

He still does not poll anywhere near as high as Clinton does among dems, the ones who will be voting in the primaries.

That's what's up.

[SheilaT]

90. The other what's up is her negatives.

I've read more than once that a candidate with those sorts of negatives doesn't get elected.

I think that on the Democratic side there's a lot of romantic sighing over the possibility of a woman President, and not enough cold-eyed calculation about who should really be our nominee.

Keep in mind, that if there really were such a vast yearning for women in elective office, we'd have Governor Wendy Davis in Texas and Senator Alison Lundergan Grimes of Kentucky, just to name two. Hillary's main appeal to far too many people is that she might become the first woman President. There's a sense that okay, we've had the African American, so now it's a woman's turn. Well, as much as I'd love to see a woman in the Oval Office in my lifetime, I don't think Hillary Clinton is that woman.

If I turn out to be wrong, and if she gets the nomination and then is elected in the general election, I will still be mourning all the lost opportunities of Bernie Sanders, and know that we are simply in for four, maybe eight more years of same old same old.

[brush]

93. But you're acting as though all those repug clown car candidates don't have negatives

Trump has alienated everyone but his racist base with his anti-immigrant, anti-POC, anti-Muslim, anti-women utterances — negatives up the yin-yang.

Cruz, ditto.

Opposition research on Rubio, should he get to the general, will reveal more about his profligate spending of government money for personal use. And there are even rumors of his loose zipper and a love child being the result of that.

And to deny that Carson, with his "hammer to his mother's head" and trying to "stab a friend" stories, not to mention his belief that the pyramids were for grain storage foolishness is nothing but a walking, soft-talking negative is crazier than he is.

As for Jeb, forget it. He's a fading, single-digit laughing stock now who has proven dumber than W.
Can't get more negative than that.

Carly — "baby body parts". Need I say more?

Let's get past the Clinton hatred rhetoric of the Bernistas, Hillary, should she get the nomination, wins in a walk against any of these grease-painted bozos.

[SheilaT]

116. Yes, the Republican candidates all have their own negatives,

but not as great as the hatred for Hillary. And if you think that people here hate her, and it's just a tiny minority, you don't get it. It's not "Clinton hatred rhetoric of the Bernistas" that is out there. For one thing, there's a lot less Hillary hatred here than you think. But if she gets the nomination it will NOT be a walk against whoever the Republican nominee will be. Which of course is the case for whichever of our fine candidates gets nominated.

But Hillary is a known, deeply and widely disliked candidate. Not disliked that much on our side, but on theirs. And they will be voting.

[brush]

124. We outnumber them, remember.

And dems turn out big during presidential election cycles.

They got 33% of Latino votes in 2012, they'll be lucky to get 13% this time the way they've come out against immigration, not to mention Trump calling them rapists and criminals, etc.

We all know they're not getting but maybe, maybe, 5% of the African American vote.

I could go on with gays, progressive whites, women, Asians — they're not winning whether it's Hillary or Bernie.

[Hekate]

29. Are you saying we should let the radical right choose our Democratic candidate? They hate Obama.

They hated Bill Clinton. They hated JFK and LBJ. Who don't they hate?

Their hatred is seriously the very last criterion I would ever use in choosing which Democratic candidate to support.

[SunSeeker]

49. Exactly.

[SheilaT]

69. No. What a dumb suggestion.

But I do think the DNC needs to pull its collective head out if its collective ass and look at reality.

And that reality is that Clinton is a polarizing figure, with high negatives, who has alienated huge swaths of the electorate already, who bought the bullshit about Iraq and voted to go to war there, who has presided over the murder of thousands, or is it millions? of innocent civilians of all ages and both genders, and doesn't see anything wrong with that, who happily takes money from the very people who nearly destroyed our economy eight years ago and expects us to believe she can keep them from doing it again, who is so far removed from ordinary life that she just does not have a clue what the majority of Americans experience on a day to day basis.

We need to nominate someone who actually has this country, and its citizens, best interests at the very front of his campaign.

[KittyWampus]

45. LOL! There will NEVER be a Dem pol who will be universally loved in the party

So why you'd even type that sentence is a mystery.

Those who wouldn't vote for Clinton is a tiny percentage.

And Sanders would lose so badly, it'd be pitiful.

Republicans just need to find a photo of Sanders' office with the Soviet flag.

And since he doesn't know how to work well with others and has spent decades giving sanctimonious speeches and pointing fingers, he won't be able to build strong coalitions before the General.

[SheilaT]

73. You right that there will never be a Dem pol who

will be universally loved by the party. Even so, nominating someone with the incredible negatives that Clinton has isn't a very good idea.

And I suspect that those who won't vote for Clinton are far more than a tiny percentage. Plus, as EndElectoral points out in post 54, if the right turns out in droves to vote against her, we cannot count on the left turning out in similar droves to vote for her.

[EndElectoral]

54. Right will turn out in records to vote against her. Will left turn out in droves to vote for her?

I'm not so sure.

[Hepburn]

59. You summed it up exactly.

She is hated by so many and denying it does not make it go away.

[oberliner]

24. To whom?

What Republican do you imagine winning?

[Hekate]

27. Hillary will eat Trump's lunch and leave him crying. She's genuinely tough and smart...

He's just a blustering bully and braggart.

[AtomicKitten]

28. She may win the primary but many Democrats will write in somebody else in the general.

She WILL lose the general election.

[NYCButterfinger]

30. If it happens, blame the people that didn't turn out

[AtomicKitten]

36. No, we'll blame a crap candidate if she's the nominee. No more Third Way posers.

[pengu]

113. I'll blame everyone that voted for her in the primaries

[840high]

127. If it happens - it's Hillary's fault. No one elses.

[Hekate]

33. "Many" Democrats? How many?

[KittyWampus]

53. those aren't Democrats.They're sanctimonious, unrealistic idiots.

[Hepburn]

65. A lot of registered Dems came out to elect Ronnie Raygun...

...and whether they are unrealistic, sanctimonious and/or idiots, their votes counted and we got Raygun. Whether you wish to call them Dems or not...they voted for Raygun.

[alcibiades_mystery]

62. Temper tantrum

You'll be running to vote Clinton when you see what the GOPers put up.

RUNNING.

[Hepburn]

74. Most on the DU will, but we are not representative of the Dem party.

Nor are we representative of the general voting populous. Look at the numbers tRump is getting and then tell me that if he wins the GOP nomination somehow people will suddenly realize what a POS he is. Those of us on the DU know this already...but don't count on others thinking like we do.

[alcibiades_mystery]

77. Clinton will massacre Trump in the general

Sanders supporters are truly in a bizarre bubble to think otherwise.

[Hepburn]

79. I don't think she can beat him.

This has nothing to do with supporting Sanders. It has to do with the real hated for Hillary which is out there. Her negatives are too high to win the GE.

Edit for typo

[alcibiades_mystery]

81. Oh Lawd

Yes, everyone understands that Sanders supporters think Clinton's "negatives" are too high, or whatever the meme of the day might be on that. If it were remotely plausible, Sanders should be beating her handily. Instead, he's getting trounced in every poll. When Ms. Clinton has won every single one of the primary states, including Vermont, we'll hear a lot more about how she cannot possibly be elected. Impossible! Hatred out there! Favorables! What're Trump's favorables? Honestly, who can take this talking point seriously. It's almost self-insulting! "This person who is beating us in every poll is deeply disliked by the populace!" Do you get how fucking stupid that sounds?

[Hepburn]

84. Well, you seem confident...but I do believe you are going to be very disappointed.

You sound like you are rather upset...guess you can only swear at me and not discuss rationally. So, i will says, "Bye."

[alcibiades_mystery]

85. Buh bye

[grossproffit]

120. +1 SMH

[brush]

87. Come on! And Trump doesn't have negatives?

He's alienated everyone but his racist, anti-immigrant, anti-muslim, anti-women, anti_POC base with his pronouncements.

Remember, there are more dems than repugs and we turn out in presidential election cycles.

She'll trounce Trump.

TROUNCE TRUMP!

Hey, that has a nice ring to it.

[okasha]

89. Getting blisters.

And it's already obvious that if Trump wins the R nomination, sensible Republicans will crawl naked over broken glass to vote for Hillary because she's demonstrably sane. They won't do it for someone who has labelled himself a socialist, even if he really isn't one.

[KittyWampus]

32. and the guy who had a Soviet flag in his office is going to win?

lolz

[Harmony Blue]

55. You can lolz all you want

but I am writing Bernie's name in.

I know many others that will do the same.

[alcibiades_mystery]

60. Oh my

[KittyWampus]

63. someone used to have a self-immolation smilie

wish I had it now

[alcibiades_mystery]

67. It's funny that whats-'is-name ended up getting the shitcan over nothing

Couldn't keep his temper straight as his candidate shit the bed. Too bad, so sad.

Looks like it will be a trend.

Ta-ta.

[MineralMan]

111. You go on with your bad self, then.

Vote as you please. Like the rest of us, you just get one vote. Throw it away if you choose. Up to you.

[leftofcool]

144. Only those in the DU world

Democrats outside the DU bubble will vote for Hillary when she is the nominee.

[lunamagica]

37. I didn't see that at all. I found her brillliant, knowlegeable and easy to listen to

she has a warm smile and a hearthy, genuine laugh.

She's going to win the general election

[jfern]

40. Her wanting to take out Assad while ISIS and Al Qaeda are running around

shows that she's in way over her head.

[AuntPatsy]

42. I thought she came off tonight more genuine than I've witnessed in the past, we cannot

always walk away from family or friends no matter how much we might want to. It will not be easy for any of them once knighted...

I must admit also that I have reservations on any and all politicians considering the world they have chosen to live in the same way I have reservations on anyone no matter who they are or who they seem to represent..

I have yet to meet someone even remotely deserving of the label of perfection...

JMHO

[Jarqui]

44. I think the GOP will rip her to pieces

[KittyWampus]

66. they've been trying for decades and always come out looking stupid.

[Jarqui]

83. 60% of Americans don't trust her

only about 4% of GOP will vote for her (really low number).
Independents favor GOP candidates over Clinton

When the Kochs get finished with her, it could be pretty ugly.

[Bonobo]

48. You can pretend that "likability" isn't a problem, but that doesn't make it so.

She is not just not likable. She is actively DIS-liked by many people.

Those things are not meaningless.

The only saving grace is that I have never seen an election when the Repubs had their shit together less than they do now.

[leftofcool]

51. You wish!

[JoePhilly]

52. Your concern is noted.

And then immediately dismissed for being ridiculous.

[Harmony Blue]

64. Hillary Clinton is more radioactive than Jeb Bush

and it doesn't matter how many times Jeb! call Trump a jerk. People don't like him.

Hillary's image has been set in stone with the general public. The general election will go like a lead balloon.

Dark days ahead.

[JoePhilly]

70. Nonsense.

[alcibiades_mystery]

71. Should be easy enough for Senator Sanders to beat her, then

Your entire theory can be verified by the results of the primary. If Ms. Clinton is nearly universally despised, as you claim, then Senator Sanders would be a poor candidate indeed if he didn't make quick work of her in the primary. And yet...

[Agnosticsherbet]

68. So you are saying Trump and the clowns come of as genuine and are never abrasive?

LOL

[840high]

130. Trump has a message that some Americans are lapping up.

[Agnosticsherbet]

132. Anyone that laps Trump's message would never vote for a Democrat of any kind.

[840high]

140. Of course. But there are many, many people who like what

Trump is saying. Even some dems and independents.

[Agnosticsherbet]

141. Democrats who like Trump. That puts the "only" in DINO.

If people find Trumps message stirring, they will not vote for a Democrat.

Now, I do heard of Republicans that will vote for Clinton if Trump or Cruz get the nomination. Mind you, I've never seen one of hose creatures, so I consider them almost as mythical as Unicorns that shit rainbows.

[KentuckyWoman]

72. I think it's anyone's guess.

Middle income people from my part of the world are pretty disgusted with both sides. Everyone promises to make it better but times just seem to get harder.

Whether they vote or not is up for grabs. If so, who they vote for is equally up for grabs. Some red states are more purple than given credit for.

[Thinkingabout]

75. She will win the primary and if the hate brings votes to another in the GE

It may be possible to have a Republican in the WH. I dont see those posting they will not be supporting the DNC nominee then there will be more posting privileges revoked.

[Android3.14]

78. Your probably right. The smart money is on Bernie

Maybe O'Malley as well, who did sound good tonight.

[Historic NY]

80. She'll win ....

[Beacool]

88. Well, this was entertaining.

[CoffeeCat]

91. She does come off as abrasive...

...and many of her supporters, especially online, come off as abrasive.

If you care about what people think about you, and if you care about how you make them feel--then those things do matter.

As far as her GE chances, she polls at six percent with Independents. Six. That stat alone makes it impossible for her to win.

A Presidential candidate cannot win the White House with only six percent from Independent voters.

[MADem]

94. Bernie Sanders apologized for the conduct of his staff, and she was gracious in how she accepted

his apology.

You know, I almost never hear men described as "abrasive." It's one of those GIRL WORDS that is a substitute for "forceful," or "decisive" or "matter-of-fact."

I thought she came off great at the debate tonight. So did the vast majority of watchers. She was IN COMMAND of that stage.

May the force be with her!

As for your "six percent" claim, extraordinary claims call for extraordinary proof. You're going to have to back up your assertions with a link. Gosh, I just can't believe Nate Silver's crew missed THAT all-important statistic....

-- quite deliberately, too.

[doc03]

92. I think it will be very hard to beat the Republicans this year no matter

who is nominated.

[doc03]

100. I have seen polls quoted where Republicans win. All it would take is one

really bad terrorist attack anywhere here or in Europe. If Wall Street melts down again like many
people are predicting all bets are off. The country wants a change, we have had 8 years of Democratic
administrations. The economic recovery has been very slow, wages are stagnant and the ME is a mess and
Obama seems to be at a loss to know what to do about it. Even though Republicans are responsible for most of the above people have a short memory.

[doc03]

109. I have seen both. But it is extremly unlikely you get a person from the same party

elected after 8 years in office.

[doc03]

105. Hillary is not Bill, most Democrats I know either will vote for the Republican

or at best not vote at all. Sanders does better in some polls against Republicans but he has had a free
ride, the Republicans have focused all their attention on Hillary. If Sanders is nominated and the Republican
media machine works on him he won't have a chance.

[doc03]

110. If Democrats get out and vote they win, the hard part is getting them to vote.

[Douglas Carpenter]

97. that is hard to say. But, I am afraid it is quite possible. I certainly don't want

Ted Cruz or Donald Trump's finger on the nuclear button and appointing a generation of federal and Supreme Court judges. And I am certain that the establishment meme will be that Hillary lost because she was too liberal and thus the Party must move even farther to the right. I have seen this all before and I know that this is exactly what they will do.

[RBInMaine]

98. Bullshit. Please, enough of this bullshit.

[MineralMan]

103. Is that what you're hoping for?

If so, I believe you will suffer some disappointment next November. Ah, well...

[randome]

106. Relax. Read a book.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[DesertRat]

107. I disagree with you

I think she comes across as genuine and pleasant, not abrasive at all. She also seems strong and intelligent.

[JustAnotherGen]

112. We'll see n/t

[riversedge]

114. Yes, but remember, she now has

the force with her.

[Ferd Berfel]

115. Clinton will get NO republicans to cross over and vote for her regardsless of how insane THEIR

candidate is.

Bernie will, and always does, get some republicans to vote for him, regardless of the wing-nut up against him. THe more insane the republican nominee in teh general, the MORE republicans that will cross over. They aren't ALL stupid.

I know several republicans that actually like this attitude..........:

[Nonhlanhla]

125. There are some Republicans that wil vote for Hillary

Some of the more sane Republicans are quite likely to vote for Hillary, but not necessarily for Bernie. There are some Republicans who will vote for Bernie, of course, due to his personal traits, although quite a few will likely change their minds once the GOP has torn him to shreds in the general campaign and depicted him as the second coming of Karl Marx. There are, however, other Republicans who will vote for Hillary, especially if Trump or Rubio is the GOP candidate. I've talked to a few like that. How many, is difficult to say. But this simplistic narrative that Bernie is so much more likeable and will therefore charm everyone to vote for him, is simply not realistic.

[HereSince1628]

136. I don't think that's true. I expect r's like Jeb! to vote for her

Not really much distance between them and the center, and there seems to be some real horror about racism/xenophobia. That suggests they are almost neoliberals.

[Hiraeth]

147. At one time I thought moderate Rs (especially women) would vote for HRC but,

after talking with some moderate R women I am finding that is NOT the case. Anecdotal evidence, I know ...

They actually use the word HATE, as in: "I hate her."

[beaglelover]

121. If you say so, but I doubt it greatly.

[DrDan]

123. yet she has a massive lead in the polls

[thereismore]

126. No she won't. She won't be in the general election. nt

[RBInMaine]

129. She is, um, up 30% in national polling. Welcome to reality.

[840high]

134. Almost a year to go. 1 more

terrorist attack and we're screwed.

[thereismore]

135. National polling doesn't matter at this point. Ask Obama. Hell, ask Hillary. nt

[brooklynite]

142. Okay, she's ahead in every State except New Hampshire.

[NCTraveler]

131. It's interesting to hear...

A Sanders supporter make it about abrasive personality. That really is transparent.

[Dan]

137. And if by chance that comes about

Given the GOP candidates - what will happen in this nation with a GOP POTUS, Congress, and SCOTUS, combined with a majority of State houses? just curious...

[Attorney in Texas]

138. Clinton WILL NOT lose in the general election if we nominate Sanders!

[bobGandolf]

146. Maybe

It all depends on who the republican candidate is. If Trump is, she will win, because he will implode at some point. Same with Cruz. Rubio she will find the dirt on him.