Gallup: 28% of Clinton backers, 19% of Obama backers will desert to McCain if their choice loses nom

[DeepModem Mom]

Gallup: March 26, 2008
If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers Go for McCainIf McCain vs. Clinton, 19% of Obama backers go for McCain
by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for Hillary Clinton supporters, more than a quarter of whom currently say they would vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee.

These conclusions are based on an analysis of Democratic voters' responses to separate voting questions in March 7-22 Gallup Poll Daily election tracking....

***

The data suggest that the continuing and sometimes fractious Democratic nomination fight could have a negative impact for the Democratic Party in next November's election. A not insignificant percentage of both Obama and Clinton supporters currently say they would vote for McCain if he ends up running against the candidate they do not support.

It is unknown how many Democrats would actually carry through and vote for a Republican next fall if their preferred candidate does not become the Democratic nominee. The Democratic campaign is in the heat of battle at the moment, but by November, there will have been several months of attempts to build party unity around the eventual nominee -- and a focus on reasons why the Republican nominee needs to be defeated.

Additionally, some threat of deserting the party always takes place as party nomination battles are waged, and this threat can dissipate....

Still, when almost 3 out of 10 Clinton supporters say they would vote for McCain over Obama, it suggests that divisions are running deep within the Democratic Party. If the fight for the party's nomination were to continue until the Denver convention in late August, the Democratic Party could suffer some damage as it tries to regroup for the November general election....

http://www.gallup.com/poll/105691/McCain-vs-Obama-28-Clinton-Backers-McCain.aspx

[depakid]

If that's so- then it's time for people (and especially superdelegates) to start looking

for a compromise candidate endorsed by both at a deadlocked convention.

[Nitrogenica]

1. Like, for example, the Republicans who voted for Hillary because Rush told them too?

They will vote for her before they vota against her.

There's a damn talking point.

[LakeSamish706]

2. I would believe that when I see it... Just don't think that is going to happen when push...

comes to shove. When Democrats begin to see what McCain stands for, there is no way in hell they will vote for him.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. I was pleased that point was made near the end of the article --

that this, I guess, is maybe standard in primary races.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Half of that is bluster

the rest are flakes.

[caledesi]

4. I agree! NT

[LSdemocrat]

6. This is why McCain needs to be ripped to shreds sooner rather than later

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

10. I agree.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

7. I sure as hell won't be one of them!

[texastoast]

8. Stupid lockstepping Democrats

I hope they are going to be happy with what they get. With that kind of attitude, THEY deserve McLame.

[Devlzown]

9. I heard that earlier on MSNBC.

I was surprised that the negatives were so high and also that they were higher in the Clinton camp. The Clintons are really going scorched-earth here. What surprises me the most is that they are going to vote for McCain! There's going to be a Green candidate, a Socialist candidate, and who knows how many others -- why not just withhold your vote but spit in America's eye while you do it. I just don't get that kind of nastiness.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. you would think that they would vote for a green?

[Juche]

12. How are those numbers figured

Assume 1/3 of democrats support Clinton, 1/3 support Obama and 1/3 will vote for whoever gets the nomination. That means at most 1/12 of democrats will vote GOP this election, which is still a huge number (5 million or more).

However, how much of that is bluster and how many of those people will come around by November when it truly sinks in what McCain stands for?

[jettison]

13. The takeaway

Bitterness and retribution is more important to 1 out of every 4 Hillary supporters then actually who gets to run their country.

This is kind of like the jaded, jilted lover who says to his ex, "If I can't have you, then nobody will!" before taking her life.

And to you Obama supporters who would then vote for McCain... what the hell is wrong with you? You are voting for your favorite super hero or your next American Idol. You're voting for a candidate who will impose policies that make a future impact on yourself and your family. Wake up!

[Kahuna]

14. More of Obama voters won't vote for anybody. Har! nt

[Bumblebee]

15. Remember this?

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/01/629273.aspx

Posted: Friday, February 01, 2008 12:45 PM by Domenico Montanaro

This morning, Obama said Clinton supporters would vote for him but the reverse would not be true.




Kinda presumptuous of him, don't you think?