BREAKING: Proof that Republicans in MS voted for Hillary strategically

[mckeown1128]

the percentage of Republican identifiers voting in Democratic nomination contests has increased significantly in recent weeks -- from 4 percent in states that held primaries in January and February to 9 percent in the March 4 primaries to 12 percent in Mississippi on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hillary Rodham Clinton's support among Republicans (in the states where the Republican subgroup was large enough to merit reporting) rose from 31 percent in January and February to 48 percent on March 4 to 75 percent in Mississippi. Overall, 9 percent of the Mississippi Democratic primary voters were self-identified Republicans who voted for Clinton.


The exit poll interviewed 147 Mississippi Democratic primary voters who supported Clinton but identified themselves as Republicans:

85 percent rated John McCain favorably, and 58 percent had a "strongly" favorable opinion of him
41 percent said they would be dissatisfied if Clinton were the Democratic nominee.
56 percent said Clinton has not "offered clear and detailed plans to solve the country's problems."
62 percent said Clinton does not inspire them "about the future of the country."
72 percent said Clinton is not "honest and trustworthy."
Taken together, these results suggest that a significant number of the Clinton Mississippi Republicans -- perhaps half or more -- plan to support McCain in November. But did these Republicans just turn out to assist McCain by prolonging the Democratic fight or boosting a candidate they consider easier to beat?

The exit poll suggests another motivation. These Clinton Republicans also expressed very negative views of Barack Obama:

91 percent said Clinton is more qualified to be commander in chief; only 3 percent said Obama is more qualified.
94 percent said Obama does not inspire them "about the future of the country."
89 percent would be dissatisfied if Obama were the Democratic nominee.
86 percent said Obama is not "honest and trustworthy."
86 percent said Obama has not "offered clear and detailed plans to solve the country's problems."
82 percent said Clinton should not pick Obama to be her running mate if she is the nominee.

http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/mysterypollster/2008/031208.htm

Sadly it shows that their motivation isn't to give her the nomination but to deny Obama the nomination. Deep south republicans that have put aside their ridiculous Clinton hatred to keep a likable scandal free black man out of the white house... Gee... I wonder what their motivation could be... hmmm...

Personal note... I grew up in Louisiana... I KNOW there are MANY people who would go rabid...to keep a black politician out of office. Racism in the deep south is a not so secrete thing. You can't go to someones house for dinner with out hearing about the latest "black" outrage. (Southern whites...use VERY different words) The level of racism is HORRIBLE.

[tekisui]

1. Mississippi is MS, MI is Michigan.

Just to avoid confusion.

[mckeown1128]

2. Thanks... I don't know what I was thinking...

:)

[UALRBSofL]

20. The other question is why was

The white vote split but the black vote went 93% to Obama?

[ProSense]

3. "41 percent said they would be dissatisfied if Clinton were the Democratic nominee."

Unfrigginbelievable!

[itcfish]

4. Hello?

The republicans did the same in Texas voting for Obama. You people don't get it yet. The republicans are manipulating our nomination process.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Nope. The "Rush" Republicans came out in huge numbers for Hillary

and there's evidence they did the same thing in OH. As for the "you people" you refer to, I take it you mean Obama supporters, right? I don't think there's anyone here who would deny that Republicans have set about to determine our nominee which is exactly what the o.p. confirms?

[MonkeyFunk]

6. If only real, registered democrats

were allowed to vote, Clinton would be leading.

You guys wanna have it both ways - you want republican votes for your guy, but denounce them for Clinton. Nonetheless, Obama has gained more from republican votes than Clinton has.

[Hepburn]

9. Link?

[MonkeyFunk]

18. You won't like the source

http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=27036


but she does provide references.

[Exilednight]

10. Let's get this right. I want them to vote for my guy in both elections. You know what they say....

once you go crat, you never go back.

[salbi]

15. There is a difference, Rush's republicans will not vote for Hillary in the GE

Both candidates have had republicans vote for them. I personally know 3 life long republicans who have voted for Obama. From what they've told me it was a hard decision but they really feel the country is headed in the wrong direction and that it is time for a change. It may have been more of a vote against McCain than a vote for Obama but it is a vote they plan on repeating in November. That is totally different from republicans voting for Hillary in the primary because Rush told them to and knowing they plan on voting or McCain in the GE. I'm NOT saying that Hillary doesn't have any true cross overs, I'm sure she does, but if you subtract the Rush votes, they would be far less than what is being reported.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. Yeah, and you guys pitched hissyfits all over the DU...

Listen I don't care that Clinton's getting crossover votes, but if you remove the blinders, even you will have to admit that TX, OH & MS were orchestrated by rightwing talk radio, and benefited Hillary. Is that a bad thing? Only if they don't plan on voting for her in the GE, and according to those exit polls, they clearly don't.

I don't think I've seen an exit poll anywhere that suggests Obama got that kind of support from Republicans who were just out to create mischief. I will gladly relent if you can provide proof to the contrary.

[MonkeyFunk]

19. I don't think you can

accurately gauge the motives of the crossover votes.

Here's my solution - don't let people who aren't Democrats vote in Democratic primaries. Period.

[mckeown1128]

21. I disagree...

Many independents are loyal Democratic voters... they should have a say too. And I know from personal experience that it is a good thing to have Republicans vote in the primary. My wife is a republican and she voted for Obama (Georgia). My wife will vote for him in the GE... she will not vote in the GE if it is Hillary VS. McCain. She even said she plans on changing her party affiliation if Obama is the nominee. This is proof as to the advantages in having outsiders get a say. Each state chooses their own rules for this. If you have a problem with your states primary/caucus then take it up with your state party officials.

[Exilednight]

8. Do you have a link to exit polling that supports that statement?

[high density]

11. We people need a link showing the Republicans did the same thing to Obama in TX

Thanks.

Looking at the CNN exit poll, TX Republicans were 9% of the vote, went 46% Clinton, 53% Obama. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#val=TXDEM

[Eurobabe]

13. There is no such thing as democracy

it is an illusion to keep the masses happy. I start to think when I hear shit like this, that voters are fucking with each other's primary process. The whole thing make me sick. Why do we bother to vote at all? Really?

[mohc]

7. A few mitigating factors

In a previous post here I detailed how the Republican vote in MS likely shifted Obama's delegate win down to just 5 from a possible 13 with a more typical Republican turnout. But we do need to keep a few things in mind. 1) The Republican race is now over, and we have to expect greater Republican turnout in open primaries now. If Clinton were ahead at this point, the Republicans might be voting for Obama now, meaning they do not support Clinton so much as they support prolonging the Democratic race. 2) Mississippi is just the first state after McCain clinched the nomination (Republicans already had their contest in Wyoming), so we can not necessarily assume we will see the same turnout in other states. In other words, Mississippi is a heavily Republican state, so maybe this skews the results. 3) On a more basic level, this is one exit poll, and basing any broad conclusions on it would be somewhat suspect.

With those items in mind, it is still something we are going to have to watch. For the remaining contests, even the closed ones, there is a large potential for a spoiler effect. The race is close enough that Republican turnout can change who wins in a state, or at the very least shift the delegate allocation. In closed races, the registration deadlines have mostly not past yet (PA is the 24th I believe), and it gives Republicans wanting to mess with those contests enough time to change their affiliation. The one thing we have on our side is enthusiasm, so long as Democratic turnout remains strong I do not believe Republicans wanting to spoil the primaries are going to have enough impact to change its direction. They may change the margin, but unless something unexpected happens, its not going to be close enough to matter.

[Exilednight]

12. Yes, but there is something else the OP points out that you are missing......

repugs that vote for Obama will more than likely vote for Obama in the GE. The same can not be said about the repugs who voted for Hillary.

[mohc]

14. I don't disagree

All I was saying, which the OP does allude to, is that we should not see this so much as Republicans boosting Clinton so much as Republicans boosting the candidate in second place. Their only goal is to weaken the Democratic nominee regardless of whom it is, so that McCain has a better chance. That and we should not read too much into MS results alone, as they may not be too representative of what happens elsewhere. The best we can read from the results in MS is what Republicans did in MS alone, and that is probably costing Obama a net of 8 delegates.

[cooolandrew]

16. Please let all repub voters koow DNC are fining for temporary corss over they sign up they at least

stay to Nvember. So they should be careful what they wish for.