Robert Reich: if your chosen candidate doesn't win, will you support the other one?

[dana_b]

From his FB page:
I was struck last night by the aggressiveness of the debate between Bernie and Hillary – perfectly understandable and appropriate at this stage. But it caused me to wonder how easy it will be for Hillary supporters to turn their support to Bernie, should he become the Democratic nominee, and vice versa.
So this morning I did a small survey. I called several friends, three who support Bernie and three who support Hillary, and asked them. All of my three Hillary friends said Bernie wouldn’t be the nominee so the question was irrelevant. Of my three Bernie friends, one said he’d support Hillary if she were the nominee; another said she would not; the third said he’d have to think about it.
How easy will it be for you to switch your support?

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"All of my three Hillary friends said Bernie wouldn’t be the nominee so the question was irrelevant." - wow..... that is what turns my stomach. It's just audacious. I would love to see their faces with the new poll figures coming out.

Reading the replies, it seems that most would support either candidate. There are a few who would consider the Green party or not voting but most can't bring themselves to not vote.

[onecaliberal]

1. It's that exact attitude from them that would give so many pause to support her.

[Bjornsdotter]

2. Hard to say

Mr Bjornsdotter will never vote for Hillary....he will vote for Stein

The 26 year old girl child will not vote Hillary, leaning towards Stein

The 28 year old boy child will not vote Hillary claims he would rather vote for Vermin Supreme. I hope he was joking.

However, the GE is a long way away.

[dana_b]

3. yeah, it is a long ways away

My daughter and her boyfriend say they won't vote for Clinton either but we'll see once the nomination is decided. Lots can change in the meantime.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. I can't believe Sydney's Voluptuous Buttocks is getting (are getting?) so little support. nt

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. Hillary won't be the nominee, so the question is irrelevant.

[Freddie]

5. If the next president is Repug

He will have a Repug Congress and most likely Senate as well.
Kiss health care goodbye. Ditto women's rights, union rights, workplace protections, minimum wage, SS and Medicare. R's controlling all 3 branches of government will be salivating to take away any progress this country has made from FDR on.
The people who won't vote if "their" candidate loses the primary are traitors to their fellow humans, sorry.
I'm 60 years old. If the R's get full power and destroy the country, I'm too old to see the pendulum swing back. Maybe my grandchildren will.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

7. Doesn't really matter if you think they're traitors.

You go to the polls with the voters you've got, not the voters you wish you had.

If a large segment of your voters is warning you in advance that they simply won't vote for one of your possible candidates, and you go ahead and nominate that candidate anyway, you're every bit as much to blame as they are when that nominee loses. You were told in advance, but you choose to go down the path to electoral defeat, it's on you.

[Freddie]

13. Some people would rather watch the GOP destroy our country

Comforting.
I will vote for the Democratic candidate in the general. Sitting home or voting 3rd party is the same as voting Republican as far as the outcome.

[dana_b]

8. Nightmare!!

Don't be sorry - it's something that everyone needs to look at. Voting is not just about one's self. It's for all people. It really hit home for me when I was in Europe a couple of weeks ago and so much of their news covers our politics and elections. They feel VERY invested in it because what we do affects them so much.

[TIME TO PANIC]

9. All I can guarantee is that I'll vote democrat down ticket.

I plan on voting for Sanders in the primary and the general election.

[jillan]

10. I will vote FOR Bernie. If he is not the nominee I will vote AGAINST the GOP nominee.

[Freddie]

15. Thank you

Sometimes you vote for a candidate and sometimes against.

[Rebkeh]

11. There's one point left out of the 'will they vote/not vote' conversation

For those in swing states, it's important they vote for whoever wins the primary. But for someone in a deep red, staunch republican state, it matters a lot less.

[dana_b]

12. and the solid blue states as well n/t

[Rebkeh]

14. Yes! That too nt

[Bernin4U]

16. RR's findings are so perfect!

HRH supporters avoid the question. Bernie supporters have to dig deep to determine their tolerance levels.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. Yes, I found them fascinating too

Her supporters are as arrogant as she is.

[LiberalArkie]

17. At least in New Hampshire there will be real numbers for people to look at and compare

the D vs R, Clinton vs Sanders vs Obama. Caucus's do not give much information, just is the public interested in a candidate.

[ladyVet]

18. I'll write in Bernie if I have to (I won't, because he's going to win), or vote Green.

I am perilously close to 60, and I also can't wait for the pendulum to swing back. Neither can my parents, nor my children. So getting Bernie in office is an imperative. It must happen.

"Not as Bad" doesn't do it for me any more. I'm not holding my nose and voting for the lesser of two evils, because that's still voting for evil. Hillary will be just as bad for us as any Republican. If anyone seriously thinks she won't put Social Security, Medicare and welfare on the chopping block, you're either foolish or stupid. Or both.

And that's not even considering the perpetual war machine she favors. Sooner or later, there will be a draft. Even taking away all the decent jobs won't get enough people enlisting to fight the wars for profit her handlers want.

[Pastiche423]

19. Same here, but I'm 61

Two years ago I told my friends that no matter what happened, I was going to vote for Bernie even if I had to write him in.