The "non-Hillary vote"

[mrgorth]

First I want to state that I have been supporting Obama AND Edwards from the beginning. If either of them came out of this thing I'd be happy and that's till the case. Likewise, I won't insult Edwards or his supporters by claiming he should drop out or that they are hurting things. That said, the story that is not being told is that, besides Obama only being, what, 3 percentage points away from Hillary in NH, Edwards also got like 17% of the vote. That's a whole lot of "not-Hillary". Where does everyone (ie. puindits) think that support is going to go if either Obama or Edwards become unviable? Again, I'm not asking for anyone to stop supporting anyone. Just asking for an acknowledgement of reality.

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. I know. last week when Edwards was claiming second place

victory over Clinton, failing to mention that it was by .3%, I said the same thing. Let's get some perspective.

[wyldwolf]

2. On the other hand...

... that was, like, 83% of "Not Edwards" votes and, what... 37% of "not Obama" votes?

[ellisonz]

3. I think we'll find out in Nevada to an extent.

S.C. will be a whole different affair since that's Edwards home turf to an extent in the way that Iowa was Obama's and NH Hillary's.

Those two indices combined should either force Edwards out or greatly deflate his campaign going into Feb. 5.

[mrgorth]

5. I think HRC

owns NV and I'm nervous about that. What I've heard regarding SC is that the african-americans would only vote Obama if they thought he could win, which losing in NV would not help. Then again you have the Edwards support. No one seems to be mentioning MI, which seems to happen before NV. Is that because they get no delegates? Even so I think it should help momentum. Who looks good in MI?

[ellisonz]

8. There hasn't been a poll of Nevada in a month.

Michigan's delegates will not be seated at the convention because they moved their caucus ahead of Feb. 5 without DNC permission and Obama and Edwards both pulled out. Hillary is still on the ballot but there should be a sizable uncommitted vote. If Michigan helps her momentum I weep for America.

There is no reason to suspect that Hillary "owns" Nevada. Plus it's a caucus so Obama will likely get second choice support.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/nv/nevada_democratic_caucus-236.html

[mrgorth]

9. I hope you're right

But Obama would only get 2nd choice support from those not viable, and that's even if their process is like IA's which I don't know.

[ellisonz]

17. I'm positive it is.

[mrdemocrat78]

16. MI doesn't count

the had their delegates stripped

[Dawgs]

4. I think it would depend on Edwards(or Obama) asking their supporters to support the other guy.

The anti-Hillary sentiment is pretty strong among many Democrats.

Edwards poor showing in NH might convince some of his supporters to move to Obama anyway.

[peacebird]

6. as an Edwards supporter, he has my support in the primary. I don't get to vote til tsunami Tuesday

in the general my support will go to Edwards or Obama - whichever wins the nomination.

If Hillary wins the nomination then I will write in Al Gore.

I won't be happy about it, and I will know exactly what I am doing, but I will NOT vote for Hillary. Ever.

[hayu_lol]

7. Peacebird, according to your logic...

If Obama or Edwards becomes the nominee, perhaps those of us who support any Dem candidate...should just throw our votes to Huckleberry.

Think about it. Gore is not running.

[peacebird]

10. those who support "any" Dem candidate may vote for the nominee. As for me

I will vote for any Dem nominee except Hillary.

I know Al Gore isn't running, would you prefer it if I wrote in someone else? Or I can just vote for everything on the ballot except president...

[bushisdirt]

11. Me neither. I will write in Gore also

dd

[rox63]

12. I know a lot of people who voted and will vote against HRC

Both Democrats and Republicans, and they don't want to see HRC get the nomination. They will vote ABH in November if she is the nominee. Personally, I will vote for whoever the Dem nominee is, even if it is HRC. This country can't afford another repuke admin after all the damage * has done.

I'm hoping for Edwards to throw his support to Obama, when he realizes that he won't win the nomination.

[mrgorth]

13. Agreed

The problem is if the anti-Hillary vote doesn't combine soon it could be bad.

[papau]

14. there are a lot of people who voted and will vote FOR Hillary - it's called an election - if you

prefer any GOP nominee to any Democratic nominee, perhaps DU - a Democratic site - is not your cup of tea?

[rox63]

15. I said I will vote for whoever the Dem nominee is, including HRC

Check the dictionary for any words you didn't understand.