Who REALLY Beats McCain? Does Hillary Have an Electability Problem?

[Barack_America]

They all claimed during the debate that they have the best numbers against McCain. A fact-check shows that only one may have been telling the truth.

Fact Check: Hillary beating them higher?
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 5:39 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Democrats, 2008, Democratic debates

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
There have been some fact checks already on last night's debate, but here's another. Last night, Clinton said the following: "...et me just get in here, because there are a lot of polls showing that I'm beating them higher than anybody else. I don't think that has -- I don't think, frankly, that has much to recommend this far from an election."

That came following John Edwards citing that he's the only one to beat John McCain in a CNN poll, which, by the way, as we pointed out last night, is more than a month old. (It was conducted Dec. 6-9.)

But what is behind Clinton's claim that she's "Beating them higher than anybody else?" "A lot of polls?" What polls are they citing? Here are the most recent reliable ones that rebut that claim.

USA Today/Gallup (Jan. 10-12): Clinton does beat Huckabee 51-45, but loses to McCain 50-47. Obama, though, beats Huckabee by a WIDER margin, 53-43, but does lose to McCain 50-45.

Diageo/Hotline (Jan. 10-12): Obama BEATS McCain 43-42 and Clinton loses 48-45. And Obama down the line beats Huckabee, Romney and Giuliani by wider margins than Clinton.

Reuters/Zogby (Jan. 10-11): McCain beats Clinton 47-42. Clinton beats the other Republicans, BUT Obama beats them by wider margins. And even though McCain beats him also, it's by a narrower margin than he beats Clinton, 45-53.

More

If you're interested, check out the following link, which shows Obama beating EVERY potential Republican nominee by a wider margin than Hillary:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/national.html

[ccpup]

1. historically, head-to-head Polls tend to change

once the Dem and repug nominees are decided. So, these Polls right now are quite meaningless. Besides, I thought Obama was sticking to the issues now and not referencing Polls? :shrug:

[hedgehog]

2. So, polls showing Hillary winning: GOOD, polls showing Obama winning:BAD

Hillary supporters uusing polls :GOOD

Obama supporters using polls: BAD

[ccpup]

9. didn't mention Polls were bad or good

just stated that historically head-to-head Polls like this change once the nominees are decided.

If you're going to make an amateur attempt to twist my words, at least do with a bit of talent and creativity. What you offered was just weak.

[Barack_America]

3. In response to the following incorrect thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4171342&mesg_id=4171342

[Rydz777]

4. No Democrat has an electability problem this year. eom

[Barack_America]

11. With all due respect, I disagree. n/t

[rateyes]

5. Any polls showing any of the three winning against McCain

every time?

[kickitup]

6. Yes, she does.

For what it's worth, the general consensus among the freepers is that Obama would be harder to beat. They like seeing him get her all worked up, but then they check themselves and say they want her to win the primary.

[Blackhatjack]

7. Polls or not, Edwards is the only Candidate who WILL BEAT all Repub Candidates...

... and the issue of 'electability' is definitely important in this race.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Thank you! nt

[doc03]

12. I agree with you. I don't understand, the

Republicans always play to their base in the primary. Look at McCain he was always known as the maverick and the last 8 years he has sucked up to the right wing and it looks like he will be their nominee. The Democrats always play to the right wing of the party and lose. Most of the Democrats in this area will tell you they will never vote for Hillary or Obama and there ain't no Republican that will. Myself I possibly could vote for Hillary but there is no way I would vote for Obama. When Obama started trying to make a racial issue out of every statement the Clintons made and then I see the racist Jesse Jackson supporting him I was finished.

[Occam Bandage]

8. 47% of voters say they will never vote for her. 30% say they will certainly vote for her.

That means if just 4% out of the remaining 23% vote Republican, we have four to eight years of President McCain.

[VotesForWomen]

13. Barack Hussein Obama is not going to beat McCain; no way. Hillary might if she really pushes

the economy.

[Barack_America]

15. Disagree. hillary RODHAM clinton will never beat McCain. She's the GOP's GOTV strategy.

[2hip]

14. The GOP has an irrational hatred of anybody named Clinton.

The vile GOP vermin are also undenialy racist. I'm not convinced that Obama OR Clinton are electable.




              Edwards '08 tees!