Is John McCain Wooing Clinton Supporters?

[susankh4]

When John McCain says "I won't pander to conservatives" who, exactly, is he talking to?
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080214/NATION/437382070/1001
I think it's an interesting statement, if he is trying to win his own party base.

As Mr. McCain has revved up his attacks on Barack Obama, apparently now seeing him as the frontrunner, is he also preparing to woo Hillary's older and more moderate Dems to his side? Would Mr. McCain have particular appeal to some latinos who may not like his party, but are fond of his immigration reform bill? As is indicated in this article: http://nuestravoice.com/?p=1425

It seems to be common wisdom in the Dem. party now, that Barack has wider appeal to "soft republicans" and independents. I buy that. But, what about McCain's appeal to "soft democrats" and independents in.... oh, say Florida?

Just something to think about....

[Honeycombe8]

1. Independents. These are Obama supporters by a wide margin.

Whoever wins the general election will most likely need the swing voters...the independents. Both Obama and McCain draw on this group for support.

[susankh4]

2. So will it be a wash?

As Barack takes the disaffected Republicans and anti-war independants ..... will he lose equal numbers of Hillary supporters (retirees and latinos) to John McCain?

I don't see the press addressing this issue. But... I do think Mr. McCain is eying voctores in Fla, NM, and AR.... with Hill out of the way. He wants to make it clear that he won't buckle to the anti-immigration segment of his party.

[Iceburg]

4. Obama can't take FL, NM or AR from McCain /nt

[Honeycombe8]

18. Judging by your negativity, I'd say you are a Clinton supporter. Not the "yes we can" 'tude. nt

[Honeycombe8]

17. As I said, the Indies usu. make the day is a close race. Obama will get those. nt

[Iceburg]

3. The generation of voters old enough to remember the Bush McCain battle of 2000

will gravitate to McCain.

[Clovis Sangrail]

5. why?

I would think the opposite should be true.

People who remember 2000 should recall the Bush campaign slandering McCain on personal issues (the push polls etc etc) in 2000.
They should also recall how McCain ditched his self respect and literally (and figuratively) embraced Bush in 2004.
It was pathetic.

Of all the things I dislike about McCain, his lack of backbone is at the top of the list.

[Iceburg]

8. But are you a swing voter ...probably not --- Many of the McCain

supporters from 2000 still speak highly of him. If you were here on DU in 2004 when Kerry was looking for a Veep there was a significant number of DU'rs advocating a Kerry/McCain ticket ... there were huge writing campaigns if you recall. We would all be wise not to underestimate McCain's strength with swing voters.

One interesting aspect of this primary is the HUGE number of women who have come out to vote -- in the large states it was 60:40 split for females --- that's historic. I fear those voters will either not come out, or worse -- will move to McCain (a familiar face with some reputation) if Hillary is not leading the Dem ticket.

[susankh4]

9. This is what I am getting at.

I just don't think that Obama's broader appeal will hold up in the face of McCain on the GOP ticket.

Yes, if it were Romney... maybe so.

But... are we about to lose a big slice of our (Hillary's) base? Just in order to "increase our appeal" to independents? And, is this a good strategy in the long haul?

[Clovis Sangrail]

12. I don't think so

McCain has been villified pretty heavily from his own party.
I think McCain will lose/has already lost a good sized chunk of the republicans base.
I don't think those people necessarily translate into Obama voters, but some may be sitting out the election if it's between Obama McCain.
If Hillary is on the ticket, because she has been vilified for so long, I think a good number of those people will come out to vote against her.

:shrug:

[Clovis Sangrail]

15. actually... I think I may be a swing voter

to be honest, I dislike both Hillary and Obama, but I voted Obama in the primary and will probably do so in the ge if he's the nominee.
I honestly don't know how or if I will vote if the the nominee is Hillary.

I really don't mean this as one of those "stamping my feet" posts, but to point out that, in fact, I suppose I am a swing voter.

Regardless of who gets the nomination, I think a significant number of people who supported the other primary candidate will become swing voters.
Maybe not in the respect that they will vote for McCain, but that they might find themselves too busy to get to the polls.

Hillary and Obama (and their supporters) can talk about how they will get the most 'swing voters', but is the difference between how many they can get more than the amount they lose by vilifying each other?

[susankh4]

10. Backbone?

I would say, quite honestly, that what I like about McCain is his willingness to stand up to his party's fanatics. I think that takes alot of "backbone."

I'm not planning to vote for him, mind you. I have never voted Repub in my life. But..... I can see the appeal to folks who appreciate a track record of "crossing the aisle to get things done."

[Clovis Sangrail]

13. I think your right about what some people think about him

I also think you're envisioning the McCain from 2000.
I fully agree that he was a maverick in his party at one time... but that really isn't true anymore.

[Tesha]

6. Based on the way some of the Hillary partisans write here, I have no doubt that...

Based on the way some of the Hillary partisans
write here, I have no doubt that in the General
Election those folks will surely be voting for
McCain rather than Obama. You know who I mean:
the very DLC "Democrats". The ones who are most-
deamnding of loyalty oaths when the Democratic
candidate is some DLC might-as-well-be-Republican
asshole?

Tesha

[mmonk]

7. It's possible he could take Florida.

I think fear and "just cause" concerning the Iraq war works with an older population that doesn't realize America today is different than in 1941.

[susankh4]

11. Who could take Florida?

Do you mean Obama or McCain?

NM and Fla are in the bag for McCain once Hillary is out of the way. That's my guess. I am not sure about his supporters in AR.

[Clovis Sangrail]

16. passed this billboard in Fl

" Osama Obama "
" there's no difference"
" neither is patriotic"

I don't know about south Florida, but I would be absolutely amazed if north Fl goes for Obama.

on edit:
I don't think it's going to go for Hillary either

[IndianaGreen]

14. I am sure Al From will side with MCain if Hillary loses

together with a few of his DLC pukes.