Can somebody please explain this "electibility" logic for me?

[Girlieman]

The latest spin from the Clinton campaign is that if Obama doesn't win SC by a huge margin, it proves he's not electable in the general election. The argument seems to be that those who choose Clinton over Obama in the primary will then choose McCain over Obama in the general election.

I just don't see the logic in this. It's like the "big state" logic. That if Obama doesn't win the big state primaries, all those Clinton voters are going to vote for McCain in November. Huh? You mean New York is going to vote republican because Obama couldn't beat Clinton in her home state?

Polls have consistently shown that a generic democrat beats McCain in November. I think that speaks volumes, and perhaps should remind people that it's more important to take the White House than for any particular candidate to win the primary.

[leftofcool]

1. Yes, many moderate Dems will vote for McCain in the GE

That is just the way it is.

[Guava Jelly]

2. I doubt that

..

[livingmadness]

4. On another thread you called that kind of talk ...

threats threats threats. After all the group in question were simply pointing out that AAs might sit the GE out. You are saying exactly the same thing. Hypocrite, much?

[Yossariant]

7. A vote for McCain costs the Dems twice as much as a vote sitting it out.

[livingmadness]

9. That's true

though the result may in the end be the same :)

[Skidmore]

3. Obama big states:

Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia...

Clinton spin in overdrive. And caucus states do count.

[Yossariant]

5. Winning in states the Dems can't win in November is not a good benchmark for "electability."

But I think you know that.

The general election is not a caucus and barack has been singularly unable to win primary elections in the states that the Democrats NEED in order to win the White House.

The only big state in which he runs solid for the Dems is his home state:

Electoral Votes: Obama 264 McCain 263 Ties 11
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Obama/Maps/May02.html

Electoral Votes: Clinton 291 McCain 236 Ties 11
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Clinton/Maps/May02.html

[nicknyc]

8. those

who don't want to count in the electablity of a candidate.. well just be prepared to have egg on face again when the November comes. It will be for the 2nd time in row..errr.. i think 3rd time to be correct.

[Girlieman]

20. Agreed

and I don't think Clinton should be giving lectures on electability. The only general elections that she has ever won have been in the very blue state of New York.

The one fact that I never see Clinton supporters confront is that Clinton has such huge negative numbers. As much as anything can be set in stone is the fact that a very large number of people will never vote for Hillary, period. That means that McCain only has to win a few percent of those that might vote for Hillary to win.

Hillary often talks about how well "vetted" she is. She should add that she is not only well known, but well detested. Why would any party put forth a candidate that caused such strong negative feelings among such a large percentage of the voting public?

[Girlieman]

17. Yes, I do know that

Primaries and general elections are two different things. There might be some correlations between them, but the mere fact of winning a primary doesn't really say anything about the electability of the candidate in the general election. It's a bogus argument, whether made by Clinton or Obama.

[dcindian]

6. It's code for: who I want to win even if they are losing.

It goes like this:

Losing candidate takes a crap on the other candidate. Then points to crap and says 'see the other candidate has crap on them so they can't get elected'.

Once others start to point out the fallacy in the losing candidates argument the losing candidate tosses out more crap and points to more crap.

Rinse and repeat until meme sticks. The good thing about this tactic is the crap does not even have to stick it just has to be thrown.

Typical I am losing on the issues political ploy.

[onenote]

10. Its based on the premise that Democratic women would rather see Roe v. Wade overturned than vote

for Obama.

Apparently.

[Muttocracy]

14. there ya go. nt

[Orsino]

11. It's not logic.

The confusion of caucusing and primaries with the Electoral College is convenient for twisting the numbers. I think that either Obama or Clinton would beat McCain, but there's no rational basis for the Electoral College as an excuse for ignoring elected delegates.

[Mooney]

12. It's total horseshit.

It's the desperate spinning of a campaign that lost three months ago and is simply trying to justify its existence somehow.

[Jawja]

13. "Electibility" is

Clinton's path to the nomination by Super Delegate coup if she can't get the lead in pledged delegates.

"Electibiltiy" is the spin blarred by the GOP cronies in the Corporate Media in sync with Clinton because they want HER as the nominee.

"Electibility" is the one thing that CLINTON will NOT have if she gets the Democratic nomination through Super Delegate coup with the support of the GOP and their cronies in the Corporate Media.

[noel711]

15. Electability: a Buzzword, jargon that many folks find intimidating..

thus they don't 'parse' out the manipulative measures that politicians,
and pundits use to blow smoke, and thus confuse.

Sadly, we all know there's no Santa Claus and no Tooth Fairy,
and no Straight Talk Express.

Anyone who gets media attention, and does a lovely tap dance in the spotlight,
especially if its on the most popular 'news' network... must be running the best campaign.

But do not attempt to get folks to think.. just appeal to their gut instincts...

Right now, 'electability,' like polls, are simply guesswork.

A year ago I would have said the current crop of candidates were
'unelectable.' Yet, here we are. My opinions mean nothing.

But I'm not stupid, and the MSM attempting to portray the electorate
as stupid is demeaning and insulting.

[TragedyandHope]

16. Sorry, there is no logic and there is no math.

There is only President Obama.

[rucky]

18. If there were logic in defining electibility

somebody would've followed the recipe, and we would've had a nominee by now.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. It's codespeak for he's Black and therefore can't win. It's bullshit.

[Girlieman]

21. You might be on to something there, nt.