If Obama is the nominee, how will Republicans treat him compared to Clinton?

[Clintonista2]

Poll question: If Obama is the nominee, how will Republicans treat him compared to Clinton?

[skipos]

1. They will be just as nasty, but they won't enjoy it quite as much.

They love to hate Hillary a bit more than they love to hate other Dems.

[duderonomy]

12. A slow build to the same level

I think because the Republican machine expected Clinton to be their opponent, Obama as an opponent will throw them for a loop for a bit and going negative against someone who is playing positive could have some blowback for them at first.

Of course, when it gets dirty, well, the Republicans are in their element so I think eventually they will be able to get to the level of nastiness they are known for.

[Windy]

2. Republicans and a lot of independents HATE the Clintons...

While they will be vile, the vitriol won't be as lethal.

Additionally, Obama hasn't given them the petty ammunition that the clintons have with affairs, etc. that inflame the rethug base.

[murielm99]

6. With Obama, they will go out of their way to show

that they are not racist.

I think it is sometimes best to ignore the more fringy groups, like Storm Front and the KKK. I don't go to their rallies to counter-protest. They don't deserve the publicity.

But the repukes and the media will be sure that the racists, whom they will disavow ostentatiously, have their moments in the sun, and their points of view out in the open. They will do it because they are hypocrites.

[NewJeffCT]

15. This is the party that ran "Harold, call me" ads

with a white girl "calling" the black Harold Ford. I don't think they have enough shame to be too worried about calls of racism when they can easily distance themselves from any "529" type group.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. We could nominate Mother Teressa and they'd attacker her.

[Clintonista2]

4. Duh, Mother Teressa loves the terrorists!

[Warren DeMontague]

10. Mother Teresa was opposed to birth control, just like the GOP.

They'd probably be the ones running her.

[Vinca]

5. The Republicans are not going to win, no matter who the candidate is.

Enough Republicans want the war to end to tilt the election.

[aquart]

9. Republicans do not have enough votes to matter.

Every single one of them can show up and vote for the Republican candidate AND THEY STILL WON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOTES.

[Vinca]

11. We'll have most of the Indies, too. nt

[murielm99]

18. Be careful.

I have no intention of slacking. I, and most of my fellow workers out here, will not stint in our GOTV efforts.

I remember Reagan, and I will never forget or forgive 2000.

[ccpup]

7. I chose Option #3

because Obama is a relative unknown (as compared to Clinton) running on a message of Hope and Change. The repugs are licking their greedy chops to dig into his past and expose (or create) scandals that easily knock him off that pedestal leaving him with ... what?

If one's message is Hope and Change and, not having a wealth of experience to point to or fall back on, one gets thrown off it by truly sleazy tactics, what does one do to gain back the attention and trust of the majority of those who adored, believed and trusted you who now -- because of these "scandals" -- start doubting the sincerity or veracity of the Messenger?

These same tactics aren't as effective with Clinton because, in the American Public's mind, it stuff they've all heard before and, therefore, isn't juicy enough to really gossip about. It's when it's NEW gossip about the new guy that people tune in and pay attention.

[aquart]

8. Does. Not. Matter.

With the independents he's bringing, (we only needed 13 million) the Republicans have become irrelevant in this election. Say buh bye.

[dmallind]

13. Two answers

They will of course be equally vicious no matter who has a D after their name. they made Cleland out to be unpatriotic for Koresh's sake - it's not like any Dem will get any respite.

What MIGHT be different is that Hillary's baggage is old news already digested and discarded even by the American Idol passive consumers. It's not like Scaife et al have some really juicy skeleton they didn't use for the last 15 years just in case she ever got the nod for prez. Other than the deeply interested however, the only vibe most of the masses have about Obama is that he's a black guy who is a good public speaker and has the reputation as a positive chap. Not a bad initial vibe to have by any menas, but we have to constantly rmeind ourselves how ill-informed the average voter is. They haven't been subjected to focused constant Obama bashing yet, and we have no idea how they'll take it.

Hillary hate is a known quantity. We have seen its force. Obama hate will definitely happen - and will definitely be whipped up with unstinting fervor. We don't yet know how strong a hold it will get.

[NewJeffCT]

14. The only question is HOW they will swift-boat him

Not if.

[Crunchy Frog]

16. I expect them to plumb depths that I can't even imagine.

I just hope that our side is well prepared, and that it backfires on them big time.

[Marr]

17. They'd be cruel and nasty even if our ticket was Jesus/Ghandi '08.

The only way in which the Republican opinion matters here is in who will actually inspire their base to come out and vote *against* the Dem, since they have next to nothing to vote *for* on their own side.

[SoCalDem]

19. They will play up the drug use and will hit him on immigration

they will trot out all their black republicans (who are probably at Repub training camp right now). They are a cagey bunch..they will resist even mentioning his color..

and of course there are still vapor voting machines all over the place, so who knows how many of "his" votes will ever be counted anyway :grr: