Red-State Dems Sour On Clinton

[Barack_America]

From Politico:

Red-State Dems Sour on Clinton

Barack Obama in recent days has sprinted ahead in the endorsement derby against Hillary Rodham Clinton when it comes to a certain breed of Democrat—politicians who have won statewide in places where Republicans dominate presidential politics.

Among a barrage of prominent statewide elected officials to back Obama publicly this month is Arizona governor Janet Napolitano, and U.S. Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Tim Johnson of South Dakota.

What all three politicians have in common is that they are Democrats who have cracked the code in getting elected in states where Republicans historically have triumphed at the presidential level. George W. Bush won these states both times.

So did most of his Republican predecessors. In fact, these three states have each voted for a Democratic presidential nominee only once since 1948.

The string of recent Obama endorsements seems to be more than a coincidence.

During extensive interviews in recent weeks in Republican-leaning states, Politico found widespread belief among current and former Democratic statewide officials that Obama is the more electable candidate with their electorates. These politicians also frequently registered a fear that Clinton’s personality and past history make her too polarizing to win independent and Republican-leaning voters.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7892.html">More

ETA: I originally found this on CBS News (google search for "campaign endorsements", but thought it would be appropriate to quote from the original source.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/15/politics/politico/main3714465.shtml

-----------------
This is the real story here, people. Who can win the general election? Who can keep the GOP out of the White House? If Hillary can't win these "independent and Republican-leaning" votes, it's not going to be her.

[Skip Intro]

1. If we are going to embrace the GOP and hold hands with them and sing kumbaya,

as Obama seems to want to do, then what is the point of keeping them out?

[sunonmars]

10. Just wait

If he gets the nomination, those red states dems will chuck him under a bus also, its all about keeping their jobs in a republican state. Everyone knows that.

Never count on a Democrat who needs republican support to keep their job.

This whole hands acros the divide grates me, the republicans will eat Obama for breakfast.

[Bonobo]

25. You should check your email. That talking point is old already.

[BringBigDogBack]

49. agree that it is getting a little tiresome

I think some posters at times just like to hear themselves type.

[BringBigDogBack]

48. Fuck the GOP.

This is about beating them. Unless, you'd rather LOSE. AGAIN.

[ClericJohnPreston]

60. Winning

at the cost of your soul is a pyrrhic victory at best.

Detaching yourself from the core Principles of a Party is too high a price to pay for an empty victory.

Losing without integrity, bashing your own party, their longtime supporters,and denigrating past achievments is no "win". "Beating them", while becoming your own worst enemy, is hardly a "win".

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Edwards can win in the GE

Clinton can't, and Obama is iffy. imho.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. i agree that edwards can win too.

[SecularNATION]

56. History

Biden could have won. Dodd could have won. Edwards can win. Clinton could lose. Obama, iffy, I agree.

The Democrats have a history of picking the wrong candidate in the primaries. 68 - Humphrey, 72 - McGovern, 84 - Mondale, 88 - Dukakis, 2004 - Kerry. Even with most of the public, sick and tired of the Republicans, it could very well happen again. Sigh...

[skipos]

3. Wait until we nominate Hillary and Bloomberg and Nader get in the mix

Lots of Dems in lots of states are going to be feeling the pain on that one.

[robbedvoter]

16. Riiight! Nader and Bloomberg should dictate our choices...Be afraid! Be very afraid!

Of all the arguments, I hate this one most.

[skipos]

34. This is just reason #1435 why Hillary would be an awful candidate.

If I liked a lot about her, the fact that 3rd party candidates are waiting prey on her weaknesses would bother me. Alas, I don't like much about Hillary and her triangulating wind sock politics.

[ShadowLiberal]

54. The fact is when Nader gets in the race he screws us over,we have to deal with him if we want to win

[goldcanyonaz]

19. And, I'm still waiting for proof on this, and that Bloomberg won't run if Obama is the nominee.

I've been waiting a long time.

[papau]

5. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska voters think Obama is like Nelson?

[TwilightGardener]

17. The only candidate support I've seen in Omaha and Lincoln

is for Ron Paul (cardboard signs) and Obama (meet-up notices, several bumper stickers). Obama would have a following here if he's the nominee. Nelson knows his constituents.

[papau]

43. Ron Paul - and Obama - now there is a political mix!

[TwilightGardener]

44. Yep--haven't seen any visible mainstream Repub support, which is

not what you'd expect in a state that still loves Chimpy so much that one of our Senate candidates (Mike Johanns) has Chimpster campaigning for him here.

[AX10]

6. BULLSHIT!

Now Ben Nelson is a friend of the left.
What you Obamites wouldn't stab in the back to get your show horse of a candidate into power.
:puke:

Besides, Hillary want to fight the right wing, Obama wants to be Neville Chamberlain. :thumbsdown:

Obama: "All Hat, No Cattle"

[Barack_America]

7. Please refrain from name-calling. Calling Obama a "jackass" is highly...

offensive. DU should be above such antics. Thank you.

[robbedvoter]

11. Agreed.

[emilyg]

12. And DU'ers should be above posting bull.

[robbedvoter]

14. from Politico. Also agreed.

[Barack_America]

20. Oddly enough, this was picked up by CBS News...

That's how I found it on the Google News search for "campaign endorsements". I thought it would only be fair to quote the direct source. But your average American is going to think this is CBS News item.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/15/politics/politico/main3714465.shtml

[robbedvoter]

28. I notice Politico became MSM source. Considering the "boos" proof of lies

that doesn't make the story any more credible.

[Barack_America]

37. Like it or not, yes, that appears to be the case...

Hey, they posted the "99 Problems" shit about Obama yesterday too. So at least they appear to be equal opportunity assholes as far as the Dem candidates are considered.

[emilyg]

46. That they are. Big a***holes.

[BringBigDogBack]

50. .

:thumbsdown:

[Maribelle]

8. Hillary is leading by double digits in the red state of Florida.

Politico just has a sour taste in its mouth from what it has swallowed.

[AX10]

15. True.

[Barack_America]

24. Among registered DEMOCRATS only.

Those polls are not reflective of the situation for a general election in any way. Be careful of that.

[robbedvoter]

9. Politico - the same source that made up the boos at the MLK event

[Barack_America]

18. Are you suggesting that Politico manufactured the quotes?

It's one thing to influence the "lean" of an article, but accusing them of manufacturing direct quotes is serious.

Were they the ones reporting the "Boos" in their title? There were several reports of a scattering of boos in the crowd, but to put that in the title was misleading. The title that reported a "Lukewarm" reception was much more accurate.

[flpoljunkie]

21. The NYT reported the "scattered boos," as well.

The campaign day began with Mrs. Clinton’s appearance before members of a service workers union in Manhattan, where she received a tepid reception. The audience, mostly made up of security guards, applauded steadily when she entered — but they did not roar for their hometown candidate, and there were a few scattered boos.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/politics/15dems.html?ref=politics

[robbedvoter]

23. And NY Times didn't invent White Water. here's the video - listen to your ears:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4070680&mesg_id=4070680

[Barack_America]

27. Not just the NY Times. ABCNews reported "cat calls" as well.

Yikes. That's even worse. And Fox reported boos too (of course).

[rodeodance]

13. well, I, for one will not jump on the red bandwagon.

[catnhatnh]

22. Totally JEDNE....

linked story plus 10 0thers listed on page for Clinton, Obama, or both...Edwards, zip.

[jefferson_dem]

26. Can't say I blame them.

"Poison Pill" Hillary would not look pretty at the top of the ballot. Negative coattails in full effect.

[Barack_America]

33. Yeah. I didn't post this to be anti-Hillary, but to point out that this discussion..

IS happening. It can't be ignored.

Hey, at least these endorsements have come because they think Obama is just the stronger horse and not because they're pissed at Hillary for "race-baiting".

Or are they... who knows?

[GalleryGod]

36. Let Us let it "play out" folks !?!

It's ALL good in comparison to Madame Tussand's Wax Museum on the GOP side!:puke: :argh:

[GalleryGod]

29. This was to be expected: Red State and Swing State Dem Officeholders are Looking

to OBAMA to "hold that line!"

Gen. Walt Boomer, 2nd Marine Division, Desert Storm Theater of Operations, 1990-91

[GalleryGod]

31. Walt's retired now...love to see him in Defense Department !

A fight to the finish.."clean" please !?

[SIMPLYB1980]

30. This "Red State" Dem. Will vote for Clinton.

[GalleryGod]

32. And why not? Repubs "Got Nuthin'" in their line-up of Waxed Statues

Go, Tarheel DEMS !!!!

[SIMPLYB1980]

39. Thanks GG.

:toast:

[Carrieyazel]

35. You're half right. They're also sour on Obama. Obama no more electable than Hillary is.

We're kidding ourselves if we think that Hillary or Obama are electable in any way against a McCain for example. Only one candidate is going to be nominated on their side, and it won't be the unelectable Ghouliani, Thompson or Romney. The Repukes are very lucky.

[GalleryGod]

38. Hillary & Obama should run against Old, "Ike-Lite" in a jogging suit.

John did 5 lonnnnnnnnng years in the "Hanoi Hilton"
But, his time has come and gone,folks!

[Barack_America]

40. If that were true, they would be endorsing Edwards...n/t

[Laurab]

41. I'm really, really trying to stay out of the candidate attacks

but I can't help myself here. I am so tired of hearing the "kumbaya" nonsense about Obama from Hillary supporters. It's nonsense.

The fact of the matter is that, if elected, Hillary will be kumbayaing far more than Obama - she already is, if you look at some of her major backers.

The more important fact is that more republicans HATE Hillary, for reasons that make sense only to them. They also don't like their own candidates. It would be a very difficult general election for her, as she would GOTV for the repugs like no other candidate - for the wrong party.

Hillary's fans don't want to admit that, but it's true. Obama, and Edwards if he picks up steam, both have a far better chance of winning the GE. Appealing to these people is NOT a bad thing - we NEED them if we want to win the GE.

Insulting the messenger might make you feel better, but it doesn't change facts.

[BenDavid]

42. oh well hell hrc should just drop out right now....NOT! listen, when

you look at red states just ask yourself this important question, Could the democratic nominee win this state? I would venture to say NO.....Now go back to 2000 and look at the states al gore won and now go back to 2004 and look at the states kerry won...Now ask yourself again what states the dems lost in both could the dem candidate now win in 08.

In my honest opinion HRC could take florida and west virgina and new mexico whereas obama could not. hrc does not need obama as vp to win illinois in the general election. She will offer it but he will turn it down.....

[Barack_America]

45. You need to read the whole article. They specifically looked at "borderline"

states. States that vacillate between Democrat and Republican. They weren't asking in the deepest red states.

It's the governors/representatives of these "borderline" states who have been endorsing Obama. That was the whole point of the article.

[Invidious]

52. Oh that would be just great

HRC wins by a RAZOR thin margin..and kills many of our downticket Dems...so when she gets to the WH, she can't do anything because we lost the slim majority we have. That's REALLY looking forward.

[Barack_America]

47. kick! n/t

[K Gardner]

51. Its not just the high-ranking Dems, tho. Things just aren't really the same here in the

"red state South". There is overwhelming citizen support down here for Edwards and Obama. I was shocked to talk to some nurses at work last week who had registered to vote for the first time so they could "vote for Hillary". They are now voting for Obama because they don't like the HRC Campaign and the dirty tricks. Edwards has a lot of support from long-time Dems and union members and even some former Bush Repubicans. Hillary, not so much. The NH Diner moment didn't play well with southern women, she has little to no support from Southern men, and the republicans who want to vote Dem won't touch her. I just think people need to stop reading DU, stop listening to pundits and polls, and start talking to their co-workers and neighbors :-)

[Barack_America]

53. Wow. Proof that Hillary's dirty tactics ARE having an effect.

Thanks for posting!

Make sure to check out the video here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4111626

It's really cute!

[VotesForWomen]

55. i'm not sure that's good news for obama. nt

[ArkySue]

57. This red state

(and don't you just love labels) will go for Clinton. Big time.

[Barack_America]

58. Not so sure about that.

We'll see.

[polichick]

59. Surprise, surprise...

One sure-fire way to show what a kiss-ass you are toward Republicans is to worship at the Reagan altar.

Maybe I'll change my mind, but right now my feeling is: THEY CAN HAVE OBAMA ~ HE'S ONE OF 'EM.

[Barack_America]

61. Wow. You really need to look at things more closely. Check the date of that article.

Wayyyyy before the Reagan praise from either candidate.

Not even checking the date? Wow.

[polichick]

62. Yes, he's been cleverly pandering to the right from the start...

The latest crap is just the most obvious ~ the line he should never have crossed.