Poll: Even Democrats Say Hillary Can't Win

NewsMax ^ | 31 January 2007 | Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

[Aussie Dasher]

A neat bit of polling by the Gallup Organization shows that what's hurting Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primaries.

It isn't so much her vote on Iraq or even her flip-flops on the issue. What's undermining her support among liberals is doubts about her electability.

The poll results suggest that many liberals see the primaries as a kind of audition where they assess not only whether they like or agree with a candidate, but whether she can lead them to the White House in 2008. This degree of pragmatism is often seen in Republican circles, but is relatively new on the other side of the aisle.

Gallup asked a national sample of Democratic primary voters from Jan. 5-7 if they'd vote for Hillary if the primary were today. About a third (34 percent) said they definitely would, and about half (52 percent) said they "might consider" voting for her.

The remaining 14 percent said they would "definitely not" support her in the primary.

Then, Gallup followed up with the two-thirds of the sample that was not "definitely" voting for Hillary — asking why. The No. 1 reason? They felt she couldn't win.

Twenty-nine percent cited the fear that she would lose the general election; 16 percent mentioned her inability to win the nomination as a "major reason" for not voting for her.

Many cited both.

Only 26 percent said the major reason for their lack of support was disagreement on the issues; 11 percent cited personal dislike of her, and 10 percent said they didn't want "another Clinton in the White House."

This indicates that there is a large "secondary market" for attacks on Sen. Clinton. The primary market for such attacks is, of course, the legions of general-election voters who don't like her and don't think she should be president (including us). But liberals, while not necessarily embracing the negatives themselves, see them as a cause to doubt her political viability — and thus a reason not to vote for her.

So attacks on Hillary are not just important among the Hillary-haters — they also fuel doubts even among Democratic true-believers.

This, while she faces a double (or triple) squeeze play — her charisma squeezed by the first female speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and her ideological positioning under pressure from Sen. Barack Obama from the center and ex-Sen. John Edwards from the left.

All that could leave her the second choice of too many Democrats — especially if they really conclude she can't win.

[Aussie Dasher]

All well and good but we should take NO chances!!!

[kinoxi]

Obamarama.

[neodad]

This, while she faces a double (or triple) squeeze play — her charisma squeezed by the first female speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and her ideological positioning under pressure from Sen. Barack Obama from the center and ex-Sen. John Edwards from the left

Now that's one group scene I don't ever want to see!

[Red Steel]

Go Hillary Go! LoL!

[KTM rider]

Lets see,Hmmmm, Hillary or McCain.....
can't decide

[malia]

Well, they are wrong!!! Just watch!!!

[volunbeer]

If we have the turnout we did in the last election I am certain she can win.

She is a horrible candidate but the apathy among GOP voters could easily swing the election her way.

[babygene]

The idiot Gore is probably their most electable candidate, and he for now isn't running...

[oyez]

Frau Blucher in waining.

[potlatch]

 

 

[babygene]

Trust me... Neither Hilary or Hassane Obama is going to be the Democrat candidate.

[HAL9000]

The experts said Bill Clinton couldn't win either.

[supremedoctrine]

I don't see it: Hillary could lose needed support only if it were proved she and her machine are behind whatever dirt is dug up and thrown at Obama: another moron who doesn't deserve a nomination for anything. She will be out there every day being just as "adorable" as she was a day or so ago with the "What do I have in my background that shows I can deal with bad and evil men?" schtick. It is entirely possible she can charm enough people with a hitherto unseen "side" of her personality, PLUS a careful positioning ideologically in exactly the way her husband, the "New Democrat" managed to do it fifteen years ago. It could happen. And NEVER underestimate the power of "name-recognition". We are USED to her, for whatever that's worth. She will NOT win, though, because there will be enough voters swinging away from her, fearful of the scary dynastic possibility of "Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton". We have to get off these tracks, the voters could tell themselves.

[Prost1]

"Let's chat, let's talk, let's dialogue...."

The smartest woman in the world doesn't know the difference between a verb and an noun?

Oh, the gaffs of G.W. Bush.

But, Hillary is soooo articulate. "....let's dialogue..."

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/dialogue;_ylt=AhY2t3k2DmWT2Mw1TaOlI32sgMMF
"In recent years the verb sense of dialogue meaning "to engage in an informal exchange of views" has been revived, particularly with reference to communication between parties in institutional or political contexts. Although Shakespeare, Coleridge, and Carlyle used it, this usage today is widely regarded as jargon or bureaucratese. Ninety-eight percent of the Usage Panel rejects the sentence Critics have charged that the department was remiss in not trying to dialogue with representatives of the community before hiring the new officers."

[devolve]

You're the Wizardess!

[potlatch]

Of OZZ I think.

[volunbeer]

""The experts said Bill Clinton couldn't win either.""

Very true but the Perot factor was huge in that election. No Perot and probably no Clinton.

[lt.america]

I agree. It isn't always the best thing to be positioned out in front this far before the primaries because you become a target. It would seem to me that the Democrats best chances are with those who have prior executive branch experience. I still think Sen. Bayh has some of the best credentials, but I don't know how far to the left he is willing to lean.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

The Beast is hungry; she must devour all those who stand in her way:

[spikeytx86]

It's going to be John Edwards this time mark my words. He is considered to be an electable liberal by Dem. primary voters. Hollywood loves him, Labor is gaga over him, he has vowed to raise taxes and backs single payer. He's there man.