Three Reasons To Believe - The best cases for why Clinton and Obama are electable

Slate.com ^ | April 26th, 2008 | John Dickerson

[The_Republican]

A conversation among Democrats about whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton is better positioned to win the general election can get very slippery very fast. The starting point is fixed: the upcoming race against John McCain. But the polls aren't helpful in showing which candidate has the edge. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama perform the same, statistically, against John McCain. In the latest Gallup poll, Clinton is running two points ahead of McCain, 47 percent to 45 percent, while Obama is running one point behind, 45 percent to 46 percent.

Without clarity in the numbers, the terrain quickly shifts to what it means for Clinton to have won big states versus Obama's greater collection of little states; or the value of caucuses versus primaries; or states that count versus Michigan and Florida, which don't. To help us out of the woods, here is a list of the top-three talking points for each of the two democratic candidates.

Hillary Clinton

Clinton talking point No. 1: Clinton consistently performs better with downscale voters, women, Catholics, and older voters. In Pennsylvania, for example, she won among whites without college degrees by 42 points. She won whites earning less than $50,000 by 34 points. These constituencies are crucial to Democratic prospects in the fall, particularly in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, and in Ohio. The corollary to this argument is that Obama is the boutique candidate of young voters and wealthy elites, which taps unwelcome memories of candidates like Michael Dukakis and George McGovern, whom Republicans easily branded as liberals.

Obama counterargument: There's no evidence to suggest that his problem with these voters will carry over to the general election. Most of the Democrats voting in primaries are going to support the Democratic nominee, whoever he or she is.

[The_Republican]

Three Reason Dems are not Electible:

1) Barrack 2) Hossein 3) Obama

[Jeff Head]

Let me clarify those three reasons.

ENEMIES TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA



ARE LINED UP BEHIND CANDIDATE BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA


I AM THE ONE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR


And, if that is not enough, just ask yourself, why Che Guevara, who was a radical, murderous Marxist revolutionary in Argentina, Cuba, and Bolivia, and who became Fidel Castro's chiefexecutioner...why is his picture proudly diplayed proudly at Obama election Headquarters?

All of this ties together and any American of any stripe who values their individual liberty should study these things out for themselves, throw off the chains of the governmental dole and public largess, of the indoctinration and propoganda dealt out by liberal academia, and then act and vote accordingly.

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - OBAMA'S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND OBAMA'S CHURCH

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

[stylin19a]

Very misleading...the reasons given on Hillary’s behalf really only apply to her winning the nomination, not the general.

[goldstategop]

Two losers arguing over which one of them will take a better beating in November? That's the best argument I've heard for nominating either one of them. The Democrats don't see the trap they've walked into.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Nonstatist]

I doubt Hillary will get many of the blue collar men that voted for her in the Pa primary to vote for her in the general election. Neither Bama or Hitlery represent blue collar white men very well.

[cherokee1]

OK, OK, I understand-—but I still want a Republican primary do-0ver-—’cause I’m nowhere near happy with all three current choices.

[samtheman]

Thank you for posting this collection of Obama memorabalia.

[cartoonistx]

In 1968 I was unhappy with Nixon but I still fought for him. In 1976 I was unhappy with Ford but I still fought for him. In 1988 I was unhappy with Bush but I still fought for him. In 1996 I was unhappy with Dole but I still fought for him. In 2000 I was unhappy with Bush...

To be a Republican is to be a mostly unhappy warrior.

[jammer]

The main reason they ARE electable is the putative Republican nominee and the current President.