Clinton loyalists moving to Obama
On the eve of their big Democratic unity rally in New Hampshire, a new poll released this afternoon suggests that Barack Obama is winning over Hillary Clinton's former supporters.
The Associated Press-Yahoo News poll found 53 percent of the Democrats who favored Clinton for the nomination two months ago now back Obama for president. That's an improvement from April, when only 40 percent of Clinton supporters said they would back Obama over Republican John McCain.
That means, however, that nearly half of Clinton loyalists are still not firmly in Obama's fold about four months from Election Day.
The poll suggests that time is beginning to heal some rifts from the primary campaign and that the New York senator's endorsement of Obama carried weight. The poll was taken in the days after Clinton suspended her campaign on June 7 and said she fully supported her rival.
Clinton promoted Obama before two trade groups today before an evening meeting to introduce Obama to her most loyal fund-raisers.
"I am asking you to do everything you can to help elect Barack Obama," Clinton told the American Nurses Association, a 2.9-million member group that backed her candidacy, the Associated Press reported. "I have debated him in more debates than I can remember and I have seen his passion and his determination and his grit and his grace. In his own life he has lived the American dream."
That backing, after an at times bitter primary fight, will symbolically culminate in the rally Friday in the aptly named Unity, N.H.
UPDATE: Appearing in New Hampshire today, Obama's wife Michelle credited Clinton with bringing the concerns of working families to the forefront of the presidential campaign, the Associated Press reported.
"We are closer to this America than ever before, and that's because of an extraordinary woman who's not in this room but she's traveling with my husband tomorrow, and that woman is Hillary Clinton," Obama said to sustained applause, according to the AP. "I know that the folks here in New Hampshire know this better than anyone because you got to know the candidates up close and personal, but because of Hillary Clinton's work the issues of importance to women and working families are front and center."
In advance of the rally, McCain's campaign held a conference call today to highlight his record of bipartisanship, and announced the New Hampshire leaders of Citizens for McCain, a grassroots group reaching out to Democrats and independents.
"This is the most important job in the world. We need a leader of proven competence, tested judgment and substantial experience in the modern world and, obviously, that is John McCain," said Democrat Jim McConaha of Concord, named co-chairman of "New Hampshire Democrats for McCain" and an appointee under former President Bill Clinton and Governor Jeanne Shaheen.
Clinton loyalists have had plenty of time to go through the multi levels of depression and recovery. And it's only up to 53% supporting Obama? I would be panic stricken with those numbers if I were Messiah Obama. McCain, on the other hand, must be ecstatic.
There is so much doubt out there about Obama's leadership abilities, alleged non-partisanship, sound economic policy comprehension, foreign policy experience, and associations with racists and domestic terrorists.
Obama's call for "change" and "hope" only mean change and hope for organized labor. Read up on his his pro-union stance on the Employee Free Choice Act which only takes away an employee's choice to have private and protected voting rights during a union election.
Do your due diligence and quit drinking the Kool Aid!! We're talking about a POTUS in this election, not county dog catcher.
it will be priceless to see your face when Obama is POTUS. Steve, you make the dumbest points ever...
What I want to know, is whether Dick Cheney will continue, once Senator Obama is elected and innaugurated, to run the excecutive from behind the scenes ..?
I suppose McCain would be ecstatic if he wasnt getting his Axe handed to him..... oh well.. what can he expect... backing bush policies... he must be about as popular as Osama.... which clearly makes anyone much more popular.... and lets face it... Obama is on a great roll... is a great candidate.. and is going to win..... good bye bushy.. and the failed policies of the last 8 years.... just about anything would be better.... and Obama had the promise to be one of the best ever.... lets face it... he is nothing but impressive.. and I love the fact that he gets underestimated so many times... keep it. up.... and come November you will be wonder just what the heck happened to all your crazy fantasies...
Is this the same Michelle Obama who said she wasn't sure she could support a Hillary Clinton nomination? Is this the Michelle who said that Americans were mean and she was proud to be an American for the FIRST time in her middle-aged life (only since her husband was winning the white vote)? Now, she is proud of Senator Clinton for the first time in her life, too! I guess this new, kinder, gentler Michelle is the change we are supposed to believe in and she will help bring the unity that Barack Obama promised to deliver. Sounds like a King George promise of unity and change to me, and we all know how that has turned out.
By the time the Republicans are through vetting Obama, I would be willing to bet that the 53% will be offset by hoards of Republicans blocking his access to the Oval Office. It ain't over 'til it's over. If I were an Obama fan I wouldn't count my chickens before they come home to roost.
Hey Steve,
nice hit piece for a paid staffer! Jeeze you guys are al over the internet with professional bloging. look McSame gaffes all the time and it is not even covered by the press. They want to keep this thing close for ratings. It is the Democrats race to lose, George Bush is McSame's albatross! Take that!!!
The current poll numbers suggest Hillary backers are probably waiting for the VP announcement. A Obama/Hillary ticket won't be matched by anything McCain can put together becuase McCain has gone so far to the left in the past to compete for the Hillary voters. His scramble to swerve back to the right won't be nearly in time for the election...Obama/Hillary win by default. It's just a matter of raw numbers.
Hey Mikey from Boston and Briana,
Nice "original" attempt at humor..."McSame". HaHa...never heard that before! You Obama Kook Aid drinkers are all alike. Anyone who disagrees with Messiah Obama is either a racist or a professional staff blogger.
Obama is the most disingenuous and unaltruistic politician since the Clintons. Look those words up you morons!
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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