Hilli-cans? Clinton explores how to woo Republicans turned off by Trump

[polly7]

BY LISA LERER AND CATHERINE LUCEY
The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, May 04, 2016 5:58PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, May 04, 2016 6:16PM EDT

With Donald Trump’s remaining rivals bowing out of the race, clearing his path to the nomination, Hillary Clinton is looking for ways to woo Republicans turned off by the brash billionaire.

The Democratic front-runner’s campaign believes Trump’s historically high unfavourable ratings and penchant for controversy may be enough to persuade a slice of GOP voters to get behind her bid, in much the same way so-called Reagan Democrats sided with the Republican president in the 1980s.

Democrats caution their effort to win over Clinton Republicans — or Hilla-cans — is in its earliest stages, but could grow to include ads and other outreach targeted in particular at suburban women in battleground states. Already, aides say, a number of Republicans have privately told Clinton and her team they plan to break party ranks and support her.

“Let’s get on the American team,” Clinton said, making an explicit appeal to independents and Republicans, in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.

There is some irony in Clinton playing the role of a unifier: She’s long been one of the most divisive figures in American politics.

For some voters, that leaves them feeling like they have few good options.

Amy Bishop, 42, a stay-at-home mom from Indianola, Iowa, said she wasn’t sure how she would vote. She said she would “most likely” go for Clinton over Trump, but stressed that she wasn’t “100 per cent.”

“I don’t feel like she’s honest and upfront,” said the self-identified independent. Of Trump, she said, “I think he’s very reactive.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/hilli-cans-clinton-explores-how-to-woo-republicans-turned-off-by-trump/article29874708/

This is not going to go over well here with those who so hated the "libertarians, baggers and republicans" they called the independents crossing over to Sanders' camp.

[Kittycat]

1. Many Independents crossing over to Sander's were liberals that left the Dem party

'My party left me', which is only going to prove this point more. She isn't appealing to Indies, she going right after Republicans with no attempt to adopt Bernie's supporters or platforms for unity. So I say go on Hillary. Be who we've been saying you are and appeal to your base.

[polly7]

2. I agree, but there were some on here filled with absolute disgust at even

the thought of "libertarians, baggers and republicans" supporting Sanders campaign. Saying they had "no right" to even be able to vote for him.

[arcane1]

17. Indeed, I was one of them n/t

[bvf]

3. That's been the plan all along, IMO.

That's why the campaign has so gleefully flipped off Sanders supporters from day one. Quite the gamble there.

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Yeah, I agree that was the plan all along........

It's that famous Clinton "triangulation" in effect. I certainly expect it to happen. The question with this strategy is can she bring in enough Republicans to offset the "social democrat" Dems and Indys she's going to lose with the strategy. I'm not sure she can, but it IS still an open question.

It ties in to a post I made the other day about the political realignment of the US electorate. Since the Democratic Party in this election will solidify it's position as the right-wing party, at least in an economic sense, and the Republicans will be left with the 15% or so outright racists and fascists, where are the people who are on the left of the Democratic Party going to go? Along with the left leaning independents? To the left of the Dem Party is the ONLY place on the spectrum that's unrepresented by the two current political groupings.

[Kittycat]

20. Technically, she's isn't "Bringing In" republicans.

They will never be democrats or ever support her, and that's the problem. She will appeal to them, because that is who she is, not who they are. She's a leader without a party, draped in our cape.

[lagomorph777]

7. She's a lot more of a Republican than Trump is.

She and her supporters here often talk about how they plan to go after Republican voters and right-leaning Indies.

However, it's not a practical plan. Regardless of her actual positions, they hate her.

[Myrina]

25. ^^ this ^^

Allllllll the way back to her 'deep Conservative roots' ....

[KittyWampus]

26. In reality, Clinton and her campaign barely bothered to mention Sanders from day one.

In fact, pretty much the only time she mentioned him was when he attacked her.

[polly7]

30. He 'attacked' her on the issues that are supposed to be what a campaign is all about ...

getting to the issues, so that voters can decide who represents their values and needs.

If she can't be attacked on her stance, past and present, on those issues ........... what do you suggest voters do?

Where, specifically, has he ever attacked her personally??

[bvf]

39. Interesting.

In reality, Clinton and her campaign barely bothered to mention Sanders from day one.

Maybe you don't see it, but that's exactly what I'm saying. Not acknowedging his existence was a pretty clear signal that she was (and remains) willing to write off his supporters.

The weak, after-the-fact lip service ("hey, me too!&quot she has since paid to those core issues important to Sanders supporters has come too little, and way too late.

The only thing that could have been considered an "attack," as you put it, seems to stem from Sanders's comments about her lack of qualification. From a moral standpoint, his remarks were spot-on. She has no business in the White House, and the only reason she doesn't need the "R" after her name is that the third-way has rendered it unnecessary.

[DCBob]

5. I suspect there is some fertile ground for Hillary in many of the swing states.

"Normal" Republicans are freaking out about Trump and may be ready to switch teams. This could a historic opportunity to convert some folks from the "dark side".

[ljm2002]

9. The problem with converting folks "from the dark side"...

...is that if enough of them come over, your side may begin to shift... to the dark side.

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. --Friedrich Nietzsche

[Armstead]

35. It may well backfire instead of converting anyone

Unless Clinton takes a sharp turn to the right (always a possibility) they will be doing a protest and/or crisis intervention vote to prevent a Trump presidency...a goal shared by sane people.

But she's not likely to win them over unless she takes a sharp turn to the right once in office (always a possibility).

Instead, the GOP may become even worse and more obstructionist on the legislative and state levels, just to prove to the conservative (and Trumpish conservative) base that they do not support Clinton and that they haven't sold out.

[firebrand80]

6. It would be incredibly stupid for her not to do this

There is a historically large percentage of Republicans turned off by their own party's nominee, of course she's going to try to explore how to win some of these folks over. Is their a candidate in their right mind that wouldn't?

[polly7]

8. Why was it not alright for independents and those not registered as Democrats

to vote for Sanders?

The slime on here against that was monumental.

[firebrand80]

11. I understand your point,

but you're barking up the wrong tree. I never said anything like that.

[polly7]

12. I didn't say you did. But it was a major point of disgust and fury. nt.

[firebrand80]

15. fair enough

But the list of such points during this primary season has been long, and the list of things that people should have been outraged over is quite short.

[polly7]

23. Very true.

I've seen little to no condemnation of needless war by her supporters, who in some cases are even defending it now .. and when looking back to the 2008 archives here, those very people were outraged over it. Why the huge change, I wonder??

[ljm2002]

10. And yet it was incredibly evil of Bernie...

...to appeal to anyone outside of the Democratic Party.

Got it.

[onyxw]

40. Not so fast...

So after facing 6 years of Republican obstructionism of Obama in Congress, the Clinton strategy is to woo Republicans who might otherwise sit it out, but now are going to be persuaded into the voting booth for Clinton as a protest vote. And while standing in that voting booth the expectation is that they aren't going to say "hey while I'm here, as much as I dislike Trump, I guess I don't hate all those R's down ballot. Seems like a waste to have stood in line an hour to vote for president and leave the rest of the ballot blank."

Yeah, that'll prove to be a genius strategy.

[firebrand80]

41. Interesting point

I didn't think to look at it that way.

However, you're probably dealing mostly with folks that are going to vote. You're trying to get these people to not vote for Trump.

[loyalsister]

13. Disgruntled republicans vs.

people who have not and do not see their interests represented by Democrats. I don't meet a whole lot of disgruntled republicans partly because I live in a red state and they are more likely to be found in the larger cities. But, I know a number of people who are not represented the economic recovery (my small city has 4% unemployment and 24% poverty).

[Vinca]

14. I have one campaign tip for Hillary: stop with the phony laughter already.

I've seen the Anderson Cooper clip a couple of times today where he asks her whether she's concerned Trump will drag up Bill's sex scandals. Hillary's response is the most annoying, canned, overdone laugh I've ever heard. She might as well wear a neon sign that says "my handlers told me to respond this way." All she has to say is "No."

[arcane1]

16. Will she convince them to adopt progressive values, or pander to their conservatism?

I have a hunch it will be the latter.

[Skwmom]

18. Once they start hammering on the Corrupt Hillary theme, I would not count on it.

And if that doesn't do it the Incompetent Hillary theme will.

[AZ Progressive]

19. The Democrats have been seeking to get rid of the progressives for some time

This is their chance to get rid of the need for progressives by wooing economic right wingers and military hawks to the party.

[pdsimdars]

21. Says it all . . . disparage the progressives. . . woo the conservatives. . . I see your true colors

shining through

[moriah]

22. Admitting that anecdotal evidence isn't ever reliable for prediction of prevalence...

My roommate is a self-described Libertarian, but if there was an "anarchy party", that might more reflect his voting strategy. He votes for whoever isn't the Incumbent if there's no third party of either stripe.

But I know a lot of people who feel similarly -- his core belief is similar to the meme "Freedom is freedom for everyone. So smoke your weed, praise Jesus, shoot your guns, and wish those two fellas across the street a happy honeymoon!" They just want to be left alone and pay as few taxes as possible.

Bernie was the only candidate he had ever voted for that was running as a Democrat, and I doubt that I will be able to encourage him to vote for Hillary in the GE.

But even he's not insane enough to vote for Trump. There's a Libertarian who will be on our ballot, so he will do his usual protest vote.

Edit: He says he thinks that the Libertarians will side pro-choice eventually, when I pointed out they seemed to like such small government it fit inside my uterus.

[NorthCarolina]

24. Progressives have abandoned her and the entire third-way philosophy really,

so she has little recourse. She will find far more common ground on that side of the aisle anyway, being amongst her true peers. A comfort zone of sorts for a critically conservative Democratic candidate.

[Trust Buster]

27. SANDERS NO LONGER HAS A "CAMP".

[polly7]

28. LOL.

Tell that to the millions who support him.

[Trust Buster]

29. Not enough "millions" to overcome Hillary's 3 million more. Think math again.

[JTFrog]

31. Math is hard.

[polly7]

32. Blah, blah, math, derp.

Those millions you're denying a voice to are every bit as important as you.

[KingFlorez]

33. They have a voice. There are just fewer of them than there are for Clinton.

[Trust Buster]

34. So are Lyin' Ted's. But even they are smart enough to understand basic math.

[CoffeeCat]

36. I'm actually relieved by this

At least she's leaving the left of the Democratic Party alone. Frankly, I was getting tired of the guilt trips, the fearmongering and the brazen attempts to bring us on board.

Let Clinton and her merry band of digital response team bullies--work on another demographic for a while.

Its going to be highly entertaining to watch this play out. She thinks Bernie supporters are rough? She thinks we have animosity for her? We're fluffy kittens compared to what waits for her on the other side of the aisle.

Watching her wade into Republican territory and beg for votes--will be similar to the scene in Jurassic Park where the cow is lowered into the velociraptor paddock. Have fun Hillary!

[ViseGrip]

37. But Hillary's hypocrisy is one of her stong points!

[islandmkl]

38. her core postions...once she actually sticks with one for two 'position statements' in a row...

will most likely appeal to a great number of non-TP Repubs....who will find more they like about her than what they don't....

a variation of 'your enemy is my friend'...they will fight to keep Congress and try to limit her activities to the ones that they approve of...not that big of a gamble (see: Barack Obama 2008-2016)...which makes what they do find they like about her even more attractive when compared to Trump...

[Beacool]

42. Good, we'll take all the voters that we can to help defeat Trump in November.

These will be anti-Trump voters more than pro-Hillary voters. They know that their party is about to nominate a person who is a loose cannon and unfit to be president. They would rather see a person who is capable and can handle the job.