Polls suggest Clinton would be a bad idea as VP.

[IsItJustMe]

Polls suggest mixed effects of Clinton on ticket
By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON - Lots of Democrats love Hillary Rodham Clinton. Yet plenty of Republicans, conservatives and all-important independents can't stand her, suggesting possible pitfalls for Barack Obama should he make her his vice presidential running mate.

The intense dislike for Clinton suggests that besides support from women and others she could bring to the ticket, she might make it harder for Obama to win over some independents, a pivotal swing group in the November election against Republican John McCain. It also means she might push some Republicans and conservatives to vote against the Democrats — or donate money to the GOP — who might otherwise lack motivation to do so because of tepid feelings toward McCain.

A substantial 32 percent of independents strongly dislike Clinton, 10 points more than say so about Obama, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll. Independents, a group that both Obama and McCain won during their party primaries this year, comprised a quarter of voters in the 2004 election and have been closely contested in every presidential election since 1992.

In addition, 67 percent of Republicans have very unfavorable views of Clinton, 24 percentage points more than feel that way about Obama. Among conservatives the spread is similar — 58 percent say they feel very negatively about her, 18 points more than say so about Obama.

Few conservatives and Republicans are going to vote under any circumstances for Obama, the Illinois senator who clinched the Democratic presidential nomination last week and already has advisers culling possible running mates. But both parties will be trying to discern whether putting Clinton on the ticket might in some ways backfire....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080609/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_as_veep
________________________________________________________________________

Hillary supporter's, please don't shoot the messanger.

[Adelante]

1. Losing independents would be a problem nt

[Captain Hilts]

15. No, no it wouldn't. nt

[TheWraith]

26. Yes, it would. Hillary polarizes.

If this primary hasn't made that clear, nothing has.

[bunnies]

32. It would in my state. Not that we count for much...

but indies are NHs largest voting bloc.

[styersc]

2. Hillary would be crazy to accept.

Obama is an untested newcomer who has acted as the executive of nothing- not even a PTA or scout troop. His popularity is based upon good looks and decent speech writing (as well as some well placed plagarism). He may eek out an election but is not likely to have much of an administration.

New comer "progressives" are selling this opportunity down the river for the sake of "cult of personality". Hopefully Hillary will be one of the adults who take over in Washington during the Obama tenure so that perhaps progressives goals will be met. If not, we are in for a rough 4 years and progressivism will be critically wounded.

[IsItJustMe]

4. Damn it Rush, you are funny. LOL

[styersc]

7. You know for a few extra dollars you could have purchased a

cliche' filter.

But you seem to be happy with the "rose colored glasses" feature.

[Jersey Devil]

6. Be sure to visit Wednesday for free pizza

[democrattotheend]

19. He managed the Harvard Law Review, and his campaign

And did a pretty damn good job of managing his campaign, I might add. McCain has never managed anything either, and the only thing I know of that Clinton managed was her healthcare task force, and we all know how that turned out.

Someone on the bus to Ohio made a really good point...he said that all three candidates at the time (Clinton, Obama, and McCain) were senators with no real management experience except their campaigns. And of the three campaigns, Obama's was the only one that had never gone bankrupt.

In terms of plagiarism, please cite a speech (or anything) that Clinton ever wrote herself. Obama is one of the only politicians I know of who sometimes writes his own speeches.

[styersc]

35. You keep telling yourself that.

No Managerial experience and has never been bankrupt makes one a well qualified candidate to be the president. Well that makes my dog a shoe in.

[democrattotheend]

37. I just refuted your "no managerial experience" argument

And what managerial experience did Hillary have other than the healthcare task force? I'm not saying that's absolutely the only thing she ever managed, but it's the only thing I am aware of. If there is something else I apologize.

[muryan]

44. You lack reading comprehension

Being on the board of Wally World does not constitute managerial experience.

[karynnj]

48. Nice points

On writing speeches though - Kerry wites many of his and is pretty well known for several lines from 1971. :) Read the Dissent speech - given 35 years later - and obviously pure Kerry.

I think I read that Edwards wrote his this year. Webb is an author - I assume he writes some of his.

[featherman]

3. Politics 101: Don't nominate the candidate with the highest disapproval rate

of any candidate among INDS - not even for Veep, or, especially not for Veep

[Captain Hilts]

18. Surveys in last week of May showed her beating McCain by a wider margin than Obama would...

don't underestimate her cross-over appeal.

But I still don't think she'd be a good choice and I don't think she wants it.

[bvar22]

21. And surveys in Jan. had Hillary easily winning the Dem nomination.

Your point is.....?

[TheWraith]

29. Only because the Clinton supporters said they'd vote for McCain if she didn't win.

Every other indication shows that she'd fare worse than Obama in pretty much every respect. Particularly her high negatives mixed with few people who haven't formed an opinion of her, and the motivating effect on the Republican base to get out and vote in a year when otherwise they'd just as soon get drunk and wake up November 5th.

[ieoeja]

25. Remember all those presidents who selected a controversial running mate?

Neither do I. He would definitely be breaking some new ground there.

While I generally find common wisdom to be more common than wise, this is one where I would have to agree with common wisdom. Selecting a controversial figure as running mate would be taking a really needless risk.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. My faith in the wisdom of the American people is being restored.

[mamalone]

8. I've said this all along.

There is almost a virulent hatred for Hillary in some quarters. I think her name on the ticket would bring out lots of people just for the chance to vote against her. We'd lose a lot of independents and pretty much kiss good-bye most of the possible repub cross overs we're hoping for.

Sad, but true.... at least in my opinion:(




edited to correct spelling error

[styersc]

9. "Repub cross over votes?!?!?!?!?!?"

What, are you crazy?????

[featherman]

11. We usually get about 8% GOP crossovers; they get about 12% - hoping to even

that out a bit this year - not big numbers but 1-2% increase would be helpful

[PoliticalAmazon]

22. It will be interesting to see how Bob Barr impacts that percentage....

GOP voters will have another choice this year. Barr is basically a Goldwater Republican, which will probably give GOP voters a more comfortable fit than McCain.

[mamalone]

14. Nope... not crazy:)

In spite of his "liberal" image I think Obama will appeal to a whole lotta repubs. I personally know of a couple of extremely conservative people who are considering him very favorably right now. They like his character, they feel (and I agree) that he has handled this primary with unusual grace. I think the main problem he will have is his record/position on abortion, but if he could find some way to neutralize some of that power of that issue he would get enormous numbers of repubs:D

[TheDoorbellRang]

17. There are quite a few Republicans voting for Obama this fall

but some would not do so if Hillary is on the ticket

[TheWraith]

30. No, she's not. Why would you think so?

Unless you haven't noticed, there's a large chunk of alienated moderate Republicans out there who are very unhappy with their party.

[IsItJustMe]

40. She had a 50 % disapproval rating before this election even started. I bet it is no better now.

[mamalone]

41. Whoa, honey...

I'm sure it is much higher now. I would have given her a positive rating before and I'd rate her negatively now, sad to say. And I am one of her constituents as well! I think she will have a hard time holding onto her senate seat when it comes up:( Of course the negativity may die down somewhat as this primary fades into memory, but for now, for this presidential election, I'd say her neg's are too high to bring any benefit to the ticket.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. The Polls That Matter Are Head To Head. They Look Strong For Them With Her As VP Don't They?

[mudesi]

12. Give it up. It's never going to happen. (nm)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

24. Oh Lyny Skyny You're So Cute.

You're one of my favorite little pets. Here, here's a treat for ya. Run away now! Good boyyy. Gooooooddddd boyyyyyy.

:rofl:

[mudesi]

36. Me and you, OPERATIONMINDCRIME, we're the same

Except I'm always right and you're always wrong. Don't you see that?

[David Zephyr]

16. See my post below yours (#13). We agree.

"head to head" as you say. That's what will tell us something real.

The fact that 67% of Republicans don't like Hillary has the corollary message: 33% don't dislike her...and I bet that 33% are Republican WOMEN.

I have more than a suspicion that Hillary as VP would be a very big positive for the Democrats in November. It may not be what a lot of us on the Left want, it may not be the best "team player" for Obama to work with, BUT it may help him get elected and I want to win in November. If Hillary helps us get there, then so be it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. Good Posts. Both Of Them. I'm Always Thrilled To See Clear And Rational Thinking.

:)

[David Zephyr]

13. Until I see a good sample of polls that pit Obama/Clinton vs McCain, I'm ignoring such articles.

When Zogby, ARG, Rassmussen, NBC/Newsweek and a host of other national pollsters weigh in with a good number of polls that actually pit a combined Obama/Clinton ticket against McCain, these sort of speculative articles that deal only with the nebuluous atmospherics of "favorability" and "unfavorability" ratings should be ignored.

The wider the sampling, the greater the number of credible pollsters the easier it is to draw conclusions as to the simple question: Would an Obama/Clinton ticket fare well nationally against John McCain. It's a very simple question. Why there is no scientific polling on this gigantic question seems quite odd to me because it is a question a lot of Americans, especially Democrats, are asking.

I want to win in November and IF having Hillary as VP makes that liklihood greater, then I am for it. If it hurts us, then I am opposed.

All of the speculations in the world, all of the gassing of opinions on earth will not substitute for a good, wide sampling of scientific polling on this question.

Not favorability ratings, but 1.) does or does not Obama/Clinton beat McCain nationally; 2.) what re the numbers; 3.) where do the electoral votes stack in our favor with this ticket and/or where not.

[DerekJ]

20. +1. em

[blm]

31. Then take THIS to the bank, DZ. Clintons didn't pass the vetting. Period.

Done. Over. They needed to be the nominee so there would be no vetting process. Johnson passed her over long ago and matters for vetting have only gotten worse since then.

Think Dubai royals and the other BCCI thug money that Bill's been banking since he left office.

[David Zephyr]

39. Well, you make some sound points.

We'll see. I do agree that if we see Hillary chosen, it will be because Bill passed the vetting.

[blm]

46. You missed the point - I wrote in past tense deliberately. Johnson vetted HRC long ago

and she did not pass, and, in fact, matters reBill's dealings have only gotten worse.

[Cha]

27. It's one of the worst ideas of th 21st century America..

I'm glad the polls suggest it.

[apocalypsehow]

28. The polls are right. But it's of no matter: it ain't going to happen, period. n/t.

[AtomicKitten]

33. It's just not going to happen, for all kinds of reasons.

edited for the all important "not"

[Rosa Luxemburg]

34. I think if Hillary is VP it will dilute Obama's message

having a daisy cutting, bunker busting VP is NOT gelling.

[cbc5g]

38. Do we want a VP that has slandered and attacked Obama the last 5 months?

All that would be used against him by the RW. "LOOKIE HERE, HIS OWN VP SAID THIS ABOUT HIM!!".

[bagimin]

42. No we don't

[Cha]

49. Exactly...if that's what it took for hilary

to take herself off the vp list then I guess I'll have to thank her.

[ampad]

43. Thank god it will never happen

K/R

[muryan]

45. The VP choice will be a game of chicken

Each side will want to wait for the other side to pick first, because then they can try and counter that with their pick. McCain will have to flinch first, if the election is held to today, Obama wins. The only way I see Obama picking Hillary is if McCain decides on a woman VP candidate, and having Hillary on the ticket would totally take the woman vote away from the other ticket

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

47. I don't need a poll to tell me it's a bad idea. Hillary = Defeat.

[butterfly77]

50. No co-presidency and..

Bill is too angry,he will continue to hold a grudge against Obama because of things others said.

Bill really thinks that Obama knew what Rev.Phelgr was going to say and that he could have stopped him from saying what ultimately was the truth and very funny...

At the end of the campaign you could really see that Hillary really did think that she was entitled.