...independents tilt toward McCain when he is matched up against Clinton, but they tilt toward Obama when he is matched up against the Illinois Senator.-Mark Schulman, CEO of Abt SRBI, on the results of a poll his firm just did for Time Magazine, which showed the following:
Clinton 46%The Obama numbers are very similar to the final result of Bill Clinton's margin over Bob Dole in 1996...a result that would be considered a big win following the last two whisker-thin contests.
McCain 46%
Obama 48%
McCain 41%
I always say take results of polls done this early with a grain of salt. Chances are the results in November will be a bit different. But this does help solidify the argument that Sen. Clinton is going to have quite the uphill battle against Sen. McCain, and that if she does win, the country will remain as divided as ever.
Many people are passionate about Clinton's candidacy. They say she deserves it because she's a trooper; she has survived the GOP slime machine time and again. They point to Bill Maher's comments from last week...that she's done nothing wrong, that the anti-Hillary sentiment is maniacal.
The thing is, this election is about the importance of replacing George W. Bush with a Democrat who can win big, who can then use that win as a mandate to reverse harmful Bush policies and clean up the huge mess he'll leave behind. This election is about returning America to her former glory, and relighting freedom's light for those around the world who used to look up to us as the globe's shining role model.
It's not about the Clintons. It's not about how they've been unfairly treated. If things in America weren't headed toward the proverbial cliff, then perhaps Clinton would be a bit more ideal in my eyes. But this election is way too important. One wrong move, and Americans will vote to keep the Fascist-Republicans in the White House. And the chances of that happening with a Clinton candidacy are way too great for my comfort.
Update: Then again, the Facist-wing of the Republican Party is so bat-shit crazy over the probable nomination of Sen. John McCain, they could well vote third party or stay home, thus canceling out any advantage he would have with independents in a general election.
