...in a hypothetical contest between McCain and Clinton, the very forces that help keep Clinton ahead among [older white] voters in the primaries would aid McCain against Clinton in the general election. McCain’s a Scots-Irish Vietnam vet with an independent streak. He should beat her easily in this demographic.-The Sunday Times' Andrew Sullivan, looking into his rather clear and accurate crystal ball.
If, however, Clinton becomes the nominee by wrestling superdelegates away from Obama at the convention (which, barring a catastrophe, is the only way she can do it), McCain’s advantages grow even more.
The Democrats led by Clinton would haemorrhage desperately needed black votes and young votes. All the new money, new votes and new enthusiasm that Obama has brought into his party would not just disappear; the new voters would be actively enraged, sit out the election or even vote for McCain.
Between Bill Clinton (formerly referred to as "the honorary first black president") telling white voters in North Carolina that a black candidate "doesn't care about people like you" and Hillary Clinton hopping into bed with Richard Mellon Scaife, the uber-millionaire who bankrolled the constant right wing attacks against the Clintons during Bill's presidency, the 42nd president and his wife have alienated and insulted huge blocks of voters who backed them passionately during the 90s (and beyond).
Including this voter. Am I disenchanted enough to hold my vote from Hillary should she somehow steal the Democratic nomination? Right now I'd say yes, but that could very well be my emotions talking. But one thing is for sure...even if I cast an extremely unenthusiastic vote Hillary's way in November, this blog would continue to be one of her fiercest critics. Because mark my words, she'll run her White House the same exact way she runs her campaign. And the last thing this country and Hillary's political party need is a Democratic version of Team Bush-Rove.
