I believe the Democratic candidate is likely to thrash John McCain, no matter who it is. Hillary Clinton would beat Senator McCain handily, mainly because of Senator McCain. He has tied himself to this Iraq War and is telling anyone who'll listen that he plans to stay in Iraq for another hundred years. It's hard to imagine a more unpopular position to base your campaign on in the general election.
Though Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton would score easy points against McCain on this count, Obama has an advantage here. Sen. McCain can turn around and accuse Sen. Clinton of being just as complicit in the drive to war because she also voted for the resolution that authorized the Iraq War. Whereas, Obama can say McCain showed poor judgment in going into Iraq in the first place and McCain has no defense to that. He could argue that the Iraq War has gone great, and I hope he does. Good luck with that strategy.
Why would Democrats want to neutralize this obvious advantage they have by picking a candidate that also voted for the war?
Secondly, the right-wing base is very displeased with John McCain. Conservative talk show hosts, pundits and bloggers have spent the last couple of months pummeling McCain. The only thing that can re-energize them to back his candidacy is -- Hillary Clinton.
Now, this is a little unfair to Sen. Clinton because I don't think she has done anything to earn that animus. She's polarizing only because they have spent the better part of two decades attacking her and her husband, and trying to turn the American people against them. Barack Obama might seem polarizing after eight straight years of right-wing attacks, too.
However, fair or unfair, the right-wing can't wait to go to war against Hillary. On the other hand, if it's Obama versus McCain, I think they might dislike McCain more. This has got to be a major liability when you are trying to rally your own side in a general election.
Finally, according to the polls, voters are overwhelmingly in favor of change this election cycle. If Obama is running, he is clearly the candidate of change. If Clinton is running, McCain could almost make an argument that you would get more change from his presidency than you would under another Clinton administration. I think that argument would be wrong, but why open the door?
Overall, Democrats can make it easier or harder on themselves this year by picking one of the two remaining candidates. I'm confident they'll win either way, but why take the risk? Obama is the better candidate to run against McCain, who looks like he is going to be the Republican candidate in the fall. By picking Obama the Democrats can make a strong and persuasive case that there is only one candidate who can bring real change to Washington -- Barack Obama.
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Obama More Likely to Beat McCain
Posted Feb 5th 2008 12:02PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama
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Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 47)
76. Has anyone noticed that France voted in a conservative who is very friendly to America. I thought France hated America and Americans. Most of the arguments on this blog are very ignorant and not fact based. Most seem driven by the left wing media and all they do is spew the same rhetoric without even investigating to find the truth.
freeThinker at 4:23PM on Feb 2nd 2008
77. More of the same if you vote McCain! we need change vote democrat!!!
Pat at 4:24PM on Feb 2nd 2008
78. I think you are wrong in saying Obama can win more easily against McCain. Ann Coulter, who is probably as far right and conservative as anyone recently said she would vote for Hillary before she would vote for McCain.
Charles Jennings at 4:21PM on Feb 2nd 2008
79. It's important (if you're a Democrat) that Clinton get the nod, because HRC and the Clinton machine are the only ones that will do whatever it takes to win and will fight back with attacked. We don't need someone who will roll over for the Repugs like Kerry. Obama is kidding himself if he thinks he can take the high road and win. We need a "knifefighter" like HRC.
Gman at 4:21PM on Feb 2nd 2008
80. As a white orange Co Reagan voter, I am proud to say O'bama is the best candidate out there.
Let us hope that the Bush or Clinton people don't try to kill him.
steve at 4:25PM on Feb 2nd 2008
81. ok, let's talk about Socialized Medicine.
HH at 5:16PM on Feb 2nd 2008
82. Well what are we going to see in 2009 ???????
According to OBAMA and HILLARY we are going to see CHANGE !!!!!
As in CHANGE on how you live - CHANGE in what you drive - CHANGE in how you raise your children - CHANGE in who do you pray to - BUT MOST OF ALL
CHANGE - which is what is left over in your pocket after HIGHER TAXES to pay for it all.
Yes we will have CHANGE for 8 years
Arizona Coyote at 4:26PM on Feb 2nd 2008
83. Ok,First I would like to know who the hell is Cenk Uygur? Second,why are his opinions being posted by AMERICAonline?. I for one could not care any less what any "young Turk" has to say. That is until he starts to berate my beloved country by belittling our elected officials. George W.Bush may not have turned out to be the best president we as a free nation have elected to lead us but it damn sure is no ones business but our own. So I say to all the "young Turks" out there "mind your own business in your own country and keep your anti American propaganda to yourself". I am aware that I don't know if you are spouting this garbage from inside my country or not so I say to you if you are here...GET THE HELL OUT!!
Zack at 4:25PM on Feb 2nd 2008
84. McCain is to old, stuck in the Viet Nam Era, little knowledge of current evants, and has a habit if making statements, then dropping the subject without an apology or recant when he is proven wrong. This country needs some one younger with a proven financial record, and most certainly this country can not take Hillary or Obama in the White House in this time of trouble and fiscal recession.
Lynne at 4:47PM on Feb 2nd 2008
85. I am an 80 year old man who was told this week I have stage iv Lung Cancer. I need some kinda incentive to keep living and beat the cancer and I sure to H... not gonna get it from Obama or Clinton so for god sake vote with some intelligence. You people stop and think,think ,think long before you waste your vote. Neither Clinton or Obama will help you,they just will not help make your life better. Vote republican
jobo at 4:28PM on Feb 2nd 2008
86. It amazes me that democrats continue to try to rewrite history. You may recall that we were in recession the first two years of Clinton's presidency after he raised taxes--when he lost the house in 2002 to the republicans it was then that a balanced budget was shoved down his throat and we entered into unprecedented prosperity and a surplus. Do you not remember the budget wars?? The republicans contract with america was responsible for the upturn in the economy, the reduction of the deficit and the budget surplus, welfare reform, etc., and they were rewarded with winning both the house, senate and then the presidency. True, Bush squandered the republican legacy, but remember that Bush was hit with 9/11 and corporate scandals, all arising from the failures of the Clinton administration. Through Bush's tax cuts and the leadership of the republican congress, the economy once again recovered. If you have all noticed, once the democrats took over again in 2006, we are heading into recession. Before you try to convince us all how great Clinton was for American, CHECK YOUR FACTS and learn your history.
Carol at 4:30PM on Feb 2nd 2008
87. What I think is amazing is that both of the Democratic candidates are worried more about smearing each other verses their opponents. I would not vote for either one of them.
groger at 4:31PM on Feb 2nd 2008
88.
I WOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE MCCAIN AND THE REPULICANS CHANCE TO WIN HERE, IF OBAMA IS THE
NOMINEE. REPUBLICANS WILL NOT SWEEP FARRAKHAN'S
ASSOCIATION WITH OBAMA/S CHURCH UNDER THE RUG. WATCH FOR REFERENCES TO THAT ESPECIALLY WITH JEWISH VOTERS. EVEN THOUGH THE SENTAOR DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM FARRAKHAN HE STILL ATTENDS THAT CHURCH. THEY WILL ALSO EXPLOIT--EVER SO SUBTLY OBAMA'S REFUSAL TO
BE STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT HIS MIDDLE NAME. -HUSSEIN.
THIS MAY ALSO COST HIM VOTES WITH BLACKS- AND THOSE OF ARAB-AMERICAN DESCENT ESPECIALLY IF REPUBLICANS PRESS THE MATTER. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES- LOBBYING INFLUENCES IN THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN,AND HIS TIES WITH A SLUMLORD IN CHICAGO. OBAMA HAS BENEFITED FROM A TOTAL FREE PASS IN THE MEDIA AND HE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CREATION OF THE PRESS: HE HAS HAS NOT BEEN VETTED ON CRUCIAL ISSUES AND THIS HAS ACCOUNTED FOR HIS POPULARITY AND HIS ABILITY TO RIDE ON A WAVE OF 'CHANGE AND VISION" WITHOUT HAVING TO DEFINE HIMSELF BEYOND THAT. IF HE WINS THE NOMINATION,
HE WILL BE FORCED TO DEFINE HIMSELF FURTHER AND DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO AVOID SO FAR.
Pat at 4:29PM on Feb 2nd 2008
89. America, wake up. The Clinton era was good for the poor. Senator Clinton is running on the past.
Obama is as good as it gets. HE DOES WHAT HE SAYS AND i WILL GIVE HIM THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION. GO OBAMA.
Sylvia at 4:34PM on Feb 2nd 2008
90. We have little to choose from in both parties but please try to pick the better of the lot. Obama would have to do a lot of clarification of his muslim background. Hilary is without a doubt a scary candidate. The Clinton admisistration was an abomidation. Total socialism from her. McCain is very liberal but we have to take the least worry we can.
k Cook at 4:34PM on Feb 2nd 2008