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 7 of 47)
91. Please!! Can we please move away from the Clintons. They have a trashy "marriage".Can Bill "be good"? Who knows? Obama is the best choice and has his integrity.
Dena at 5:23PM on Feb 2nd 2008
92. Barack will struggle to beat McCain, because amongst conservative Democrats and Independents he may lose. These important group will vote McCain because of his very unpopular intention to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Hillary says "no" to the drivers license. Also, McCain bases his strength on national defense. Barack cannot compete, but Hillary can. When asked, the generals at the Pentagon will say that Hillary is the ONLY Democrat that is knowledgeable and smart on defense. That will help her against McCain, she will get endorsements from top military men. Barack will likely not. Conclusion: Hillary is Democrat that will beat McCain.
Hako at 4:37PM on Feb 2nd 2008
93. Healthcare needs to be reformed. Clinton is aiming high and wants a single-payer plan. Obama might like that too but he realizes the obvious problem with that approach: the insurance companies are simply too powerful to allow that to happen. Hence, he aims lower, proposing an incremental transition to universal coverage that allows the insurance companies to still play a role. On healthcare, therefore, Obama's approach seems more realistic and therefore more likely to succeed.
On the Middle East, Obama goes father than Clinton, pointing out that the entire mindset that brought on these wars must be replaced by strategies that actually work. Face it: The most high-tech weaponry is no match for a suicide bomber. Modern geopolitical global competition requires alliances, cooperation, and collective economies, with guns loaded but held safely in their holsters. While we drop our bombs, China buys our bonds. Obama understands this and seems to have the courage to deal with the military industrial complex behind the Bush foreign policy. I did not hear that from Clinton.
On giving the US a new face around the world, where people of color is synonomous with poverty and violence, who better than a US president of color to convey a sense of hope? An African-American face on the USA would send a message to those who label us as incorrigible racists and pave the way for new dialogues between socieities. What a formidable candidate Obama would make against a white McCain who still believes that might makes right and bombs are smart!
If you want to get out of this rut, America, let's give this young African American from Chicago a chance.
Ken Heilbrunn at 4:38PM on Feb 2nd 2008
94. I am ready to vote for John McCain, because out of all the changes this country needs,protecting this country is the most important.If you do not protect this country,then everything else does not matter.I do not think that Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama have the will to protect our country. They will deplete the armed services, just as Bill Clinton did and every other democrat that gets in will.No matter what a democrat says about caring for the military,they hate the military. That is why our country will be ripe for a takeover in the future. "MARK MY WORDS"
Robert Civitelli at 4:37PM on Feb 2nd 2008
95. Does anyone with ANY claim to sanity actually believe that even the furthest right Republican conservative will sit on their hands and not vote for ANYONE the Democrats nominate? Any talk of such action is guilty of spreading specious reasoning in hopes of weakening an opposition candidate.
b-evans at 4:57PM on Feb 2nd 2008
96.
Dear John McCain:
I am an Independent who voted Republican my entire life (although I did not / could not vote for Bush in the last two elections). That being said, I also can't vote Republican again if you put Giuliani on your ticket as Vice President!
I keep seeing Giuliani with you lately. This is a big mistake. He may be your friend, but I couldn't stand Rudy when I lived in New York -- and I still dislike him now that I live in Florida. For example. Giuliani's solution to the homeless problem in NYC was to get them out of sight. He may be a good politician, but Giuliani is not a very nice man. In short -- whatever you do -- please do NOT run with Giuliani as your Vice Presidential running mate.
I honestly would have trouble voting for you with Rudy as your V.P. -- especially since Giuliani becomes President if you were to die in office. I'd rather have Hillary than Giuliani as President.
Best regards (and good luck),
Peter Cayce
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART 2
Until 9/11, Giuliani was a meanspirited politician.
For example, Rudy's solution to the homeless problem in NYC was "...Get them out of site. Out of mind..."
I still remember sitting in Grand Central Station -- in my suit and tie -- waiting for my commuter train to go home. Around me were many homeless people sitting on train station benches that provided one of the few warm places that the homeless could use during the day.
After Giuliani was elected, he ordered his police to move the homeless out of all key public areas. I frequently saw Giuliani's police billy-club the feet and arms of homeless people. Not overly hard, but enough to wake them and get them to move.
"Move along," the cops would say.
Me? They left me alone. I was wearing a suit and tie. I didn't look homeless. So yes, the homeless were moved out of Grand Central Terminal. Out into the street where fewer travelers and tourists would see them.
This is the true essence of Rudy Giuliani. Not 9/11.
Peter Cayce at 4:40PM on Feb 2nd 2008
97. hillbll ia a liar and will say anything to get elected billyboy is a convicted liar enough of the clintons i can't stand them obama is the man McCain is an old surly warmonger person
ruthe at 7:59PM on Feb 2nd 2008
98. We need a president who actually understands the complexity of war from a first hand perspective. As an individual who has been raised in an extensive military family, is marrying a Marine, and is friends to many military men and women, I believe we need someone with a background in war. Afterall, they are IN CHARGE entirely of our nation's military.
Jolene at 4:43PM on Feb 2nd 2008
99. I absolutely refuse to vote for either a muslim negro or a think she knows it all woman...to Obama I say..boy,go shine my shoes...to Hillary I say...get your a** in the kitchen and cook me some supper!
Zack at 4:43PM on Feb 2nd 2008
100. Oh and to the person, (alfred bell,comment #11) who says: " Hillary or Obama will make mince meet out of McAain.
He is not a bright person" I believe you should have spelled it meat, not meet. Apparently you are not so bright either, along with your choice of candidates.
groger at 4:52PM on Feb 2nd 2008
101. As a Republican I'm not sure if I can vote for John McCain, but Democrats don't fool yourselves into thinking that a Democrat will pull us out of Iraq. You're going to vote for whoever you feel is the right canidate, but sorry to tell you, we are not getting out of Iraq for a number of years. Sorry.
carmen at 4:43PM on Feb 2nd 2008
102. There's more to BO then meets the eye, we elected a no body almost 8 years ago and look what we got...ugh and we can stand another one and with his history, what ever it may be, not for the leader of our land. Be afraid, very afraid. Vote Hillary, she is the safest of all. We know her history, be it may, private matters, for her and Bill. Did not stop him from doing his job and giving us hope and good times. Pure leadership, like the "games" or not. I thinking of our future here, so please do the same.
MM at 7:24AM on Feb 3rd 2008
103. I believe the democrats will handily win this race
although I am still very concerned about Obama's
religious background. Given Islam's radical world
stance, pressure could conceivably be brought to bear on Obama as president with threats to his family. For this reason the military routinely removes military members from critical and sensitive positions if they marry a foreigner
Jim at 4:46PM on Feb 2nd 2008
104. MCCAIN AND REPUBLICAN PARTY ENDORSE HILLARY CLINTON
Please, Democrats, give us a flip flopper to run against, like Kerry and Romney. My friends and I would love to discuss what happened in the White House last time Hillary was there. No one has more skeletons than the Clintons, and no one has taken more money from lobbyists and special interests than Hillary Clinton. Hillary has been behind McCain in national polls since the election started, and in an election year where America wants change, Hillary Clinton ain't it. (Please do not listen any more to that intelligent, articulate Obama character that has as much independent support as McCain, has reached across the aisle as much as McCain, and was against going into Iraq to begin with, and please do not read his 2002 speech.)
rlmora197 at 4:47PM on Feb 2nd 2008
105. I just hope u al are seeing that OBama Husein is a muslem there agenda is to be the only religion.Please research barrac do nt vote for him
robin bonner at 9:20PM on Feb 2nd 2008