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Swing State Dems: We Got Your Back, Hill
Not the best option for just "the ticket," but "the top" of the ticket. That's what's needed to beat John McCain in the general election, they say. The text of the letter is after the jump.
The thing is, they may be right when it comes to battleground states.
Three simultaneous Quinnipiac University Swing State polls released May 1 show that among white working class voters, Clinton has strong leads over McCain - and runs much better than Barack Obama - in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. If Obama is the Democratic nominee, he's in a tight race with McCain in Florida and Ohio, but takes Pennsylvania.
Quinnipiac pollsters say this is Clinton's strongest overall performance in those three vital swing states in the past two years. This survey also found:
-Florida: Clinton tops McCain 49 - 41%; McCain gets 44% to Obama's 43%
-Ohio: Clinton beats McCain 48 - 38%; McCain gets 43% to Obama's 42%
-Pennsylvania: Clinton tops McCain 51 - 37%; Obama leads McCain 47 - 38%
"If the super delegates are looking at electability, these results could be a shot in the arm for Sen. Clinton," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "No one has won the White House since 1960 without carrying two of these three swing states, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. And she clearly is running much better against Sen. McCain than is Sen. Obama, at least for now."Of course, that was before her narrower-than-expected win in Indiana and her loss in North Carolina. On top of that, ABC News says today for the first time this campaign season, Obama has surpassed Clinton's support among superdelegates.
But I don't think that will have any affect on Clinton. Speaking in Charleston, W.Va., yesterday, she continued the message that she's got more muscle than Obama when it comes to the general election matchup.
"Some call you swing voters. I call you Americans," she said. "Ask yourself who is the stronger candidate to win West Virginia in the fall against John McCain."
Here's the test of the Democrats' letter:
Dear Fellow Democrat,
We are writing to you because of our shared belief in our Party's principles and our commitment to ensuring that we have the strongest possible nominee to lead our ticket against John McCain and the Republicans in November.
The decision about who to support to be our Party's nominee is not one that any of us should take lightly. We haven't. But, after giving this important decision a great deal of thought, we are convinced that Hillary Clinton has the vision, skills and commitment to make the changes our country needs. As Democrats who have run and won in competitive Congressional districts and battleground states, we believe that Hillary is best positioned to successfully lead the Democratic ticket in districts and states like ours around the country.
As you know, Hillary has racked up victories in bellwether states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and now Indiana that are absolutely vital to winning the White House and maintaining our Congressional majority in the fall. Hillary has won the big battleground states by connecting with voters whose support we must have to win the general election. Her victories in Pennsylvania and Indiana were all the more impressive after being outspent by as much as two or three to one.
Pennsylvania was not just a victory for Hillary Clinton. It was also a wake- up call for superdelegates, forcing us to ask ourselves two essential questions: 1) Which candidate can carry the magic 270 electoral votes to win in the fall? 2) Which candidate is most likely to help our fellow Democrats in down-ballot races? We believe the answer to both of these questions is Hillary Clinton.
On the first question, Hillary has shown she can win the all-important battleground states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida even while being outspent. This speaks to her ability to connect with voters we must deliver in the fall, including blue collar Democrats who can sway this election as they have in the past.
On the second question, Hillary has won rural and suburban districts which we as Democrats must carry to maintain our edge in Congress. Of the fifteen districts rated "toss up" by the Cook Political Report, Hillary has now won ten. Of the 20 districts we picked up in 2006 that had gone for President Bush just two years before, Hillary has now won 16. She is strong in the places we must win to hold and expand our majority.
This is a historically close race. The candidates are separated by a mere percentage point or two and the path to victory for each candidate is the same: win in the upcoming states and secure enough pledged and automatic delegates to get to the number required to win the nomination.
The race now turns to the remaining six contests where the focus will be squarely on the economy. Voters in our states and across the country are voting on issues that affect them, their communities and their children's future. We believe that they will decide that Hillary is the candidate who best understands those issues and has the best solutions to address them.
We Democrats are justifiably proud of both of our candidates, and if Senator Obama is our Party's nominee, we will enthusiastically support him. But our responsibility is not to choose simply to support the eventual nominee; it is to help select the nominee who is best for our party and best for our country. Our choice is clear: Hillary Clinton is that candidate. We believe she should be your choice as well.
Thank you for consideration.
Sincerely,
Rep. Michael Arcuri (NY-24)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV-01)
Rep. Marion Berry (AR-1)
Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20)
Rep. Gene Green (TX -29)
Rep. John Hall (NY-19)
Rep. Darlene Hooley (OR-5)
Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (FL-17)
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11)
Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX-16)
Rep. Mike Ross (AR-4)
Rep. Joe Sestak (PA-8)
Rep. Ike Skelton (MO-4)
Rep. John Tanner (TN-8)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20)
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 5)JOHN11:16AMMay 9th 2008
I AM A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT,BUT IF OBAMA GETS THE NOMINATION I WILL BE VOTING FOR MCCAIN, AND I WILL VOTE DEMOCRAT FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE.I FEEL THAT HAVING A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND A DEMOCRAT HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD BE GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY.
tfitz101711:20AMMay 9th 2008
This is just pathetic. It's over, get over it.
Lorna11:21AMMay 9th 2008
I am a life long democrat.. But, I am not that far left to vote for Obama. The Democratic Party have cut off their nose despite their face. They need to re-do their system for this does not happen again what a waste. I thought that is why they made up the super delegates. I will not vote for Nader as he is way left also, so it looks like McCain.. I do this in protest to the Democratic Party. I will vote because if I do not and stay home then that will be a vote for Obama and his wife (whom should not be able to get near the white house.) I vote for what I believe in and for my morals. Maybe someone that actually has military expense might just get this resolved.. Obama could not even resolve his pastor problem, let alone two wars. He carried the young and the black vote.. He did not carry the white vote which I heard is about 80% of the electrets and he got most of his delegates in caucus which in my precinct there is 6000 people and only 33 showed up for the caucus but, they will vote in the general and that is when all the state will go red WAKE UP SUPERDELEGATES
Arco Iris11:21AMMay 9th 2008
Bravo Hillary!
You have proved to us that you have more bolas than Barack Obama who, with his wife Michelle-for-the-first-time in-my-adult-life-I-am-proud-of-this-country-Obama was out to lunch for 20 years.
You have proved to us that with your intelligence, guts and strength you can beat McCain.
Puerto Ricans for Hillary
porque ella si que pudo, puede, y podra
victoryzone11:24AMMay 9th 2008
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD of a sports team QUITTING BEFORE the end of the game? Whats the matter with you Obama? Are you afraid of the total count ?
HILLARY is the winner when ALL THE VOTES ARE COUNTED.
Millions of people voted for Hillary who are being disenfranchised. Count the votes. And WAIT till all 50 states have spoken.
We are not going to do a corrupt "Chicago style" election. We the people will uphold our constitutional rights and count all the votes.
HILLARY IS OUR TRUE CHAMPION, I VOTE HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT.
victoryzone11:30AMMay 9th 2008
ITS time, we form the NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The Democratic party, as it stands, serves special interests and does not represent the will of the people. It is splitting because they are supporting an UNQUALIFIED candidate who is a racist with radical ties. The DNC is trying to anoint him with media manipulation.
NO THANK YOU. I WILL BE VOTING MCCAIN IF OBAMA GETS THE NOMINATION.
M. Miller11:32AMMay 9th 2008
I will take my chance on Roe vs. Wade and the Supreme Court. I have been a Dem all my life but I just can’t vote for Obama no matter what any of the leading Democrats say.
I was voting for Hillary because Obama's judgment regarding his past and current associations is a very real concern for me. I just could not, in good conscious, vote for him even if he is a democrat. His past drug use is something I can't accept either, no matter what. I think he’s a good person but, with that said, the job of the Presidency is too important and powerful and I can’t vote for someone whom I have deep concerns about.
Hillary please don't run as his VP. My convictions against Obama are so strong that I still could not support him for President even with you on the ticket!
If Obama is the nominee, I will vote for McCain.
However, I will still vote deomcrat for the House and Senate.
tom11:32AMMay 9th 2008
After taking into consideration the devious practices of the Replublicans, the results of the primary elections are tainted and cannot be trusted.
I used to be proud of my country, but the previous elections and subsequent actions of our government and from what I read here leads me to say that I am ashamed of my country.
jpgoodrow11:40AMMay 9th 2008
The Dem Party "leaders" have become far more obsessed with nominating Obama than winning the White House.
Disenfranchised Florida and Michigan voters will very likely stay home along with millions of Clinton supporters who feel she was swift boated out of the nomination by the media and others, and McCain will easily win the Presidency.
OBAMA CAN NOT BEAT MCCAIN without the millions of voters from Clinton supporters he will never get. I don't understand why that is so hard for people to comprehend.
CLINTON '08
America Needs A REAL President, Not Another Feelie-Good Obama Sermon
pbr11:52AMMay 9th 2008
victoryzone
You've got it RIGHT 100%, I'M WITH YOU!
Darin Simmons11:54AMMay 9th 2008
Doesn't take much proding to get the Hill's fans convinced she has not lost the race. LOL. Of sure, she is more electable. Then why is is she behind in votes. LOL. Takes the foolish to confound the Hill fans. LOL LOL. I wonder if they will buy my Brooklyn Bridge, I put it on Ebay today to raise money for Hillary to buy crying towels for all her supporters that she has fooled and still is fooling. LOL LOL. Amazing how people only hear what they want to hear and turn a deaf year to reality. LOL. I find it most amusing. Stupid but amusing.
PETRO11:55AMMay 9th 2008
The only muscle Hillary has left is in her head. So a few wrote she was electable, matters not. A few can write the same about Obama, matters not. This election will not be decided by letters. It will be decided by the voice of WE THE PEOPLE not a few "wee" letter. Cut and dried, plain and simple;NOT THIS YEAR, THE EYES OF AMERICA ARE UPON THIS RACE.
Lizzie12:05PMMay 9th 2008
SUPERDELEGATES, HILLARY CLINTON MUST NOT BE IGNORED AS THE MOST VIABLE CANDIDATE TO DEMOGRAFICALLY REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY OF ALL RACES AND RELIGIONS DEPENDS ON YOUR SOUND JUDGMENT.
THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ALSO AT STAKE.
DO NOT ALLOW MEDIA HYPE TO CLOUD YOUR THINKING. LET REASON PREVAIL AND YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ALL AMERICANS.
Katherine12:06PMMay 9th 2008
It's gotta be Hillary.
I will never vote for Obama because he is EVIL.
(I do not care at all what any Obama followers say to me, I think they are all brain-jacked.)
OBAMA IS EVIL.
ngg1234512:08PMMay 9th 2008
Having canvassed in Pennsylvania and Indiana, I was amazed at: (1) the number of Democrats who said they would definitely vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee, and (2) the number of Republicans who said they would definitely vote for Hillary if she is the nominee. There's no question in my mind that nominating Obama would be handing the presidency to McCain. Maybe that's why so many Republican-leaning talk show hosts have been so uncritical of Obama and so unfair to Hillary. It's not that they are really taken in by Obama; they just know he'll never be elected.
Eakarach12:08PMMay 9th 2008
Hillary we're behind u 1000% all the way to the convention. Go Hillary 08!
M. Miller12:08PMMay 9th 2008
Obama's judgment regarding his past and current associations is a very real concern for me.
I know many people that have made the decision to use and not use drugs. There is a real strength in people Obama’s age that have refrained from drug use. Therefore, his decision to use and his cavalier frankness about his past drug use is something I can't accept either.
I just can't vote for him even if he is a democrat. The job of the Presidency is too important and too powerful. It would be unethical for me to vote for someone whom I have deep concerns about.
My convictions regarding Obama are so strong that I still could not support him for President even with Hillary on the ticket!
If Obama is the nominee, I will vote for McCain. I will still vote Democrat for the House and the Senate.
Truth Detector12:11PMMay 9th 2008
ABC News' Karen Travers Reports: For the first time this campaign season, Barack Obama has surpassed Hillary Clinton's support among superdelegates, according to the ABC News delegate estimate.
Sen. Obama, D-Ill., picked up two superdelegates this morning giving him a new metric to tout in addition to his current commanding leads in pledged delegates, popular votes, states won, and money raised.
Katherine12:15PMMay 9th 2008
Darin Simmons:
Obama won red republican states by CAUCUS. ALL THOSE state wins are worthless in the general!! Obama got supers from states Hillary WON. Obama is the most liberal US Senator--you must be crazy if you think he could win in the general. Have you not been out of your neighborhood? LOOK at this country!!
What's the point of being in the democratic party if supers can steal your states votes tally, if caucuses can win states with just a few people, and if inner city areas get more points due to some kind of political affirmative acion. What's the point when two states can vote more that 2.5 million people, and just a few politicians can move up a date and disqualify millions of American votes? What's the point when there is cheating at caucuses and voter fraud?
This whole thing is so dirty.
I want Hillary, but if she doesn't get it, believe me I cannot wait to drop the democrat party to campaign for and vote for McCain to help him beat EVIL Obama who wants to destroy America.
BUT, in the meantime, I will continue to fight for Hillary.
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HillaryMccain0811:01AMMay 9th 2008
Thank God for a few wise men
Leave it to the people of the Democratic party to select a radical,racist, hate-filled, pandering,, corrupt, unpatriotic smooth-talking snake oil salesman to the highest office in the land. This country is in big trouble and we don't need an inexperienced arrogant rookie President in training wheels.Where is the DLC when you need them?
Thankfully he will go down big-time in the general election where the black vote is very small.and the DNC can hang their heads in shame once again.
I fear for this country and if Hillary is not the nominee my support will go to McCain as the lesser of two evils
Not because of the color of his skin but the color of his heart.