Clinton's loss gives McCain a real opening with her disaffected women voters

Angling for the backing of women voters, the Obama campaign has created a wide array of support groups: Prime Time Women for Obama, Boomer Women for Obama, Middle-Aged Women for Obama, Women Over 50 for Obama and even Obama Mamas.

But after wrapping up the Democratic nomination in a long and bruising battle against a popular female politician, Sen. Barack Obama will begin his general election push trying to attract women voters who feel a keen sense of disappointment and loss that Sen. Hillary Clinton will not become the first female president next year.

Those women may be open to listening to Sen. John McCain, creating an opening for him to make inroads with a group of voters who traditionally lean Democratic but have now lost their much-preferred female Democratic candidate.

"To the extent that McCain can make Obama look like a big risk," said Susan Carroll at Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics, "make them feel a little leery about the change he might bring about -- he might be successful in attracting them.

"He does have that independent reputation," Carroll continued, "and that reputation of thinking for himself and not necessarily going along with the Republican Party line, which I think a lot of people find appealing."

For more on this issue, click here to read Jill Zuckman's entire article.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[BJ]

We all know McCain's a moderate Republican! Understandably, he has to attract the conservatives in order to win in November.

But he would be better than Obama, who will tax us to death, and pay for all those social programs. All that is going to do is encourage more people to seek welfare.

Besides, McCain does want the war to end too, but not by surrender. Because if the US leaves now, it will be a sign of weakness and will invite more terrorism. Bush was wrong to wage war, BUT we have to deal with "what is", not would've, should've, could've. I'll guarantee you, Obama will not be able to bring the troops home in the amount of time he has promised!

Obama is big on backtracking. He will just say: "What I meant was... I would "start" bringing them home in 16 months, and since we have to be careful, it may take my whole term to complete this." Which is pretty much what McCain has said too!

[allison, california]

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*** Will the Real Obama step up?! ***
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Rashid Khalidi - Anti-Israel Agenda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW4ZcY-VHA4&eurl=http://www.redstate.com/blogs/soren_dayton/2008/jun/07/hannity_drills_down_on_obama_and_khalidi

[Jen]

This disaffected Clinton voter will be voting for Johnny Mac in November. :)

[NJ in LA]

Although, I could have seen myself easily voting for McCain in 2000, he has changed in such a negative and frightening way that hell would freeze over before I would vote for him in 2008. As angry and disenfranchised as I, as a Hill and Bill supporter am feeling towards and from Mr Obama and Michelle Obama and his staff and very ignorant and vocal supporters... I'm also not a fool. I can see the big picture, and will vomit before casting my vote, but still do so for Obama. Whatever kind of man I think he is (he's NOT the angel he sells to the press with his Martin Luther King like speeches), I do know that he is smart, and that his policies are very similar to Mrs Clinton's. I will never forgive Obama for what he and his have done to the reputations of Mr and Mrs Clinton, but I won't see my son dead from going to war to spite him either. Obama will get my vote. Now, let me store up on the Pepto Bismol for the nasty feeling he leaves in my stomach.

[ladiesfirst]

I'm a Hillary supporter who will vote for McCain the the fall. I found the behavior of Obama and his pundits unacceptable. His propaganda machine really beat up on women to win this nomination and I won't reward him for it with my vote.

[Scott D]

Droves of women are going to leave the Democratic Party and / or vote for McCain in November. Hillary is not gung ho to help Obama and her supporter are aware of this. McCain is not a wild card like Obama. McCain is a moderate, bipartisan, and a friend to the Democrats. Kerry wanted McCain as VP in 2004 and has been our friend more than Obama has with his arrogance , socialist agenda and dubious ties.

[michael king]

It would be strategic suicide for Feminists to abandon the Democratic Party and its Presidential nominee. The Republican Party would welcome their votes or even their not voting which would feed the righteous indignation flame.

However after the election, Feminists would have trashed their power base and disaffected their natural ally in favor of a GOP that will grant no quarter to Feminist concerns.

Secondarily, Feminists and Clinton's progressive and populous base may be chagrined over her narrow loss but voting for the GOP would be schitzo. How could they reconcile their ideals with a NeoCon agenda?

Also lets consider that while McCain has more experience, he also has a "party-line" voting record - so that "experience" is expressed by supporting the Iraq War, Torture, No-GI Bill, Tax Breaks for the top 1%, Presidential arrogance and privilege, the ballooning national debt, wiretaps, lies, Climate and Energy stonewalling, tampering with the Justice Department and ... Roe vs Wade reversal by stacking the Supreme Court. To be fair he's had multiple positions on the War and Immigration which happen to be exactly the same as Bush currently.

The media forgets that the Democrats and Obama have yet to talk about the herd of Elephants in the room - why rush? The comparison can wait until the last few weeks before voting, when gas is at $6 and unemployment is 7%, the dollar is starting to look like a peso and the only people ahead in the game are Iraq contractors and Oil Companies with direct ties to Bush and the GOP.

Tell me again about WMDs, superior foreign policy and the total absence of concern for the average working American ... that's the quality of experience we need to continue, right?

[veronica]

Dear Hilary supporters.
Don’t vote for Obama and say good bye to any rights females have over their bodies. 2 liberal supreme court judges will be replaced in the next 8 years. Vote McCain or present and you will be setting female reproductive freedoms back 40 years. Are you ready to be such a sore loser that you will give up your rights over your body? Outside of Fox most major coverage of the campaign was not sexist. Everyone knows Fox is not a real news channel but Fox will appreciate your sore loser behavior. Fox hates McCain but they back him so they can get those two judges to be conservatives. The more you belly ache about Hillary’s lose the more ammunition you give the sexists at Fox. So please except the lose get behind the DNC nominee or the consequences will be dire.
You choose your rights to your body or your right to shot yourself in the foot.

[Frank]

Obama is a "do-nothing, mediocre Chicago machine politician who grounded his victory in cities that had disproportionate numbers of delegates, based on voting turnout in the last two elections, and Republican-leaning states where Democrats have little chance of winning in the fall. "There may be five Democrats in all of Idaho; big deal that they voted for him.

Caucuses are not reflective of the Democrats who live in those states. We saw that in Texas. When Obama gets clobbered in the fall, it will be (Democratic National Committee chairman) Howard Dean and the boys at the top that are responsible. Not us.

[jim -pa]

A herd of disaffected Dems flocking to McCain is just this years republican pipe-dream. He may get a few and a few may stay home, but they're loss will scarcely be noticed with the flood of new voters who will vote Obama. Character assassination won't fly as a strategy this time so the republicans have nothing to run on except their crappy, undemocratic record over the past 8 years.

Maybe McCain can get in on the Beach Boys reunion tour as a backup singer, since he may need a new job come Nov... :D

[carolyne]

I will NOT ever vote for Obama - just signed on as supporter, worker, contributor to the McCain Campaign. Proud to be an American and NO LONGER A DEMOCRAT, in which I sent back my DNC card and will register as a Republican in the morning. I'm sick of how the traitor Media has handled this bias campaign and now only listen to Fox News - Hanniety & Greata. The rest of the scum bags can have Obama for all he's worth, which isn't much. I am thoroughly disappointed FOR Hillary and IN Hillary for not walking away from a lousy party that betrayed her. I will never do another thing to help anyone in the Demo-rat party again including Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen. IF OBAMA, GOD FORBID, IS ELECTED IT WILL RUIN AMERICA. HE DOES NOT CARE ONE BIT FOR OUR COUNTRY, NEITHER DOES HIS LOUSY UNGRATEFUL WIFE. OBAMA IS A MUSLIM AND THIS IS THE WORST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO OUR COUNTRY.
HAVE WE GOT A MESS ON OUR HANDS WITH ALL OF OBAMA'S GANGSTER, BOMBER, RACIST, ANTI JEW BUDDIES. BIRDS OF A FEATHER - BYE BYE, BLACK BIRDS, BYE BYE.
VOTE MCCAIN OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA YEA! CINDY IS PROUD OF AMERICA AND WILL MAKE A GREAT FIRST LADY!

OPRAH EAT YOUR HEART OUT, AND MISSY DON'T COME KNOCKING AT MY DOOR ON BEHALF OF YOUR BUD OBAMA, YOU AND YOUR UNIVERSAL RELIGION IS PURE ANTICHRIST GARBAGE AND IT GOES AGAINST GOD AND HIS WORD. (NO WONDER OPRAH SUPPORTS OBAMA!)

[Angel]

Democratic Primary taught me a lesson “DO NOT TRUST MEDIA (LIBERAL MEDIA), WHICH MISGUIDE THE PEOPLE”. I am (was) a democrat, well-educated woman. I asked question to myself, “with Ultra conservative backing, Bush could get Judge Robert. With a moderate President like McCain and Democratic congress, is there ANY chance that you will get conservative judge on SC?“. The logical answer “NO”.
Also if you look at the Supreme Court judgments in last one and half year (after Judge Robert took over), I do not find/see any problem. Therefore, I can not buy any silly arguments from liberals on Supreme court. Moreover, I feel Liberals have already disrespected women (worst than the conservative judge on Supreme Court).
Regarding Iraq war, liberals always try to think about the past (that is the way; they tried to kill Hillary’s campaign). They have to look into future. They have to think about the solutions.
Any president (McCain or Obama) cannot take any drastic position. Moreover, with Obama’s inexperience, which is showing in his everyday remarks, the country will be better of with McCain.

I am a Hillary Supporter, I know that the only way she can come back in 2012 if McCain is the President for 4 yr and we need to try our best for it. Hillary is a public figure; she cannot express her feeling in public. However, I can. I will be voting McCain in Nov 08.

[prettyGurl]

I voted for CLinton. But I will vote for McCain in November. Obama ran a sexist and racist campaign. He used his little proxies to do hid dirty work and it really ticked me off. My friends are voting the same way as me!

[curly hair]

NJ in LA wrote "but I won't see my son dead from going to war to spite him either."

Think again, we won't be leaving Iraq even if Obama wins. We have too much at stake to do that. It is just a political lie to get get votes. At least McCain has the fortitude to tell you the truth!

[Jenna]

If the Democratic Party won't uphold Democratic principles, who will?

If the voters don't hold the Democratic Party accountable, who will?

The Democratic Party leaders did speak out when Hillary was savaged with misogyny. Why should I reward their silence with my vote? I will not vote for Obama in November.

[MG]

Jen: "Johnny Mac" lol - so cool! :)

I'm placing my McCain bumpersticker next to my Hillary one on my car. If you see me, honk! :)

MG

[christiania]

McCain's supreme court nominee will be the deciding vote in overturning Roe v Wade. This has been a tough primary, but please, women, Clinton voters, we need you. Obama and Hillary are beginning to make up - he wants her in a central position on health care. Don't buy what McCain is selling or we will all regret it.

[S.A.]

Thanks Hillary, but no. ------ I am a democrat but I will not join you and vote for Barack Obama. It's not his race, I'm a minority, it's not because you lost the primary. I just don't hear from him intelligent knowledge and leadership skills that I think is needed for a candidate to become president. Hillary Clinton is the best candidate, McCain is the next best. I don't see McCain as another George Bush. McCain has his own plans, they are different in many ways from Bush. I will give McCain my vote in november.

[Cindy]

I honestly, don't get the vitrol being spewed by Clinton supporters, towards Obama.

I feel there's been sooo much more bad mouthing coming out of the Clinton campaign than from the Obama campaign. So much so that even some of Clinton's closest Superdelegate supporters have left her. They're not stupid, they're not dupped, they're not power hungry Judas's... they saw.. their friend, take a dark turn, and they couldn't go there with her.

I don't blame Clinton's supporters. I blame Clinton. For me, the jury's still out if she really means she is now supporting Obama, or if she's actually still enjoying this fight her supporters are putting up on her behalf. Operation Chaos is still in full swing, and I Rush Limbaugh is dancing in the streets.

[Anna]

If we stay home and don't vote or if we write in Hillarys name or if we vote independent, we will help put Obama in office. Don't do this. We Hillary supporters should show the media and chris matthews of msnbc that they don't slander Hillary Clinton and pick a candidate for us. John McCain is a better informed leader than Barack Obama. We can help save our country by voting for John McCain. ( PS ) This message is only for democrats who refuse to vote for Barack Obama.

[Ram]

John McCain is a Barry Goldwater conservative.
He successed Barry in the senate and holds many of the same priniciples. Barry Goldwater was a against government intervention in Abortion decisions. Also, as Carolyne mentioned in an earlier post, it will be impossible for John McCain to push a extremely conservative judge through a Demoncratic controlled Congress. McCain has a history of working together with the democrats, and the best he could probably do is split the judges and balance out a really conservetive judge with a liberal judge or more likely, he will push in two moderate judges.

[nana4]

This Hillary Supporter agrees with EVERYTHING said by my fellow supporters.

No to Obama.
dirty campaign, potty mouthed supporters
less experience than my own son
no significant achievement or contribution as a legislature
unexplained shady associations
militant wife

No to Democratic Party.
dirty campaign
voter suppression
unabashed affirmative action
disrespect for women

McCain is a known. Hillary will be back in the Senate. They work well together. She works well with all colleagues in the Senate who know her and respect her.
There is some legal factor that does not allow the overturn of Roe vs Wade, so, that is not a legitimate threat. Iraq War will need careful exit strategy for anyone who makes the decision. Too late to do anything about the lies of Bush that got us there and Democrat Comrade Pelosi refused to impeach him.
Economy is a mess. Maybe Gov Romney as Veep can address that for McCain. Frankly, I like his no nonsense talk and posture better than when he tries to give lofty speeches. I think he could be a Truman with the right kind of support. Health Care? Too bad, we can't have everything and must pay for the consequences of pushing Obama in and Hillary out, so Dems will have to live with that which is a tragedy. Taxes? what can I say? It is either leave as is or increase for "give away" for just another select group; same thing either way. I can live with things for 4 years. Better than rewarding a bunch of crooks for really bad behavior, "Bad boys gone wild" on power.

[Brian]

Another Clinton voter appalled by Obama's coronation as the Democratic nominee. My vote is going to Johnny Mac as well. He is miles above Obama. We can stand him for four years, and then enjoy eight years of HRC as President. And if Roe V. Wade is overturned, let the disaffected women who wouldn't support Hillary as their nominee know what it is like to have to fight for their rights. I kind of feel that if they had really thought about this and had some foresight, Obama (who is clearly a weaker candidate), would not have been an option for them.

[k_pr]

Amazing. Is everyone forgetting that McCain opposed equal pay for women? Will work to overturn Roe v. Wade? Has proposed pro-business solutions for the health care crisis?

Folks. Obama is not th enemy here. On almost every single issue, Clinton and Obama were nearly identical. Including equal pay for women, choice, and health care.

Look at the issues be for you cast your vote. If you are still that upset, consider the Green Party (who will probably nominate a woman) or Ralph Nader.

[Ellen Grobman]

I guess you "Hillary supporters" were republicans all along because otherwise there is no way you could be supporting John McCain, none. Why did you even support Hillary? I clearly wasn't because of her politics, because there is no one more opposite to Hillary than John McCain. Do you know that he was rated the worst Senator on childrens' issues in the entire Senate? That he is completely anti-choice? That his voting record has been as close to Bush's as almost any other Senator? You needn't believe me, check it out. Sure, McCain has experience, but you might be surprised when you find out that he is one of the most right-wing Senators around. And if you really believe that somehow right-wing anti-choice Supreme Court judges won't get through if he is, G-d forbid our next president, what makes you so sure? Of course, if you feel that Bush has been a fine pres. and the last 7 years have been great, by all means vote for McCain. But if you are upset and angry and sad because Hillary didn't get the nomination, I understand, but please take a breath and really ask yourself why did you ever support Hillary because truly, no one is more opposed to what she stands for than McCain. And please, when you feel like it , please check out Obama. You might be surprised.