Unity in Unity, N.H.? Not so much for some Hillary Clinton backers

Our cousins over at The Swamp have an item this morning spotlighting just how nagging a problem Barack Obama faces in trying to woo some disappointed Hillary Clinton supporters in facing off against John McCain. It seems a couple of notable New Hampshire Democrats -- James McConaha, a former Clinton administration farm official in New Hampshire, and his Democratic activist wife, Valery Mitchell -- have no intention of hopping aboard the Unity bus.

Picking up a story in the Nashua Telegraph, the couple has agreed to lead Democrats for John McCain. And that's not the only anti-Obama group out there composed of Clinton supporters. In fact, though polls show most of her backers moving to Obama, there is a large and vociferous crowd out there that refuses to go along.

Whether this is enough of a counter tide to have an effect in November is the big question, of course. And it will matter most in the battleground states -- a few thousand Clinton supporters voting for McCain here in California, for instance, isn't likely to turn the state red. But it could be an issue in states where the red-blue divide is narrower.

Regardless, campaigns are an amalgamation of a lot of moving parts, and it can't be a good distraction for the Obamans to have to go out and try to run down strays from the Democratic herd.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[frieda]

I don't buy any unity show..

the only reason she is even talking to him is that she needs his money and she want to stay relevant. She is not doing this because she thinks obama will be the BEST president.

I bet you that, she will never use these words: Obama will be the best president!!

What happened to 3:00 AM red phone callings??
What happened to his only experience being a SPEECH??

how can you take those words back??

I am voting for McCain ..McCain is not your typical Republican and I like his stand on Environment and I love seeing his wife as a first lady.

[Tom in California]

Democrats for McCain? What pathetic tools those folks are! McCain is going down to ignominious defeat in November. If some rats want to climb up on board his sinking ship, let 'em go!

[Franky]

Those democrats who do not support this unity, aren't really democrats are they!?

They are the people who want to manipulate politics, and when they don't get their way from one party, they hop over to the next and beg there. They have no loyality to issues, only to what power they can gleen off someone they support.

The babies of politics.

[Mitchel]

LIKE MCCAIN'S STAND ON THE ENVIRONMENT????
Anyone voting with the environment in mind has only one choice.
McCain talks about the environment a lot, but his actual positions are no different than the typical Republican - which he IS.
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2008-06-19.asp

[Hillary Supporter]

I am a Hillary supporter. Always have been and always will be. That said, we can't afford 4 more years of Bush. ANYONE in the democratic camp who is backing McCain does so at their own political peril.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Those silly gooses. They want to elect a man who wants to send our children into a senseless war. Their new political party are against women's rights.

I think we are all impressed with how so very bitter they are that they would actually vote against their own best interest.

This is truely an inspirational group of small minded losers.

[Jake11]

I will never vote for Obama. Let us vote for Mccain and then after 4 yrs in 2012, vote for better democrat either Hillary or someone.

[Maroot Hidachi phalemmn]

I think there should be no president. Every citizen should vote for things that need a decision. With these elections we only vote for the one who looks less fake. Let the people actually do the work of the nation instead of these fakers.

[Cliff]

I think it is extremely short sighted to vote for John McCain because thier candidate depsite using every dirty tactic in the book from race cards, attempts to supress votes, suggesting loose associations with the likes of Bill Ayer, failed to win the democratic nomination. I support Obama fully and I hope all of those who plan to campain against a fellow demosrate who ran a much more positive and effective race will have egg on thier political faces. I think some of this resistance is due to skin color and the anger over Clintons loss is a substitute

[Laurie]

I voted for Hillary in the primary because I agreed with her on most issues. If you can jump from Hillary to McCain then you are proving that you were only supporting her because she is a woman and not based on issues. There is no way you can jump from Hillary to McCain based on issues.

[Kevin]

This is the same old story following every primary election and in the end will mean nothing. Let's not forget all the problems McCain has in unifying the party behind his ticket even 3 months after winning his nomination. As the only candidate remaining in his last states, he still managed to win only 73% of Republican voters in Virginia, for example! True conservatives despise him. Bush's evangelicals aren't going to turn out this time - not for a Bush at 23% approval rating and not for his 3rd term in McCain.

Flip flop McCain will win nothing but a ticket to the old folks home in November. Republicans better get used to another 16 years in the wilderness!

[Lawrence]

People are making such a huge deal out of Obama potentially losing a chunk of Democratic support from disaffected Clinton-backers...but just imagine if the roles had been reversed!

Can you imagine the discussion we would be having about Clinton desparately trying to woo back the hundreds of thousands of new voters Obama had brought out and she had just made cynics of?

[Marc]

Oh yeah, McCain has a great stance on the environment....45 new nuke plants, offshore drilling. Not a typical republican either? 100 yrs in Iraq, G dubs buddy. The last thing we need is a military man running the show.

[slavicdiva]

I am a Democrat, and I do not support Obama. "Franky" says that makes me something other than a "real Democrat."

Sorry Franky, I'm an American first, and a Democrat second. My party did not nominate the best candidate. In light of his apparent opportunism which has become more glaring of late, I cannot support him.

For years, we Democrats have accused Republicans of putting party before country. Now would you have us do the same? I cannot and will not support an unqualified glamour boy for President just because Howard Dean and a bunch of other crooked politicians hated Hillary Clinton.

Right now, I have no candidate, and nobody to vote for.

[Jeff Cotner]

Snob? What the hell is wrong with people? Here is a real chance for America and the world to turn this mess around and all some people can do is get sidetracked with alot of B.S. It is beyond sad. It is PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!

[elizabeth bauersox]

"Those democrats who do not support this unity, aren't really democrats are they!?"

Since when are Democrats such tools that they have to do what they're told and support a candidate they don't like?

Some of us are taking a vacation from being Democrats in November. If the party members who prefer to stay in lockstep with the wishes and desires of the DNC continue to be abusive, that vacation might well turn out to be permanent.

Remember, we Clinton supporters owe the party nothing. Our votes belong to us, not to the party, and not to Hillary Clinton either, and we won't be hijacked into turning them over to your unqualified, hypocritical Chicago political hack of a candidate.

[So what?]

So, will a bunch of pathetic hillbilly losers change the election? Don't think so.
All the pools are showing Obama beating McCain everywhere, not only on the blue states, but on the purple states and even on the red states as well.
RealClearPolitcs count shows Obama with more than 340 electoral votes on november's electoral college. He needs only 275 to become president.
The mentally sanel HRC supporters have migrated to Obama already. The ones that haven't migrated yet are the schizophrenic people that lived on an oblivion through the whole primary season.
They probably drive big gas-guzzling SUVs, believe that we will win the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and would like to have Colored people seating on the back of the bus forever...
Well, sorry folks, times have changed, and Obama is sweeping this election according to the pools.
If you like to be whining losers, feel free to do so. This is a beautiful free country, you can do whatever you want!

[Mike]

Clinton and Obama are identical on the issues. The Clinton backers who won't back Obama are voting based on personality, not issues. Anyone who votes on personality, not issues, is an idiot.

[d g]

Yes, we're Democrats. We believe in progressive values, unlike Obama who is changing his stand and running to agree with Republicans on issues (FISA, campaign finance, free trade) whenever it is politically advantageous for him. We've seen enough of him selling out progressives. We also don't want our party taken over by folks like the above commenters, who apparently think the best way to approach those who have a disagreement is to insult them. Anyone else notice that every political blog and forum has been taken over by this kind of behavior coming from Obama's fan base? Enough is enough. Just say No Deal.

[Brad Eleven]

frieda says, "John McCain is not your typical Republican."

I agree. He's not. He's not personally wealthy, he's not well connected, and he's relatively inexperienced in politics, e.g., he didn't rise through the ranks doing dirty tricks to get others elected or re-elected.

Then again, George W. Bush isn't your typical Republican either. He came to the governor's mansion in Texas without personal wealth, but he did have family wealth. He wasn't personally well connected, but his family always has been. And he certainly hasn't ever worked his way up any organizational structure.

McCain is like Bush because he doesn't have his own agenda. He must adopt one from the wealthy people who are sponsoring him, however reluctantly their sponsorship may be.

There remains a slim chance that McCain would actually go maverick if elected, e.g., re-adopt his discarded positions on torture, election reform, health care, foreign relations, women's rights, etc. I don't happen to believe that it's going to happen.

I think John McCain really will simply stay the course set by the sponsors of George W. Bush, who himself had no real agenda.

Both men are willing to let others tell them what to do in exchange for the prestige of high office.

[Angry Ladies for Hillary]

I'm mad cause Hillary did not get the votes she needed so I am going to throw a fit, and then vote the other way cause I don't care who becomes president as long as it's not Obama! "Can anyone say menopause... what a joke!!!"

[jj]

oh please, 90% of clinton's supporters are backing obama according to the polls.

this is a non-issue being kept alive by the media because it makes for juicy reading.

[Daryl]

It is amazing how the people who dont support Barack are now considered "not democrats". Were you people on the campaign trail when I was spit at called a fag and other things by his thugs. Now unity? Amazing he bought an election and forced Hillary out..not unlike Zimbabwe. So you people can have your SELECTED not ELECTED snobish candidate. I will not vote for him and will urge countless PENNSYLVANIANS to do the same. We are a swing state that clings close to our guns, bibles, and should be looked out for. Let him run his haphazard B.S. in your states. Racism goes both ways!

[elizabeth bauersox]

"I think some of this resistance is due to skin color and the anger over Clintons loss is a substitute"

Don't judge other people by yourself, Cliff.

And don't even bother trying to intimidate us by playing Obama's dopey race card. Nothing will divide the country faster than that kind of tactic.

McCain will win in a landslide in November. You wait and see.

[wow]

Yes, Hilary has openly said a lot of pretty ferocious things about Obama, and privately helped to fuel many more of the ridiculous rumors. But if anything else, these things only serve to disqualify her from being a good leader, as opposed to anyone else. These are also the reasons why she and Obama could never be on the same ticket. Its clear that she is only out to achieve personal gain, at anyone's expense, and at any time.
On another note, how can you vote for a potential president based on how his wife looks? That's in the top twenty of the most ignorant comments I've ever heard.

[Luise]

I am 62, a female, and have been for Obama since the start. However, had Hillary Clinton won, I would be voting for her because I admire her as well. In addition, I can't imagine someone who had been for Clinton voting for John McCain. Unthinkable!! and totally immature and childish.

[Cliff]

slavicdiva "My party did not nominate the best candidate." Hillary Clinton lost this nomination mostly because she assumed that it was hers. The best canidate is the one that runs the best campaign. On every measurable item she did not do so. Staying at home is a vote for John McCain. Look at his record and Obamas and make your decision based on issues, not emotions.

[Gabrielle Lynn]

Hey, if the DNC can play politics and deny millions their right to vote and play favorites in the election, then I can play politics and use my vote -- the one they CAN'T take away -- to send them a clear message. I'll vote McCain and then vote for Hillary -- the better Democratic candidate -- in 2012.

And, the insistence of Obama and his supporters that those who don't support him are racially biased is insulting and infuriating. This guy is the wrong choice because he's so inexperienced and pie-in-the-sky, there's literally no knowing what's gonna happen if he becomes president. At least with McCain, you know where he stands. And that doctored presidential seal? What gall!

[Aalaf Alot]

There large growing base of Republicans for Obama aka
Obamablicans. Obama may grab some Religious Conservatives Evangelical Christians too.

Rick Warren support Obama, author of "Purpose Driven"
There goes small percentage of Orange County Republican for Obama.

[me]

Normally I'm against people voting for someone just based on their party, but this just proves how much damage Hillary did when she didn't drop out after it became mathimatically impossible for her to win.

These people are only voting for McCain just to spite Obama.

[McLamey]

Democrats for McCain? What BS! These people need to realize if McCain gets elected the Supreme Court will be stacked with neo fascists for the next 20 years. No more choice for women, a bible in every classroom, and an uzi in every schoolbag. You think McCain is an environmentalist? His energy talk is identical to Cheney's. I am no huge lover of Obama, but any rational person who calls themselves a democratic or even a centrist has to do the right thing -- vote to get these morons out of the white house.

[Anita]

I will never vote for Obama and so do most of the Indian Americans in NJ. NJ will teach lesson to liberal DNC and others. There is large number of Asians in NJ and most of them will defect from democratic party and vote McCain.
There is an Indo-American Radio station in NJ and I was surprised that lot of Indians (traditionally democrats) called and told that they are going to vote for McCain

[Borgos]

If Hillary Clinton would have voted against the resolution to go to war with Iraq, we would not be having this conversation.

The sad truth to all this is that Obama is going through a junk yard, trying to get the pieces necesary to put together some form of functional party.

It is evident there isnt a democratic party anymore, if there ever was one. It would be more fair to call it Republicrat party.

With the 4th ammendment hanging by a unwinding thread, it is only a matter of time before we loose our right to privacy. Once the 4th ammendment is shred, the terrorist will have won their victory against the US.

The oath to protect the constitution which is what congress and senate is there to do is no more.

The halls of congress is filled with cowards and traitors.

[Jean]

So you think Cindy would make a good first lady? She was aware that John McCain was a husband AND a father when they started DATING. Both John and Cindy are deceitful and horrible people. At least Obama is a good husband and father. NO ONE can say that about McCain.

Check out this website: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

‘When he (McCain) came home (from Vietnam) and saw that Carol was not the beauty he left behind, he started running around on her almost right away. Everybody around him knew it.

‘Eventually he met Cindy and she was young and beautiful and very wealthy. At that point McCain just dumped Carol for something he thought was better.’

Quote from Carol – McCain’s FIRST wife: ‘My marriage ended because John McCain didn’t want to be 40, he wanted to be 25. You know that happens...it just does.’

Some of McCain’s acquaintances are less forgiving, however. They portray the politician as a self-centered womanizer who effectively abandoned his crippled wife to ‘play the field’. They accuse him of finally settling on Cindy, a former rodeo beauty queen, for financial reasons.

Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans’ rights, said: ‘I have been following John McCain’s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is – deceit.

[corinne Engbrenghof]

I'm disappointed that Hilary Clinton losers would be so vengeful that they would vote for McCain. They wouldn't be those false Democrats that are working for McCain would they? Their vindictiveness reminds me of neo-conservative Republicans.

[Sullivan Malone]

If you want to have Roe v. Wade repealed, more conservative judges on the Supreme Court, and your kids sent to more senseless and neverending wars, then go ahead and vote for McCain. You'll get what you truly deserve.

[elizabeth bauersox]

"McCain is like Bush because he doesn't have his own agenda. He must adopt one from the wealthy people who are sponsoring him, however reluctantly their sponsorship may be."

I think you need to find out more about McCain before you write further drivel like this. McCain has always been considered a centrist, and many consider him a maverick for not buying into the party line on numerous occasions.

Journalists who cover the Senate have a very high regard for McC -- higher than they do for Obama, who -- when he's present at all -- sits in his chair like a bump on a log.

Too bad you don't watch C-Span or read the papers. Obama seems to be a magnet for the shortcut-takers and the extremely immature.

[Steve007]

It is worth considering that post-Jeremiah Wright, "late deciders" in EVERY primary broke big for Hillary and that he lost 8 of 14 primaries. Only the Obamabots trust the new Messiah.

I've been a Democrat my whole life, but there is a serious war on, and Mr. Empty Resume glamour-boy is too weak and naive to win it. I'm voting McCain.

[Andy Vann]

Obama is a Starbucks democrat I'am working class.I will never vote for him.

[Sally]

Racism is a sad thing.

[mimi362]

I am a Hillary Clinton supporter and will not be told or scared into voting for Barak Obama. I do not think he has the experience or the know how to be our next President. I will keep listening, reading and learning about these two candidates and then I will make an informed decision.

[Marcos El Malo]

It's been less than a month and Obama has a 58% conversion rate? HRC's big donors are coming on board. Her big name endorsements are switching over. Sure, there are still a lot of disappointed Hillary supporters out there. Give them time; they've suffered a huge disappointment, but come November they'll do the right thing. Those that don't were probably not Dems anyway.

Now, as far as this couple in NH goes . . . I've never even heard of McConaha or Mitchell. Let them climb aboard the Straight Talk Express. They can change the tires for McCain.

The fact is that Obama is garnering more and more support from Republicans (like myself). He's making inroads with the new generation of evangelicals.

[Marshall]

Hillary supporters would rather back Mr Flip Flopper McCain? I'm guessing these Hillary supporters have no children, and are very rich, otherwise, this move would be foolish.

[Ron]

I am finally convinced that Clinton backers who will vote for McCain were only voting for her because Rush Limbaugh told them to. There is a movement in the Republican Party to pretend that they are disenfranchised Democrats and are therefore voting for McCain. Let me assure you that they are sheep who would like to go shopping for wolves' clothes.

[Rise Above]

Democrats for McCain? Why cut off your nose to spite your face? Democrats who care about ending the war, environmental protections, women's rights, and health care would do a tremendous disservice to the country by voting for McCain. Why wait til 2012 to begin repairing our problems? Who knows, if we have 4 more years of failed Republican polices, 2012 may be too late for anyone to fix what ails us.

[Margaret Ingle]

STOP THE MALENESS! What is the difference between McCain and Obama - none, they both say what they think the voters want to hear and flip flop on the issues. Typical males with commitment issues.

I was a life long Democrat, but now I will not vote again in any election in which a woman is not running.

Stupid men have run this country and if stupid voters want more stupid men to run this country, so be it. At least I can say I didn't vote for a male.

I have never heard one woman's name being mentioned in connection with the torture issue. Look at the stupid men who thought they could some how justify torture and think the cases would not be thrown out of a court of law. These were supposedly well-educated and experienced men. If these men are the best this country has to offer, then it is simply time to vote for women candidates who have the capability of using both sides of their brain.

IT IS TIME FOR WOMEN TO STRAIGHTEN THIS COUNTRY OUT!

It is time for women to show both political parties that our vote counts and it is time to punish both political parties for running male candidates.

Former Hillary supporter and former Democrat.

[HemiHead]

You like his stand on the environment. What stand would that be, Drill Drill Drill. I don't think building 45 nuclear power plants is going to give McCain the green thumb award either. He's going to use French technology to make safe nuclear waste. Here's a look at what kind of environment your going to get. Maybe it will be in your back yard. http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/english/downloads/beyond-nuclear.pdf

[Adam]

Bitterness. Hillary lost because she is bitter... he female supporters have now embraced this bitterness and will run off to vote for war, oppression of women, and a guy who admits he has no clue on our most important issue... economy. Women will never win the presidency until they grow up a bit... making a bitter decision because you didn't get your way that will obviously damage our country is every reason in the world there has never been one SINGLE successful woman running anything.... sure a few have made their way in a mans world... but girls, you have a long way to go. A great first step would be getting off your high horse and showing you can be rational.. .something that is sorely lacking in this debate about moving to McCain.

[PAG East Patchogue, NY]

It is true that John McCain is not your typical Republican, but he is adopting many of George Bush's policies and ideologies. It seems to me that Mr. McCohana and Ms. Mitchell are blaming Obama for Hillary's lost bid for the Democratic nominee of the party. Isn't this why we have a primaries? To see who wins? They really do not make any sense. Obama and Clinton's views on the issues are nearly identical. They must be in love with idea of a female President not with how she stands on the issues. My first choice was John Edwards, but I'll take Barack or Hillary over Mr. McCain and will be happy vote on how my candidate stands on the issues.

[staggart]

A bunch of angry, bitter people who are manipulative, divisive and don't think -- hmmmm - wait - they ARE republicans claiming to be something else -- wait - that makes them even more of a republican. Once properly counted as republicans they are, they will be in the 32% mudslide vote for McCain.