Gallup Poll: Many Democrats Ready to Vote McCain if Their First Choice Doesn’t Make It to November
Many Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supporters are ready to spurn the Democratic party and vote for John McCain in November if their candidate doesn’t win the presidential nomination, according to a new poll out Wednesday.
And a second poll out Wednesday shows most voters — including 85 percent of Democrats — believe there’s a chance that the battle between Clinton and Obama will not be resolved before the August convention.
Among people who identified themselves as Hillary Clinton supporters, 28 percent said they would vote for McCain if Obama is his opponent, the March 7-22 Gallup Poll Daily election tracking survey found.
The same poll found that 19 percent of Obama supporters would switch sides and cast ballots for McCain if Clinton is the Democratic candidate.
The survey interviewed 6,657 Democratic voters nationwide and had a margin of error of 2 percent.
Click here to read the Gallup Poll discussion of the survey.
Gallup analysts note that the results could change by November, by which time Democrats will have made great efforts to unify the party.
Gallup analysts also noted that voters tend to threaten party desertion but don’t necessarily do so. A recent Gallup survey found that 11 percent of Republican voters said they would vote for a different party or not at all if McCain doesn’t pick a running mate who is more conservative than he is.
Historically, the party-switch factor has shown to be less dramatic, Gallup analysts said. Less than 10 percent of Republicans and Democrats crossed party lines in pre-election Gallup polls from 1992 to 2004.
In the second poll, Rasmussen Reports found that 87 percent of all voters — and 85 percent of Democrats — believe it is “somewhat likely” that both Clinton and Obama will remain in the race until the convention. Fifty-two percent of Democrats said it is “very likely” the nomination won’t be decided until the convention.
The Rasmussen poll (March 24-25, 800 likely voters, +/- 4 percentage points) also found that there’s equal dislike on either side of the Democratic race for the rival candidate: 22 percent of both Clinton and Obama supporters said they believe the other candidate should drop out of the race.
Count me in the ranks of Democrats that will be voting for McCain if Obama gets the nomination. His lack of experience, empty rhetoric about change, ultra-liberalism, and the company he keeps are just a few of the reasons why.
I don’t select my books based on what Oprah says to buy and I certainly won’t pick my candidate because of what she says to do. It is unfortunate that so many Americans are sheep…
I must laugh at all of the Idiot Hilary and Obama supporters who will vote for the opposition candidate if their particular choice doesn’t win. You will be the same people complaining when we “celebrate” our 8,000th military death in Iraq. You will be complaining that the economy is in a recession and there has been no job growth. You will complain that the gas prices in this country are out of control and that out government is out of touch with people. But you sure showed the democratic nominee in Novemeber.
The “I choose to vote for John McCain because he has experience” line is a laugh. This is a man who doesn’t get the difference between Sunni and Shiite and al-queda in Iraq. We will be in Iraq as long as its safe for 100 years. When has it been safe? With all of his experience he doesn’t understand the economy. Yes by all means Hilary and Obama supporters vote for Grandpa McCain and when our lot in life hasn’t improved any don’t you dare complain because you were the ones that handed the keys to the kingdom to the Republicans. If you think McCain is so much better than the opposite of your choice why didn’t you vote for him to begin with?
Seriously in issue after issue the difference between the two democratic nominees is so little that they have a tough time seperating themselves, but the difference between the democrats and John McCain is scary. If your a democrat vote democrat. If your a cheerleader please turn in your voters card until your old enough to see the issues, and not act like sore lossers. YOU are the reasons why there is an Electoral College and Superdelgates.
The Clintons aren’t fit to wipe Americans boots! They have split the Democratic party and they should concede. Monica is more honorable than they are!!
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!
These are my thoughts on this…..my opinion take it leave it…..
And with a Democrat Presidency or Congress you will pay more taxes (with higher estate and capital gains taxes to name a few) though they are not calling it a tax increase, but it is since you will pay more, since the wealthy politians, CEO’s and celebrities both dem or rep have trusts/tax shelters and they pay less than the “middle” class. Historically Democrats have larger governments, thus costing more. If you think universal health care is the answer, look at Canada where you have to wait months for surgery, or England, where Dr.’s told a woman she miscarried when she didn’t and a boy had a cotton ball logged in his ear thinking he was deaf for 9 years. If the democrats win, you will pay more and get less, and in my opinion a larger class system will develop, since the wealthy will be able to afford the best of the best Dr’s. and the poor will be left with the leftovers. This is a big fear for me as I have a disability. If you want to take more out of your hard earned paycheck and give it to the government or to someone who doesn’t work or is here illegally then by all means vote for either Hillary or Obama. McCain isn’t much better too, but he is a lesser evil, think about it, the republicans could of had one of the candidates who were on their high horse telling people how they should live, by religion, who they love, etc.
The DNC Chairman created this mess when he decided to disenfranchise voters in Florida and Michigan. A state should be able to decide when they want to hold their own Primaires. On top of that, the REPUBLICANS are in control in Florida and changed the dates - NOT the voters and NOT the Democrats! How could the DNC Chairman be so derelict in his responsibility to ensure Democratic votes count that he doesn’t just DO IT?? Because OBAMA won’t agree to it!
At one time, I would have voted for Obama but no more. If Hillary doesn’t make it, then I will vote for McCain. Obama stands up and runs down McCain and Clinton but doesn’t follow through with what HE would do - no plan - and people applaud. And his claims about being a Harvard Law Professor turned out to be false - he is just an occasional “lecturer”. Talk about easy to fool!
I’d rather see McCain than Obama with a Democratic House and Senate to keep him in check!
I’ll vote for big mac in a blink of an eye, if obama is the dem rep. I don’t want an iranian. palestinian, and hizbullah supporter in the white house.
I am taking a poll and have a LONG list of over 75 supporters in Missouri that said if Obama makes the nomination then they will vote for Mccain. Obama is VERY VERY VERY inexperienced and sounds like he needs to go back to school and learn, he sounds just plain stupid half the time!!
The Clintons have caused so much confusion in the Democratic Party. Bill Clinton isn’t fit to wipe Americans boots! Go crawl in a hole, Bill and Hillary! You have split the Democratic party and you would rather do than than lose! You both are poor excuses for politicians for President! Monica is more honorable than the both of you! Shame on you Clintons!
In the end I think it’s far more likely that disgruntled dems will either bite their lip and vote for their dem-rival or simply sit out the election rather than vote Republican. I also believe that this Wright fiasco was far more damaging to Obama than many will publicly admit. Like racism itself, Obama’s dubious association with this church can effectively be crammed to the back of the mind, but it won’t be forgotten. Astonishing as it may seem, I’ve drawn the conclusion that Obama either didn’t understand, or naively ignored that his real appeal was embodied almost entirely in transcending race. Chumming around with likes of Reverend Wright has, in one fell swoop, shattered his coveted “color-blind” status. It’s a mortal wound. Because when all alone and quietly locked away in the privacy of the voting booth, people WILL remember. So rather than being concerned about whether Obama supporters will ultimately vote for Hilliary or vise-versa, dems should be concerned about have a severely handicapped player leading the race.
How did we end up with these 3 choices. They all scare me.