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.
The democrats talk about unity and all they do is fight among themselves. They can’t even pick who they want to represent their party, all they do is fight and make acusations against one another. Yet they want us to believe they can unite this country and run it the way it quote sshould be run. WHAT A JOKE!!!!! Learn how to run and unite your own party first.
Please clarify report of poll information given on March 27, am show. Other network shows reporting Barack 44% -McCain 42%. Fox reported McCain 44% - Barack 42%
No way would I ever vote for John McCain!
As a Republican, I hope Obama wins the nomination. There is not a chance in the world he would get elected. I also think there is more “questionable” data about him that is waiting to be unleashed until long after the Democratic Convention.
Sure, go ahead and rage-vote for Songbird McCain if your candidate doesn’t win the nomination. After all, he is the new Republican Liberal. This is worse than “picking the winner” or basing your vote on race or gender.
Of course, it is your right to vote for who you want. I just wish people would do their research and not check the ballot for the wrong reasons. Especially when it comes to McCain.
I’m a Libertarian Conservative Constitutionalist. I believe in the vision of freedom that our Founding Fathers had for this great country.
I will check that ballot (or write in if I have to) based on what I believe is right for my country.
Ron Paul for President 2008
I’m one of them them! I will gladly vote for Senator McCain if Obama is the democratic nominee. I’ve voted dem all my life, but Obama is too inexperienced. It’s an easy choice because John McCain is an appealing candidate and a hero for this country. I’d be proud to have him in the Oval Office.
Go Hillary !!!! Go Obama !!!!!
Hillary like Bill is a documented liar and Obama has spent to many Sundays listening to a man who is a racist pig. Another independent for McCain.
This time round a lot of emotions are strong. Critics should stop and take a step back to see the whole picture. Hillary fights to the end, she is someone you want to fight for you in your corner. She will fight for this country and her countrymen. We mean it when we say if Hillary doesn’t get the nomination we will vote for McCain. Put a stop to Obama mania or you will see a historical number of party defections.
I will vote for McCCain if Obama becomes the nominee. We don’t feel secure with Obama and there is too much drama around him and always a speech to try to quell the drama. He is seen pumping his fist in church while his young daughters dance in the aisle while his “pastor” gives his hate -filled sermons. That tells me alot about this man. Also, he dedicates his book to his black father who abandoned him and fathered 7 other children with different women, yet he disses his white mother and grandmother who STAYED behind and cared for him. That tells me all I need to know about him.
Not Hillary. If McCain or Obama still undecide. She disgraced her self our service people under fire have better comeing then she gave. Nothing she says or does can make up to our troops for trying to put her self on there level.