The Rush Effect

Mark Blumenthal has new data suggesting that Republicans who voted for Clinton in Mississippi were motivated largely by their opposition to Barack Obama.

.

These Clinton Republicans also expressed very negative views of Barack Obama:

* 91 percent said Clinton is more qualified to be commander in chief; only 3 percent said Obama is more qualified.
* 94 percent said Obama does not inspire them "about the future of the country."
* 89 percent would be dissatisfied if Obama were the Democratic nominee.
* 86 percent said Obama is not "honest and trustworthy."
* 86 percent said Obama has not "offered clear and detailed plans to solve the country's problems."
* 82 percent said Clinton should not pick Obama to be her running mate if she is the nominee.

So the primary motivation of Clinton's Mississippi Republicans may be a desire to stop Barack Obama, although many may be motivated by tactical shenanigans as well.

Comments

Just one of the millions of great things about obama is that repubs vote for him. Just one of the millions of bad things about Hillary is repubs vote for her.

Yup. We really are that dumb. [We meaning you]

Posted by hadenough | March 13, 2008 4:37 PM

explaines nothing because this would probably be the same data whether it was the rush effect or not. a very conservative republican, in the south, could think this way about obama anyway. it does not explain why they voted for hillary instead of mccain.

Posted by carl schwartz | March 13, 2008 4:39 PM

The issue here is that not all republicans are created equal.

For the most part, Obama has been attracting disillusioned republicans who would consider voting for him in the Fall.

After McCain won the nomination, HIllary is attacting hardcore, racist, rush listening, fringe Republicans who would never vote for any democrat and in fact are training all of their fire on the likely dem nominee and probably also because he is black.

Puntdits would be drawing an incorrect conclusion if they were to think that the dittohead-Hillary alliance is any way shape or form relevant to Obama's appeal to a very different segment of the republican party - the Obamacans likely to stay with him in the fall.

Posted by RKA | March 13, 2008 6:07 PM

Of course Rush's dittohead voters would say such things in an exit poll. This proves nothing, except the mentality of the Rush Limbaugh audience. These are Limbaugh voters, make no mistake.

And going back to TX, read any of the anecdotal stories about the Limbaugh voters laughing about their mischief.

And get a clue; does anyone with a right mind believe these people would vote for Hillary in a general election? They will be among those who would rip Hillary apart for her numerous scandals and failings.

In a general, Obama will clearly attract more independents than any candidate, and more Republicans than Hillary could dream of. And also, Hillary would energize the Republican base like no other.

Posted by cm | March 13, 2008 7:15 PM

Hitler came to power quite legally --- he was democratically elected.

The curse of democracies is that they allow demagogues to sway the public sentiment toward doing things that can, in retrospect, be seen as regrettable - like Germany restarting World War II.

Democracy does not necessarily equal good government.

Posted by D | March 13, 2008 9:30 PM

The biggest thing is that you don't know what they really think.
These are limbaugh republicans who are out on a lark because their primary is over and they are bored.
They will say anything to cause screw ups.
Plus they want Hillary to run against so of course they are going to knock Obama. They don't want to run against him.
You have to take whatever these guys say in these surveys with a grain of salt then throw the data out as unusable.

Posted by vwcat | March 13, 2008 11:17 PM

DON'T BE DUPED!!!

Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.

But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).

I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty, and comfort for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-self, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.

You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-self.

Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!

As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.

Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.

If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.

The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket now! Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.

I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history. But the time to act is soon.

The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.

Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.

“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)

Sincerely

jacksmith...

Posted by jacksmith | March 14, 2008 8:22 AM