The Myth of the Obamacans

hotair.com ^ | August 13, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

[Free ThinkerNY]

Andrew Romano takes apart the supposed “Obamacan” movement of Republicans who support Barack Obama for President. As Romano notes in Newsweek, the appearance of Lincoln Chaffee — who is no longer a Republican anyway — and a couple of previously-committed endorsers yesterday doesn’t exactly make a movement. In checking the polls, the actual motion comes from the other direction:

But are there enough rank-and-file Republicans whispering their support at Obama rallies to actually make a difference on Election Day?

As I discovered from examination the last 18 months of head-to-head general election polls, the answer is an emphatic “no.” In fact, John McCain’s share of the Democratic vote has typically been larger than Obama’s share of the Republican vote. In other words, it’s not that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright scared the Obamacan masses off, as some pundits have theorized–it’s that they never existed (in any unprecedented way) to begin with.

In December 2006–before the unfamiliar Illinois senator had officially announced his candidacy–McCain attracted 25 support among Dems versus Obama’s eight percent among Repubs, according to a FOX News poll. Those numbers tightened over the next few months, but Obama never established a sustained lead. A February 2007 Quinnipiac survey showed McCain with 17 percent crossover support, for example, versus nine percent for Obama; in a June 2007 sounding by the same firm, McCain still led 15 percent to 11.

During primary season–between December 2007 and April 2008–McCain’s Democratic number hovered between 18 and 22. Obama, meanwhile, never climbed higher than 13 percent.

[Daveinyork]

Most Republicans who are not supprting McCain are conservatives, and will not be supporting either J. McBama, or B. McBama.

[WOSG]

Obama is the worst nominee in a generation.
Obama is the most left-wing nominee ever.

Any Republican voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Col Sanders.

http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - NObama, stop the Hype and Chains candidate

[Always Right]

The media’s desparate attempt to jumpstart the failing Obama campaign.

[Maelstorm]

Republicans that vote for Obama are not Republicans. I mean where are they on agreement with him on? If they are social leftist activists then they are in the wrong party. Republicans are historically more idealogical united than the left. The press always talks about the GOP breaking up but that isn’t a real risk because more left leaning GOPers tend to not be activist on social issues. The only worry I have is fiscally left leaning social conservatives. They I think present a risk because they if they start voting for Democrat big government then it is hard for Republicans to win. That is why it is important to make the case for smaller more efficient government to educate people who might otherwise fall for the pie in the sky utopia often presented by the left.

[seekthetruth]

“Most Republicans who are not supprting McCain are conservatives, and will not be supporting either J. McBama, or B. McBama.”

Then whom will they vote for to help Senator Obama become President?

I am a conservative. I am not supporting McCain with $ or my time because I am not real pleased with him, but I will be voting for him in November to help keep Obama out of the White House.

[phillyfanatic]

No one cares but the MSM that Jim Leach of Iowa and some disgruntled RINO’s support the Messiah. Most Pubs and conservs like myself, who are not thrilled with ole John, will still vote for him and other Pubs because the socialist pacifists led by the Savior are so dangerous for American life, culture and security, that not to do so is simply absurd and un-historical if one believes in American exceptionalism as I do.

[Daveinyork]

“Then whom will they vote for to help Senator Obama become President?”

I can only speak for myself. I will probably not vote for either candidate. I had hopes for Barr, but he’s picking on the wrong issues to emphasize, and won’t be getting many conservative votes, but he could have gotten a lot of them. I don’t want either J. McBama or B. McBama anywhere near the levers of power.

The lesser of two evils is still evil, and I’ve supported far too many of them, and all we get is ever increasing government. McBama can increase the government, and either McBama will. They will do it without my vote.