The Uncommitted Vote (Updated)

January 16, 2008

Comments

One thing worth noting about the results of the Michigan primary was the extremely large Democratic vote for “Uncommitted”. Clinton took 55% of the total vote, while “Uncommitted” took 40%. This is actually out of whack with the most recent polls in Michigan, which showed an average of about 53% for Clinton and only about 29% for “Uncommitted”. That’s about an 11 point difference in favor of “Uncommitted”, meaning that Democratic voters appear to have gone out of their way to not vote for Clinton.

That’s pretty amazing to me. And I think that those folks who truly believe that Clinton is the most “electable” of the three Democratic candidates really needs to start looking at the evidence about her unfavorability.

(A little full disclosure here: I have, as of today, announced my intention to caucus for Obama on Super Tuesday. This opinion regarding Obama is, as far as I know, unique to the staff of OTB and shouldn’t reflect upon them.)

UPDATE: Dave Schuler

No, Alex. I’m a Democrat, I always vote Democrat in primary elections (in Chicago the primary is the election), and, since Bill Richardson has pulled out and had campaigned so poorly anyway, I’ll be voting for Obama. The top-tier Democratic candidates don’t really differ that much in their stated policies and I think that style and attitude matter. Of Clinton, Edwards, and Obama I prefer Obama’s style and attitude. So that’s two of us at OTB.

6 responses to “The Uncommitted Vote (Updated)”

Tano

January 16, 2008 at 2:12 am

Yes. It does take quite the effort to drag yourself to a polling place and mark the ballot for “uncommitted” – not knowing what that delegate will end up doing, or whether the delegate will even be allowed into the convention.

There is a lot of seething anger amongst Michigan Democrats about being disenfranchised by the state party’s shenanigans – and there is a widespread feeling that what transpired was done by Clinton supporters for her benefit.

So yeah, I dont think she won anything tonite.
DL

January 16, 2008 at 4:26 am

Hillary (the resurrection of Eve)is the best GOP candidate possible.

Careful we don’t sink the left’s Titanic until she sails.(Wait till after the primaries!)
rodney dill

January 16, 2008 at 6:16 am

Democratic voters appear to have gone out of their way to not vote for Clinton.

How embarrassing for Rodham Clinton. It’s not retaliation against the party it’s a mark against her. ‘It’s the candidate, stupid’
markm

January 16, 2008 at 7:09 am

“And I think that those folks who truly believe that Clinton is the most “electableâ€ of the three Democratic candidates really needs to start looking at the evidence about her unfavorability.”

Being from Michigan I was watching some of the local coverage. They had former Michigan Governer James Blanchard on who is stumping for Hillary. He said “blah blah blahblahblah AND, I just saw a poll that showed Hillary has a 73% favorability rating among Democrats”. I think the poll was conducted at the Clinton headquarters.
Grant

January 16, 2008 at 8:42 am

Going from 53% in the polls to 55% on Election Day I’m sure is a huge blow to Hillary Clinton.

I’ve read some desperate things before, but this is so stupid it’s funny.
🙂
Paul

January 16, 2008 at 9:02 am

I recall many times in elections like 1988 or 2004 seeing that “Unnamed Democrat” would defeat GB or GWB, but each time the Democrats have the bad sense instead to nominate a real person who can be picked apart. With this dude “Uncommitted” coming from nowhere to a strong second place finish against a much better funded challenger, perhaps Michigan Democrats are on to something. Uncommitted ’08, onward to victory!

The Democratic primary voters who think Hillary’s pile of baggage can summit the general election mountain must be the same ones who saw electability in McGovern, Mondale, and Dukakis. Don’t you think at some point they’d learn to take off their blue-tinted glasses before making such judgments?