enter the fray: our reader discussion forum
If Hillary wins ugly
by johnzep

First a few disclaimers, I am an enthusiastic Obama supporter and have contributed several times to his campaign. As an over-educated, young, white male, I am right in Obama's demographic sweet spots.

If Hillary wins the election fair and square, it's fair to say I would be very disappointed. In fact, a couple things would leave me rather disgusted: Namely, the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton thing and the restoration of the Clinton psychodrama to the national stage.

That said, I like Hillary. I think she is a great senator. I think she is smart and hard-working. So if she wins fairly, I would vote for her and donate to her campaign, even if my enthusiasm would be less intense than if Obama becomes the nominee.

However, if she wins ugly, either by using superdelegates to overturn and Obama lead in pledged delegates or if she wins using the grossly unfair uncontested delegates from Florida and Michigan, she will lose my vote.

(Though, I thin a new vote in Florida or Michigan would be fair and not a problem.)

But if she wins using underhanded tactics , there is no way I could support her, and I have a feeling a lot of other Democrats feel the same way. So it could become a case where Hillary wins the battle but loses the war. If sleazy, win-at-all-costs tactics give Hillary the nomination over the popular will of Democratic voters, it will drive flocks of voters to McCain or gives them reason to stay home in November.

View complete thread