Democrats ONLY: Are you scared (politically) of John McCain?

[MarkWarner08]

* No incumbent party has ever held the White House after an unpopular two-term President left office.

Any thoughts?

Why I'm worried about McCain in succinct sentences:

1. He'll beat Hillary in the critical Southwest
2. He'll earn a decent chunk of the Hispanic vote
3. Independents still think he'll a "maverick."
4. He'll do well in swing Congressional districts, thus ending the spectre of negative coattails for GOP candidates.
5. Republicans Senators can actually run with him. Susan Collins, Norm Coleman, and Gordon Smith will surely benefit from a decent McCain showing in their states.
6. The MSM thinks he was "right" about the Surge. He and Hillary both voted for the war, so that issue will be negated, like it was in 2004.
7. Older voters love McCain.
8. Black turnout will probably be lower after the bitter Democratic primary fight.

[exopolitician]

Im not scared of him winning, and I dont care for him personally....its alot of his issues and what he plans to do that kinda irks me. Hell lets continue to dip into a recession and then HEY...a depression....but lets keeping bombing and occupying countries for the hell of it. No thanks.

[MarkWarner08]

An even scarier thought for Democrats... The Republicans are set to nominate their most electable candidate (McCain) and Democrats are about to nominate their least electable candidate (Clinton).

This is why Democrats lose POTUS elections. We always pick the wrong candidate.

[Verily]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

[ilikeverin]

Yes, I'm dead frightened.  He could beat either Democratic candidate handily.

[MarkWarner08]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

If it's McCain vs. Clinton, will you write-in Chuck Schumer's name? I'm considering starting a Chuck4POTUS website...

[Boris]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

This is more or less my position, although I can't say I'd vote for Bloomberg seeing as I know nothing meaningful about him.

[MarkWarner08]

Yes, I'm dead frightened.  He could beat either Democratic candidate handily.

Obama could actually beat him. Interestingly, neither Obama nor McCain is easy to hate. That's bad news for Fox News and Air America.

[Lief 🗽]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

[Verily]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

If it's McCain vs. Clinton, will you write-in Chuck Schumer's name? I'm considering starting a Chuck4POTUS website...

No. I have only a weak fondness for Schumer. I'd write in Bloomberg.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I am scared of him, and then again I'm not scared of him.  Let me explain.  He could beat either Obama or Clinton, but he wouldn't be that bad of a president.

[ilikeverin]

Yes, I'm dead frightened.  He could beat either Democratic candidate handily.

Obama could actually beat him. Interestingly, neither Obama nor McCain is easy to hate. That's bad news for Fox News and Air America.

No, I think McCain could play the experience card rather effectively.

I agree with your second statement, though.  I think having Obama vs. McCain or Huckabee would be one of the most polite campaigns we've had for a while (though they would certainly employ their surrogates to do dirty work).

[MarkWarner08]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

If it's McCain vs. Clinton, will you write-in Chuck Schumer's name? I'm considering starting a Chuck4POTUS website...

No. I have only a weak fondness for Schumer. I'd write in Bloomberg.

We'll both write-in Jewish New Yorkers with Ivy League diplomas. Wonderful!

[War on Want]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

[MarkWarner08]

Yes, I'm dead frightened.  He could beat either Democratic candidate handily.

Obama could actually beat him. Interestingly, neither Obama nor McCain is easy to hate. That's bad news for Fox News and Air America.

No, I think McCain could play the experience card rather effectively.

I agree with your second statement, though.  I think having Obama vs. McCain or Huckabee would be one of the most polite campaigns we've had for a while (though they would certainly employ their surrogates to do dirty work).

But how well will that card work in a "change" election? After eight years of Bush, won't voters prefer the younger, more charismatic Obama to the elderly, ornery McCain?

If foreign policy issues dominate the campaign, McCain will win. But if the campaign focuses on the domestic front, I could foresee a >280 ECV Obama win.

[Verily]

Yes, I'm dead frightened.  He could beat either Democratic candidate handily.

Obama could actually beat him. Interestingly, neither Obama nor McCain is easy to hate. That's bad news for Fox News and Air America.

No, I think McCain could play the experience card rather effectively.

I agree with your second statement, though.  I think having Obama vs. McCain or Huckabee would be one of the most polite campaigns we've had for a while (though they would certainly employ their surrogates to do dirty work).

McCain may play the experience card, but he looks and acts very old, distinct from Reagan who was older but seemed much younger. Plus, McCain's not the greatest speaker or debater. Obama v McCain would be an interesting race, certainly, and by far the most pleasant and engaging I can imagine.

[Citizen James]

I'm not a Democrat, but I'm scared that I won't have anyone to vote for. McCain has really turned me off in the last few days by coming out swinging as an arch-conservative on basically everything, while  Clinton has only gotten more repulsive. I have my fingers crossed that either Obama will win the Democratic nomination or Bloomberg chooses to run.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Obama > McCain > Romney > Clinton. 

 Bloomberg = unknown.

Yes, I'm dead frightened.  He could beat either Democratic candidate handily.

Obama could actually beat him. Interestingly, neither Obama nor McCain is easy to hate. That's bad news for Fox News and Air America.

No, I think McCain could play the experience card rather effectively.

I agree with your second statement, though.  I think having Obama vs. McCain or Huckabee would be one of the most polite campaigns we've had for a while (though they would certainly employ their surrogates to do dirty work).

McCain may play the experience card, but he looks and acts very old, distinct from Reagan who was older but seemed much younger. Plus, McCain's not the greatest speaker or debater. Obama v McCain would be an interesting race, certainly, and by far the most pleasant and engaging I can imagine.

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[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

He scares me, as we don't know what kind of GE candidate he'd be.

But he's definitely vulnerable - it'd be the closest election.

[MarkWarner08]

He scares me, as we don't know what kind of GE candidate he'd be.

But he's definitely vulnerable - it'd be the closest election.

Just what we need -- another nailbiter.

[© tweed]

I don't really care whether or not he beats Clinton.  I have no reason to be afraid of him.

[ShadowRocket]

Honestly, I don't care if he is elected President because I dislike both Hillary and Obama. I would be willing to tolerate four years of President McCain as long as that meant Mark Warner is elected in 2012. So I'm not afraid of him.

[Person Man]

He scares me, as we don't know what kind of GE candidate he'd be.

But he's definitely vulnerable - it'd be the closest election.

Just what we need -- another nailbiter.

Hmmm...I think that both Obama and Clinton can do well in all of the swing states, but that's just me.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

He scares me, as we don't know what kind of GE candidate he'd be.

But he's definitely vulnerable - it'd be the closest election.

Just what we need -- another nailbiter.

Hmmm...I think that both Obama and Clinton can do well in all of the swing states, but that's just me.

Yes, but IMHO they appeal to some of the same, but also some very different geographical areas.

I can't see Obama being competitive in the Border states that I think Clinton has a good shot at - the same is true for Clinton and the SW.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He's over-rated actually. Not that he'd be a bad candidate or anything (which is the main difference between him and all the other Republicans running...) but he's not, and is obviously not, the unbeatable electoral titan that many here have recently decided to believe.

[Gustaf]

No, because I think a McCain presidency with a Democratic congress would be the best thing America can get. He will handle Iraq and the economy responsibly and I have good hopes for the kind of compromises he will be able to strike with Democratic leaders in Congress. After all, I think that worked pretty well before.

But if one badly wants the next president to be a Democrat there is obviously reason to worry, if not, perhaps, be "scared". McCain is competitive against any of the Democrats, unlike Romney.