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Beacool

(30,244 posts)
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:43 PM Mar 2016

Who Is the Hillary Voter?

By Eric Sasson
March 18, 2016

The media is obsessed with the Sanders voter and the Trump voter. Yet it is the Hillary voter who may have the last laugh.

We have heard much talk this cycle about the mood of our national electorate. People are angry. They are sick and tired of establishment politicians, and are gravitating toward outsiders, revolutionaries, people who are going to “turn this country around.” They are flocking to the polls in huge numbers to make their anger heard.

The media has saturated us with profiles of the voters who are turning out for these anti-establishment candidates. There is the Sanders voter, a white, social-media-savvy millennial sick of corporate oligarchies and paying student loans. There is the alienated, white, working-class Trump voter, threatened by immigration and trade treaties and Muslims, someone far less interested in small government and the capital gains tax than the Republican donor class would like him to be. And there is the stridently conservative, small-government Cruz voter, a dedicated God-fearing culture warrior.

The voter we almost never hear about, however, is the Clinton voter. Which is surprising, since Hillary Clinton has won more votes in the primaries than any other candidate so far. She has amassed over 2.5 million more votes than Sanders; over 1.1 million more votes than Trump. Clearly Clinton voters exist, yet there has been very little analysis as to who they are or why they are showing up to vote for her. Sure, there has been talk of Clinton’s dominance among African-American voters, and, to a lesser extent, Hispanic voters. Her voters seem to skew older and more affluent. But these are demographics. (And even demographics have a hard time explaining her commanding win in Ohio, or her wins in Massachusetts and Missouri.) There is almost no discussion of what is motivating these voters. If anything, the media seems to think they are holding their noses as they vote for Hillary. As a recent New York Times article suggested, Clinton is winning “votes, not hearts.”

We never hear that Hillary Clinton has “momentum”—what she has is a “sizable delegate lead.” No one this cycle has described Clinton supporters as “fired up”—it’s simply not possible that people are fired up for Hillary. No, what we gather about Clinton from the press is that she can’t connect. She has very high unfavorable ratings. People think she is dishonest and untrustworthy. She is not a gifted politician. She is a phony. Hated by so many. The list goes on.

Considering that narrative, one would expect Clinton to be faring far worse in the primaries. Instead, she currently holds a popular vote and delegate lead over Sanders that far surpasses Obama’s lead over her at this point in the race in 2008.

https://newrepublic.com/article/131762/hillary-voter


Hillary's supporters may not show up by the thousands at rallies, they may not vote in online polls and may not even bother with a bumper sticker on their car, but they show up where it really matters: at the voting booth.

64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Who Is the Hillary Voter? (Original Post) Beacool Mar 2016 OP
Recommended. H2O Man Mar 2016 #1
You're welcome. Beacool Mar 2016 #22
In addition to thinking she would make a fine president... auntpurl Mar 2016 #2
I like her as a person too. Beacool Mar 2016 #8
A person who has not been paying attention for the past twenty years tularetom Mar 2016 #3
Ah, of course, we're the uninformed. Why didn't I think of that? Oh, because I'm stupid. Zynx Mar 2016 #7
I can hardley rede what he sayes. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2016 #16
I noe, ryte? Zynx Mar 2016 #20
To much funn DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2016 #21
You might have point there gabeana Mar 2016 #23
I don't pay attention at all. Neither do these two. NCTraveler Mar 2016 #10
Au contraire, mon ami. Beacool Mar 2016 #11
Thanks for the post noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #4
The one Hillary supporter I know, who happens to be to the right of me ideologically, JonLeibowitz Mar 2016 #27
K&R nt NCTraveler Mar 2016 #5
I think she can do the job gwheezie Mar 2016 #6
This.... Beacool Mar 2016 #12
Pretty amazing numbers so far... timlot Mar 2016 #9
Considering the attacks she has endured from all sides, it's even more remarkable. Beacool Mar 2016 #14
Add this one into the Karma13612 Mar 2016 #13
Meh, the reverse is true too. Beacool Mar 2016 #15
An anecdote is an anecdote and in any case the plural of anecdote is not data./nt DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2016 #19
I don't think Democrats need to save Republicans from Mr. Thump. planetc Mar 2016 #25
yeah-that and the old "he'll win big cause everybody I know is voting for Bernie" redstateblues Mar 2016 #28
I'm getting a Hillary car magnet soon Progressive dog Mar 2016 #17
I'm guessing at least half of the Hillary voters..... Armstead Mar 2016 #18
"Electability", name recognition, and her gender. BillZBubb Mar 2016 #24
A lot of HRC supporters I know just don't think Bernie redstateblues Mar 2016 #31
Do you know it was a temper tantrum and not just trying to stick to a schedule? Armstead Mar 2016 #32
He completed his statements. oldandhappy Mar 2016 #34
People who don't like her can't seem to understand that she's actually quite likable. Beacool Mar 2016 #37
I have to agree with you on this artislife Mar 2016 #47
The polling disagrees with you. Marr Mar 2016 #48
I know the person. I don't give a fig about the polls. Beacool Mar 2016 #64
A lot of HRC voters are afraid of change sadoldgirl Mar 2016 #26
"a lot"? Where did you get that from? More condescension redstateblues Mar 2016 #29
Woman President noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #30
As far as I'm concerned, anyone who even mentions her gender... TCJ70 Mar 2016 #40
Agree noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #41
Last night at a celebration artislife Mar 2016 #46
Bull. She is the best-qualified PERSON in this entire race. As for appearing in public... Hekate Mar 2016 #42
Yeap, voting for the first woman president is "status quo".. yawn and sigh uponit7771 Mar 2016 #43
What a weak, and frankly sexist, reason to vote for someone. /nt Marr Mar 2016 #49
Strawman, no one said it was the reason but make up what you want seems to be a Sanders squad thang uponit7771 Mar 2016 #52
Uh... you just said it. Marr Mar 2016 #53
No I didn't say I was voting for her because she is a woman I said voting for the first woman uponit7771 Mar 2016 #54
This is one of my favorite forms of humor. Marr Mar 2016 #56
Link and quote me saying the words VERBATIM "I'm voting for her because she's a woman" and we'll uponit7771 Mar 2016 #57
I can't believe I'm copy/pasting YOUR OWN comments from THIS PAGE for you, lol. Marr Mar 2016 #60
soooooo you don't have a link or a quote of me saying I'm voting for her BECAUSE she is a woman uponit7771 Mar 2016 #61
F. Marr Mar 2016 #62
yes, that is your grade for not supporting your claim. Please take the "read what they said" class uponit7771 Mar 2016 #63
She has a wide range of supporters. I'm home in CA for spring break, and was at a dinner party... anotherproletariat Mar 2016 #33
This Hillary supporter worked actively on obamas 2008 and 2012 elections beachbumbob Mar 2016 #35
Goldman Sachs Executives Impedimentus Mar 2016 #36
Gee, I didn't know that Goldman Sachs had so many employees. Beacool Mar 2016 #38
Hillary supporters SHOW UP. Recommend this article. Hekate Mar 2016 #39
Interesting DesertRat Mar 2016 #44
The difference between fantasy and reality. yallerdawg Mar 2016 #45
I'm sorry, but that's just laughable. Marr Mar 2016 #50
"Eking out a victory?" yallerdawg Mar 2016 #55
There never should've been a *contest* between Hillary and Sanders. Marr Mar 2016 #59
This message was self-deleted by its author Marr Mar 2016 #51
the Hillary voter is always waving cleopotrick Mar 2016 #58

auntpurl

(4,311 posts)
2. In addition to thinking she would make a fine president...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:48 PM
Mar 2016

I genuinely like her as a person. I think she's incredibly inspiring, and I feel very proud to vote for her. I don't know if that lives up to the "fired up" description of the other side, but I suppose I'm quiet in my passions.

Zynx

(21,328 posts)
7. Ah, of course, we're the uninformed. Why didn't I think of that? Oh, because I'm stupid.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:56 PM
Mar 2016

Assuming that anyone who opposes your position just isn't properly educated is a demonstrated hallmark of immaturity.

gabeana

(3,166 posts)
23. You might have point there
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:04 PM
Mar 2016
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/feb/27/rick-santorum/rick-santorum-calls-barack-obama-snob-wanting-ever/

"What have the Clintons done to earn such devotion? Did they take extreme political risks to defend the rights of African Americans? Did they courageously stand up to right-wing demagoguery about black communities? Did they help usher in a new era of hope and prosperity for neighborhoods devastated by deindustrialization, globalization, and the disappearance of work?
No. Quite the opposite."

it is not stupidity it is ignorance, but that can be cure but not in time for 2016 Gen but at least Hillary will be better than any republican that put up

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/racial-justice-failures-hillary-clinton-cant-ignore


"Despite the human costs of welfare reform, Bill Clinton is still bragging about knocking people off welfare and Hillary has neither repudiated nor disavowed the 1996 Clinton welfare legislation, which has been a catastrophe for the black community. Hillary Clinton not only supported the 1996 legislation, but as recently as her 2008 presidential campaign, publicly supported it, expressing no regret about how it turned out and telling the New York Times she thought the act was necessary and enormously successful."

go read the links and remember ignorance does not have to be permanent
 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
10. I don't pay attention at all. Neither do these two.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:02 PM
Mar 2016

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

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JonLeibowitz

(6,282 posts)
27. The one Hillary supporter I know, who happens to be to the right of me ideologically,
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:35 PM
Mar 2016

thinks I am a right-winger, or at best deluded by propaganda, because I can present many of the undisputed deficiencies and acts of malice that the Clintons have in their history.

That tells me a lot about that person. Of course, generalizing is not a good idea. But it is the limited sample size I have.

gwheezie

(3,580 posts)
6. I think she can do the job
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 01:55 PM
Mar 2016

I'm not sure about Bernie. I also like her. She's very smart and has a wicked sense of humor.
I don't agree with every issue but she is more than capable. Does that make me not fired up?

 

timlot

(456 posts)
9. Pretty amazing numbers so far...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:00 PM
Mar 2016

While you can parse the numbers and say there were more republican candidates. That still doesn't discount the fact more American primary voters have cast their ballot for Secretary Clinton out of all the candidates (democrat or repub) running for President.

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
14. Considering the attacks she has endured from all sides, it's even more remarkable.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:12 PM
Mar 2016

Her gatherings may be smaller and her voters may not seem as enthusiastic as Trump's or Sanders', but they quietly show up at the voting booth. That's enough enthusiasm for me.

Karma13612

(4,527 posts)
13. Add this one into the
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:11 PM
Mar 2016

Mix:

Florida female republican says Trump concerns her.
Asked who she would select between Bernie and Hillary, she said Bernie.
Asked who she would select between Hillary and Trump, she said Trump.

This was an interview I heard on NPR yesterday AM.

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
15. Meh, the reverse is true too.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:15 PM
Mar 2016

There are Republicans who would vote for Hillary before they would vote for Trump. One of them is my former governor, Christine Todd Whitman, who stated it publicly.

planetc

(7,718 posts)
25. I don't think Democrats need to save Republicans from Mr. Thump.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:19 PM
Mar 2016

We need to put up the best Democratic candidate we can, and the Republicans need to save the country from Mr. Trump. As usual, the Democrats have a plethora of good candidates, while the quality of Republican candidates has been sinking since they ran Ronald Reagan. All Democrats can do is save the world if given the chance. We can't save the Republicans until they admit they have a problem.

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
28. yeah-that and the old "he'll win big cause everybody I know is voting for Bernie"
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:44 PM
Mar 2016

right before last Tuesday's sweep

Progressive dog

(6,861 posts)
17. I'm getting a Hillary car magnet soon
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:18 PM
Mar 2016

and if Hillary has a rally close enough in NY, I might go, but only votes count in a democracy.
I will vote for Hillary in both the NY primary and the fall election. I have been a registered Democrat for almost forty years. During that time, I have failed to vote in no national or state elections.

 

Armstead

(47,803 posts)
18. I'm guessing at least half of the Hillary voters.....
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 02:22 PM
Mar 2016

either don't like her but think she is the most "electable"....or they like her and Bernie equally, and will vote for Clinton for "pragmatic" reasons and/oir because she is a woman.

Least that's my experience with those who I know (and many I read about)

BillZBubb

(10,650 posts)
24. "Electability", name recognition, and her gender.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:14 PM
Mar 2016

Those are three of the biggest reasons people support her. She's viewed as competent and not a threat to the status quo as well.

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
31. A lot of HRC supporters I know just don't think Bernie
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:51 PM
Mar 2016

is the best candidate in terms of temperament. His little tantrum yesterday is evidence of that.

 

Armstead

(47,803 posts)
32. Do you know it was a temper tantrum and not just trying to stick to a schedule?
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:55 PM
Mar 2016

And when it comes to temper tantrums....I'm not sure that's really a valid measurement considering BOTH Clinton's track records on that. They're just better at keeping them out of public view.

oldandhappy

(6,719 posts)
34. He completed his statements.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 04:29 PM
Mar 2016

Left when asked about vice president which he has answered previously. Gave no sign of temper.

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
37. People who don't like her can't seem to understand that she's actually quite likable.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:48 PM
Mar 2016

Hillary is an international icon and millions of people around the world admire her. I like Hillary a lot more than Sanders. Those who dislike her are deluded if they think that people who are voting for her are just doing so based on electability.


 

artislife

(9,497 posts)
47. I have to agree with you on this
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:15 PM
Mar 2016

I don't see the likability in her. That is true.


I have a few of those that I cannot explain adequately. Julia Roberts, Hilary, Steve Jobs...


Of course, there are politicians and mouth pieces who are on that list, but those are pretty universally loathed by the Left.


It was a meh feeling I had during the white house years, to feeling outraged that she carpet bagged her way to the NY senate. I think it was there that the idea she was so calculating got planted into my brain. And that colored everything I heard about her. It seemed like the most expedient moves on her part to get her to a goal. It was like volunteering for Meals on Wheels because it will help you get into college but not because you love the elderly.

I probably never will completely like her. She seems to have a personality I don't like in people I meet in real life.


That is my opinion on her, the person.

Of course, her the politician is even more infuriating.

 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
48. The polling disagrees with you.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:34 PM
Mar 2016

I realize her *fans* think she's likable. That's almost a tautology. But people generally dislike her, according to polls. And the more they see her, the less they like her.

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
64. I know the person. I don't give a fig about the polls.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 02:27 PM
Mar 2016

As for fans, what would you call Sanders' supporters? Calling supporters "fans" is disrespectful and condescending.





redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
29. "a lot"? Where did you get that from? More condescension
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:48 PM
Mar 2016

I love it when you guys make up psychological profiles of HRC supporters based on nothing but your opinion

noretreatnosurrender

(1,890 posts)
30. Woman President
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:49 PM
Mar 2016

I think a lot of Clinton voters that I've talked with want to see a woman president (so do I) and are supporting her because of that. A lot of them don't want to admit that her gender is their biggest reason for support because they know deep down it's really not a good enough reason. Maybe that's why so many of them have chosen not to be out in public supporting her.

TCJ70

(4,387 posts)
40. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who even mentions her gender...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:53 PM
Mar 2016

...in conversation is off base. It shouldn't matter from a qualification standpoint and in fact, is a form of sexism. Considering Sanders less qualified because he's not a woman is as bad as disqualifying Hillary because she's a woman.

 

artislife

(9,497 posts)
46. Last night at a celebration
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:06 PM
Mar 2016

The one Hillary supporter used that line precisely. She saw herself in Hillary. Both over 65, women and lawyers. She mentioned that as of matter of fact in some of the biggest reasons she was voting for her.


I think she looked at the rest of us, male, female, immigrant, Latina, and White and saw that there wasn't one Bernie Bro amongst us. White male is in his 50s.

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
42. Bull. She is the best-qualified PERSON in this entire race. As for appearing in public...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:57 PM
Mar 2016

...my own state has not had its primaries yet. I think only half the country has. I'll be doing voter reg shortly on behalf of the Party, and in good time I will get a Hillary sign for my front yard.

As for the rest -- the vote totals so far amply demonstrate that Hillary supporters show up at the ballot box. She has a higher vote total than Bernie Sanders. She has a higher vote total than Donald Trump.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
52. Strawman, no one said it was the reason but make up what you want seems to be a Sanders squad thang
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:52 PM
Mar 2016
 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
53. Uh... you just said it.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:53 PM
Mar 2016

You literally, just now, cited her gender as the reason she's different.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
54. No I didn't say I was voting for her because she is a woman I said voting for the first woman
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:55 PM
Mar 2016

... president isn't status quo

Again, make up the facts you want to make up... that seems.... status quo.... for Sanders camp

 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
56. This is one of my favorite forms of humor.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:00 PM
Mar 2016

When someone insists they never said a thing when it's ^ right there.

You cited her gender as the reason that she's different. Not policy, not her stated positions on anything, just her gender. And you seemed to think it was a good argument.

Enjoy the last word here, because I won't be spending any more of my weekend arguing over whether or not you typed something that's literally on this page.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
57. Link and quote me saying the words VERBATIM "I'm voting for her because she's a woman" and we'll
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:01 PM
Mar 2016

... discuss from there k?

thx

 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
60. I can't believe I'm copy/pasting YOUR OWN comments from THIS PAGE for you, lol.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:15 PM
Mar 2016

sadoldgirl: A lot of HRC voters are happy with the status quo.

uponit7771: Yeap, voting for the first woman president is "status quo".. yawn and sigh

You cited Clinton's gender as the thing that sets her apart; the thing that makes her different. Not policy, not ideas, just her gender. That was *your* response-- don't blame *me* for it. If you've got some policy examples for why Clinton does not represent the status quo, this would be the place for them.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
61. soooooo you don't have a link or a quote of me saying I'm voting for her BECAUSE she is a woman
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:17 PM
Mar 2016

... thx

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
63. yes, that is your grade for not supporting your claim. Please take the "read what they said" class
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:26 PM
Mar 2016

... over again next semester

 

anotherproletariat

(1,446 posts)
33. She has a wide range of supporters. I'm home in CA for spring break, and was at a dinner party...
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 03:59 PM
Mar 2016

last night. There were 15 people from age 18 - 70, men and women, including several younger voters (18, 21,25,27 and 30) and all are Caucasian. We discovered that all of us are supporting Clinton. While I do tend to hang around liberal minded people, I found this interesting. I think reading DU skews my thinking into presuming that the support for Bernie and Hillary is about equal, but in my real life I have not found this to be the case.

 

beachbumbob

(9,263 posts)
35. This Hillary supporter worked actively on obamas 2008 and 2012 elections
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 05:12 PM
Mar 2016

And in spite of the Bernie hype...Hillary will continue the policies of Obama that have been steadfast and beneficial...I'm not some wide eyed kid who believes in fairy tales but a pragmatic political junky who has observed 50 years of elections....she has stood up to gutless right wing attacks for 30years...and sanders has never had to face those attacks yet and would never be able to survive them..

Impedimentus

(898 posts)
36. Goldman Sachs Executives
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 05:22 PM
Mar 2016

Lloyd Blankfein
Henry Kissinger
Jamie Dimon
.
.
.
0.1% 'rs who can bundle $thousands in contributions at $1000+ a plate dinners
Lots of Wall Street and too-big-to-fail bank executives

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
38. Gee, I didn't know that Goldman Sachs had so many employees.
Sat Mar 19, 2016, 08:51 PM
Mar 2016

You do realize that millions of people have voted for her, right?

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
45. The difference between fantasy and reality.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 11:27 AM
Mar 2016


So perhaps Clinton voters don’t show up at rallies so much. Perhaps they are a bit less passionate on Facebook, share fewer articles, give less money to their candidate (she does have a super PAC, after all). But what they are doing is perhaps the only thing that actually matters in an election. They are showing up to vote. In numbers that no other candidate can boast.
 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
50. I'm sorry, but that's just laughable.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:47 PM
Mar 2016

You're talking about someone who has been in the national political spotlight for more than 20 years and has massive support from the party and business establishments. With those advantages, an old boot could run for president and get broad, silent support at the polls.

The fact that there has been any contest at all between Clinton and Sanders is incredibly damning of both Clinton's appeal and the party establishment's popularity. It's like a Volkswagon Bug entered the Indie 500, and you're praising the Formula 1 for eking out a victory.

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
55. "Eking out a victory?"
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 12:57 PM
Mar 2016

I expect there will be a lot more "eking" just ahead!

Hillary supporters are not mindless automatons who would vote for an old boot - many, many voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 - we tend to support the best, most qualified Democratic candidate.

We know you all want to burn everything down - I just hope you don't part with too much cash pursuing a fantasy.

 

Marr

(20,317 posts)
59. There never should've been a *contest* between Hillary and Sanders.
Sun Mar 20, 2016, 01:11 PM
Mar 2016

When he entered the race, I thought he'd be out after New Hampshire. I've been continually amazed at how weak a candidate Clinton is, and how relatively impotent has been her support from the party and business establishment. She'll very likely overcome Sanders, I agree-- but it was David and Goliath all along. You're cheering for Goliath like he's scoring some kind of amazing, validating victory.

Response to Beacool (Original post)

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Who Is the Hillary Voter?