Political Noise from the "real" world of Non-Political individuals who vote Democratic

Facts:
I live in Northern California
I run my own business
I am a minority and I am a woman


Folks that I know well (and know my passion for politics) ask me about the current political candidates often enough, and ask me who I'm pulling for, and who could win? As I have no favorite per se in this race at the moment, I turn the question back on them.

Thus far, kinda of like the national polls, Hillary Clinton appears to be a favorite, with Obama in second, although one person changed their vote to Obama after our conversation.

My sample:

1. Older gentleman and his wife who run a small marketing business in San Francisco and live in Berkeley, california. They have three highly educated daughter; one teaches at Stanford, one lives in England, and one is a medical doctor.

This couple is pulling for Hillary Clinton hands down. They are excited that she is running, and he said that he would work as hard as he could to see her elected. He supported Wes Clark in 2004, and not because of me.


2. My 1st cousin, a black High school teacher who teaches at a predominently Black/Hispanic inner city school in Oakland, California. Her husband, who is also Black is a Public Defender for the City of Oakland.

Initially she stated that she was voting for Hillary. She stated that she liked both Obama and Hillary, but felt that many voters won't vote for Obama because he is Black. I told her that she should vote for who she wanted to in the primaries, and not to base her vote on who might win. I told her that if everyone thought like her and didn't vote for Obama because they felt that Obama couldn't win due to racism, Obama will end up with no votes. So if anything I told her that if she really liked Obama better than Hillary, that is who she should vote for.....if for no other reason than to not allow a theoretical self fullfilling prophecy to become a perpectuated fact. She stated that I am correct and that she will be voting for Obama now. Her hubby will vote as she votes.


3. My StepDad, a Black man who's parents were in the Air Force their entire lives. He was raised all over the world.

He likes Obama, and will vote Obama. He likes Hillary, but not as much as Obama. He doesn't allow political conversation at his table (possibly due to his experiences with me).


4. Two younger first generation Italian Brothers who run various businesses in the Silicon valley who will vote their pocketbooks (meaning they have voted Republican in the past, but currently hate the Iraq War).

They don't "love" anyone running, but prefer Clinton's experience over Obama's good judgement. They are not familiar with John Edwards.

5. A 30 something married Black Female Attorney who is very outspoken and attends church often.

She initially stated that John Edwards was probably most acceptable to the status quo (as a White Southern Male), but she would be voting for Hillary Clinton, because she believes that with Hillary comes a fighting machine that cannot be compared. She likes Obama as well but considers him the riskiest in winning over the status quo voting bloc.

6. My daughter, who attends Harvard University as an Undergrad Junior. Her boyfriend just received his diploma from the same and is a Boston Native. It will be their first presidential election vote.

They will be voting for Obama, period. However, they do like Hillary Clinton. My daughter's boyfriend stated that John Edwards gives him the creeps. I think the fact that Duval Patrick is their governor (Massachusetts) makes them think that Obama as President is possible.


7. My business storefront landlord who is Chinese and owns several commercial properties.

She is voting for Hillary Clinton, because she liked Bill's economics when the Clintons were in the White House last.



This is not much of a poll, and it isn't meant to represent one. This is just information that I wanted to share. None of these folks follow politics very much, if at all. That means that they are representative of the majority of voters....even in the primaries.

just wondering?

:-)

Al Gore the best (she's too young to vote in the primaries).....cause she saw him speak at the park across from her High School, Berkeley High last fall....and she saw the movie, Inconvenient truth. She also stated if Clark was running, she'd vote for him cause her mom knows "politics".


The older Gentleman that I mentioned as my first sample stated that he didn't think Al Gore would run, and he didn't blame him. He is probably the most politically aware out of the group I mentioned.

They seem to be saying anybody but Bush and will donate and work for anybody that gets the nomination. Yes, I know Bush and Cheney
aren't running but most of the current crop of GOP candidates are Bush clones.

That is why I think that most who are attempting to choose a Democratic candidate are somewhat ambivalent.......or that is what I sense at this point in time.

after seeing the havoc from Bush, people are going to take their time now, there will not be any more photo-op presidents.

Working class but retired older man, living in suburbs, married, grown kids: Edwards

Poor, disabled friend, urban dweller, master's degree: Edwards

Middle class, professional who works for a corporation (not executive level), caregiver for mother, gay, college graduate: Edwards

All 3 are white and all are very interested in politics and keep up on issues.

My non poll included 5 white folks (Berkeley elderly couple, the Italian Brothers, and my daughter's boyfriend), 1 Chinese, and the rest were Black (the attorney, my cousin and her hubby, my stepdad and my daughter).

Of the 3 examples, one is from the Sacramento area, one from the Central Coast of California, and the other is from New Mexico, Santa Fe to be exact.

Everyone I've had such a conversation with, even those in my very liberal circle of friends, refuse to vote for Hillary in the primaries. There is some debate as to whether or not to hold one's nose in the general should she be the nominee. But when that part comes up, there is only a renewed sense that we must not let that happen.

So what does that say?

There is strong dislike for her among a broad spectrum of folks I encounter. Of course the fundies hate her - Rush told them to. But the libs, even the run-of-the-mill-not-on-DU types, can't stand her either.

Depends on the circle one runs in, I suppose. I know of 3 people who prefer Edwards and none of them hate Clinton. All them are not crazy about Obama's inexperience. A couple don't like him, but not with the venom some people express towards HRC.

she's an intelligent woman, they are still mad about her health care initiative, why, dunno.

The ones I am speaking of are not much at all, and in fact were picking my brain. They all know that I supported Wes Clark in 2004....and that I am passionate about my politics. They were surprised that I had no real frontrunner in my book to date.

The libs span the spectrum from pretty solidly clued-in (typically having seen at least one of the debates so far) to just going on what they hear "out there". But I do live in the DC 'burbs so people here are generally a bit more clued-in by default.

would prefer someone who isn't involved in the day to day grind of congress, or what?

I think the idealists don't like her positions nor her cold, calculating nature. And I think the pragmatics understand she can't win the general if she wins the nomination.

basically, being exposed to the more inside aspects of the game (through proximity) people either favor someone who idealistically represents their core values but is realistically unelectable (someone line Kucinich) or someone who is "close enough" position-wise and is seen as having the kind of broad appeal that wins elections (none of the current Dem nominees).

Strangely, I hear raving positive comments from both the libs and fundies re: Wes Clark. Wes might actually have better odds of winning than even Al Gore, if the comments I hear are any indication.

"Strangely, I hear raving positive comments from both the libs and fundies re: Wes Clark. Wes might actually have better odds of winning than even Al Gore, if the comments I hear are any indication." Still got my hopes up!

and to a degree I would agree that he could be formidable under the right conditions, i.e., the media being a bit more fair and even handed. As you may already know, when one mixes the media with the issue of electability, it becomes a shaky proposition. The media is really the great equalizer in any electoral race, because at the end of the day, they can come up with a story that can really deep six a candidate that might be the front runner consistently for months. In other words, they can tear down what they have built up.

I have yet to see the corporate media as a whole provide insightful analysis on the General electability status of candidates during run ups to a primary. It is as though they don't want to let the cat out of the bag until the deal is done.