Half of Democrats Say Putting Hillary's Name in Nomination Will Help Unify Party

Half of Democrats Say Putting Hillary's Name in Nomination Will Help Unify Party

Friday, August 15, 2008

One third of voters nationwide (33%) agree with Barack Obama that allowing Senator Hillary Clinton’s name to also be placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention will “help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion." But slightly more (40%) believe it will hurt party unity.

Among Democrats, 48% say the move will help on the unity front while 28% disagree. Among unaffiliated voters, 43% say the move will hurt while 27% hold the opposite view.

Clinton quit the race for the Democratic presidential nomination on June 7 after Obama had secured enough delegates largely through the primary process to be the party's nominee.

In a statement yesterday, Clinton said, “With every voice heard and the party strongly united, we will elect Senator Obama president of the United States.” But 24% of Democrats say it’s at least Somewhat Likely that Clinton herself will end up as the Democratic standard bearer. That figure includes 11% who say it’s Very Likely Clinton will be the nominee.

Overall, 49% of voters have a favorable opinion of the former first lady, and an identical number (49%) hold an unfavorable view of her. Those figures are slightly less positive than reviews for either Barack Obama or John McCain. Seventy percent (70%) of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Clinton. Just 45% of African-Americans feel that way, however, while 52% offer a negative assessment.


http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/half_of_democrats_say_putting_hillary_s_name_in_nomination_will_help_unify_party">Full article here

were put in nomination. It made for excitement.

I think it's a good thing for Hillary's supporters to have their time in the limelight. This nomination will make it easier for Hillary to convince her supporters to work as hard as they can for Obama.

Nominating Hillary is also a counter argument to McCain's silly idea that Dems believe Obama is "The One."

That's what the title should say.

Convention watchers should expect the names of the other candidates to be placed in roll call as a formality.

It's not that having Clinton's name in roll call is unifying, it's that keeping it from happening would be divisive, and the experts know it. Yet, it's played like this is something unusual and Clinton is cutting in on Obama's face time and oh-those-dreadful-PUMAS-are-so-annoying-but-humor-them-we-must.