I think we have a convert - reluctant though she may be.

I was with my very non-political friend who is pretty much a racist (though she doesn't see that in herself).

She said she could NEVER vote for Obama, although she's a life-long Democrat. She asked, "are you REALLY going to vote for HIM?" I asked if she was going to vote for McCain, and she said Yep!

So, realizing I couldn't change her deep seated attitudes, I moved it away from the individual candidates and onto why I am terrified that if the Republicans remain in office, our country will continue to be devastated.

I said that since no one person actually makes all the decisions and sets the policies, that I had gone straight to voting records and tracking records of how much we have suffered under this administration. Covered the usual points, the senseless war in Iraq, that we began with a budget surplus and now have a several trillion dollar deficit, the number of jobs that have gone overseas, the number of companies and banks failing, the mortgage crisis, gas prices,etc.

I was calm and factual, no personal attacks on McCain and instead of referring to Obama or McCain, I would refer to the Democrats and Republicans. Although I did say that I felt McCain's choice of running mate was worrisome should something happen to McCain while in office, and contrasted Palin to Biden.

She was nodding along in agreement, and at the end I just made a plea that if she couldn't vote for the Democratic ticket, to please either refrain from voting or write in someone she would prefer. I asked her to please not be a part of potential continuing devastation as we watch our country and see everything we believed in and stood for disintegrate.

She said - you're right. It's more than one person -- I'll probably have to hold my nose, but I'll vote Democrat.

Whew!

...is that all it takes is one stupid, media created gaffe or some stupid e-mail to make them change their mind back. Hopefully not but those types of people are so politically high maintenance that it's almost impossible to keep them on our side.

and said "Obama doesn't want us to have guns"

I said no, that's not true, Judy. This is why I go straight to their policies and voting record rather than listening to their campaign rhetoric and media stories. That's what the Republicans would like Americans to believe, but in fact Obama only wants a ban on assault weapons. He doesn't want your handgun or your rifle. He doesn't feel there's a need for citizens to have machine guns, for example. Do you think any of us need a machine gun? She said no. I finished up by saying, your guns are safe - and if you have any questions about his actual platforms, look them up so you can learn the truth, then make your decision.

By the way, I have no idea if this is an accurate representation of what Obama's stance on gun control is, but it seemed to be the right approach.

I think she probably said what she said in the end to drop the topic. You shouldn't count on her to vote that way in November.

Why would any "lifelong Democrat" even consider voting for McCain over Obama?

My point is, these people who "can't" vote for Obama are not really "lifelong Democrats" and they should stop referring to themselves as such.

have to stop worrying about them so much. The Obama campaign has been aware of them from Day 1. If they are in red states--aad most of them seem to be--their votes don't matter. Ditto blue states. The campaign is working battleground states like nobody's business. And the purpose of registering so many young people is that they tend to be less racist. We have to stop obsessing over the negatives.

Focus on victory. Donate, volunteer, vote.

I don't care who the hell among registered Dems the ticket gets the votes from. If they can't touch a lever or button or screen for an AA, then tell them to fantasize that they are voting for the Irishman.

I think you handled that VERY well!

I have had similar conversations with some of my friends in NC. Lots of "soft" racism and esp. xenophobia in my old neck of the woods.
When one of my colleagues voiced that her top issue was illegal immigration, I just tried to emphasize how MANY important issues are out there
that could directly effect her. There was no point in trying to argue the her immigration stance. It's non-negotiatble to her.

Unfortunately, she still leans McCain due to the whole "war hero" meme. Sigh.