Support hinges on healing

Clinton backers likely to swing if Obama reaches out

Thu, Jun 5, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Associated Press photos

Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton spoke Wednesday at the American Israel Political Action Committee conference in Virginia. A local Jewish leader says Obama can overcome some Jews’ belief that he is not as pro-Israel as Clinton.

With Sen. Hillary Clinton expected to concede this week, her campaign advisers in Nevada predict that most of her supporters will ultimately help Barack Obama carry the state.

That runs counter to sentiment expressed by many Clinton supporters at last month’s Democratic convention, however. They told pollsters and Sun reporters they were uncertain whether they would support Obama.

Nevada was a microcosm of the sharp fissures revealed during the protracted nomination battle: She won the popular vote here, but he won more delegates, as was the case nationally.

The Democratic electorate fractured along demographic lines — blue-collar workers, women and Hispanics favored Clinton, while Obama won over the youth, the college-educated and blacks.

In Nevada, the divide was even deeper.

“There were some burned bridges,” acknowledged Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen, one of Clinton’s most vocal supporters in the Silver State.

Thus far, this divide has yet to be mended.

“It all depends on how much he is willing to reach out to these (Clinton) constituencies,” said Kihuen, who noted Hispanics overwhelmingly favored the New York senator.

Winning over these voters in Nevada and other suddenly moderate states in the West probably will be critical to Obama if the race with presumptive Republican nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain is tight. That means Clinton’s leadership in Nevada will have to play a big role in selling Obama to her constituencies.

The surefire solution would be Clinton as Obama’s running mate, her local advisers said.

“It would be an invincible ticket,” Kihuen said.

“A dream ticket,” opined congressional candidate and state Sen. Dina Titus, who also supports Clinton.

Others in Nevada, however, argue that selecting Clinton as a vice presidential nominee would run counter to the best interest of Obama and his theme of change. Many in Obama’s camp also take exception to the notion that the Illinois senator “needs” Clinton on the ticket for the Democrats to win Nevada and the White House.

“The only time during a campaign that anyone really focuses on the vice president is before they’re named,” said Billy Vassiliadis, chief executive of R&R Partners, an advertising and public affairs firm. “The campaign is going to be about Barack Obama.”

Indeed, historians often note that few voters actually cast their votes based on a nominee’s running mate or spouse. But this race has rarely followed form, and some Clinton backers are suggesting they may support McCain if Obama is the Democratic Party’s nominee.

Among those Democrats are some of Clark County’s more than 70,000 Jews, who suspect Obama is not staunchly pro-Israel. Clinton, on the other hand, was considered a very strong supporter of Israel.

“It’s certainly true that there are people concerned,” said Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn of Midbar Kodesh Temple in Henderson, who believes that suspicion is driven by propaganda.

But Wiederhorn, who attended this week’s American Israel Political Action Committee conference in Northern Virginia, thinks Obama can overcome that belief on his own, noting that most of the 7,000 in attendance Wednesday gave Obama a standing ovation.

“The stance that AIPAC has taken is that all three candidates are pro-Israel,” Wiederhorn said.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By rosemariefpalmer

6/5/08 at 5:26 a.m.

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I think its imperative that Obama puts Clinton on the dream ticket after all she won the popular vote, she had her wins in Michigan and Florida stripped, she won the swing voters. The consequences would be tragic if McCain wins, just as they were with Bush. Please support me in my efforts to sing at the inauguration of the dream team. Hear me at www.myspace.com/rosemariefpalmer . Vote
By in_sider

6/5/08 at 9:32 a.m.

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Even though placing Clinton on the ticket could be advantageous with some key constituencies, I don't think it is imperative. Even though there are many positives she brings to the table there are nearly as many negatives. A number of Obama votes among a portion of moderate/conservative democrats and blue dog Democrats were in some ways a vote against Hillary. Not on policy but on trust and likability. There are far more likable, affable prospects that may be able to deliver the same constituencies. I also think that as much as everyone thinks Hillary is vetted, she isn't. Obama's campaign stayed away from attacking her or her lifestyle and past indiscretions, unlike the Clinton campaign. There are a lot of questions about both the Clinton's since 2000 and even though many think White Water is old news, her involvement is not. By the Clintons’ own admission she was far more knowledgeable and involved in the project than Bill. Ayers, Rezko and Wright are already out there. Many of HRC’s skeletons are still in her and Bill’s closet.
By SMB

6/5/08 at 10:10 a.m.

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It is in no way imperative that Senator Obama should be FORCED into appointing Mrs. Clinton as his VP. The argument about the “popular vote” can be greatly debated and I have already seen 3 scenarios were both candidates are either equal or the advantage goes to Obama. The idea of her winning the popular vote is only true if you count Florida and Michigan. But that too is debatable since both of those elections were flawed and Mrs. Clinton herself said that they wouldn’t count. Clinton’s supporters argue about honoring those who did check the Hilary Clinton box in those elections, but what about honoring those who didn’t get the chance to check an Obama box and instead had to check the undecided box or in many cases didn’t even come out since they knew that the election wouldn’t count and that there wouldn’t even be an Obama box….

Needless to say, never in this country’s history has there been a push to force a candidate to choose one particular VP choice. That is a sign of weakness. We all know that Mrs. Clinton is power hungry and that she probably “needs” that VP spot to fulfill her legacy. But the issue is not that Obama needs to reach out to her supporters and gain their trust, because remember we are all Democrats here. Rather the issue is will Hillary Clinton (and her supporters) be willing to take a back seat and begin to tone down her views and positions in order to allow the nominee to have the last word and say so like a true vice president should. Hillary needs to prove that she (and her supporters) can humble herself enough and begin a tone and presence like a true VP should. Only then can Obama begin to consider her. Believe me, we can’t have a president, a president wanna be, and a former president in the white house. We damn sure can’t have a VP that has her own agenda and undermines the president’s decisions. That is not good for our party nor our country and its citizens.
By RSN

6/5/08 at 3:45 p.m.

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Here's the thing for me right now;

The day after Senator Obama reach's the magic number to clinch the nomination. a historic event, every major newspaper in the world has his picture on the front page. My favorite newspaper, the Las Vegas Sun has nothing, NOTHING! The day after the day after Senator Obama goes over the top I get Senator Clinton's picture with the most unflattering picture of Senator Obama I have ever seen with an article about how he needs to reach out. WTF !!
By RSN

6/5/08 at 3:57 p.m.

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Or how about another headline?

Support hinges on who would be best to lead this country John McCain or Barack Obama ?

Or, who has the best policy ideas for America John McCain or Barack Obama?
By thebs

6/5/08 at 6:02 p.m.

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RSN, with all due respect that isn't the story yet. The story is, very much, whether Obama can make an effective overture to Clinton's supporters.

It remains to be seen whether that will be a VP slot for Clinton, but an overture will be necessary.

But there isn't a doubt that the case is made he does not have to choose her. She chose the tone and language of her campaign, and the consequences of such decisions may be Democratic excommunication from the Obama administration.

I think that's his loss, however, as she's shown her appeal is complimentary to his. They bring polar opposites to the table, and naturally form a coalition that would hand them the White House.
By CESSEX

6/8/08 at 10:02 a.m.

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Barack needs all democrats who believe in the democratic platform to support him in this race...

He does not need Hillary Clinton Supporters who are obviously supporting somethng else and not the Democratic Platform.

End The War
Foreign Diplomacy
Excellence in Education and Opportunity
Universal Healthcare... for starters
By CESSEX

6/8/08 at 10:04 a.m.

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We Need a leader

Not a figure head!

VOTE OBAMA!