Hillary Clinton Urges Divided Democrats Not To Vote For John McCain

After weeks of criticism that comments made by her and her husband implied that she was suggesting GOP likely nominee Senator John McCain might be preferable to her prime rival Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton has urged Democrats to remain unified no matter who gets the nomination — and not to vote for McCain:

Hillary Clinton pleaded for partisan unity on Thursday, urging Democrats not to abandon their party to vote for John McCain if their preferred candidate fails to secure the nomination.

Clinton was asked by a questioner in the audience here what she would tell frustrated Democrats who might consider voting for McCain in the general election out of spite.

“Please think through this decision,” Clinton said, laughing and emphasizing the word “please.”

“It is not a wise decision for yourself or your country.”

The crowd applauded loudly.

The political context is important: polling results have now documented the Democrats growing — and seemingly irreconcilable — split, which has suggested despite all they have going for them the potentially splintered Demmies seem increasingly poised to lose the general election to John McCain:

A Gallup poll released this week indicated that 28 percent of Clinton’s supporters would back McCain should the New York senator lose her quest for the Democratic nomination.

That compares to the 19 percent of Obama supporters who say they will favor McCain should Clinton be the party’s nominee.

“First of all, every time you have a vigorous contest like we are having in this primary election people get intense,” she continued. “You know, Sen. Obama has intense support. I have intense support.”

Clinton stressed that there are “significant” differences between her and Obama, but said “those differences pale to the differences between us and Sen. McCain.”

“I intend to do everything I can to make sure we have a unified Democratic party,” she said. “When this contest is over and we have a nominee, we’re going to close ranks, we’re going to be united.”

Clinton’s supporters will applaud this statement. Her opponents (in the party and outside of it) will probably dismiss it as political expedience or classic CYA. But she can point to it as setting the record straight — and it may ease reported rumblings from Superdelegates who are said to be raising their eyebrows about the Clinton camp’s tactics both on the stump and in trying to get the Michigan and Florida delegations seated.