Republicans Seek To Fan Clinton Supporters Obama Resentments

A key target of the GOP in the soon-to-be-official Presidential race between Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain: Clinton voters, who now being openly wooed in a McCain ad that seeks to stir up resentments at the same time when a top conservative columnist is taking the same approach.

These developments come on the heels of several news reports — including one after yesterday’s announcement that Sen. Joe Biden is Obama’s choice for running mate in a process that didn’t include vetting Clinton — indicating resentment and outright anger towards Obama among Clinton supporters who show increasing signs of either not supporting the ticket or voting for McCain.

That’s a good chunk of voters dangling in front of McCain and the Republicans are moving swiftly to try and grab them.

Weekly Standard bigwig and New York Times columnist William Kristol has suddenly become a Clinton admirer and has some advice for Clinton supporters at the convention:

So Hillary Clinton gets about 18 million votes in 2008, and isn’t even considered for–she apparently isn’t even given the courtesy of being consulted–the vice presidential pick. Joe Biden manages to persuade a few thousand (if that) Iowans to support him. And Barack Obama selects Biden? Normally, if the VP pick came from that year’s presidential field, it’s the runner-up (Kerry-Edwards in 2004, Reagan-Bush in 1980, Stevenson-Kefauver in 1956). (Lyndon Johnson in 1960 hadn’t entered the primaries.) And Biden wasn’t even the third most successful candidate this year (hi, John Edwards!), or fourth (Bill Richardson, I suppose), or fifth (Dennis Kucinich!).

What’s more, Biden and Hillary have basically comparable foreign policy “experience” (such as it is in either case). Nor is Biden clearly more knowledgeable in foreign affairs than Hillary. And they have pretty similar foreign policy views.

His advice?

A modest suggestion to my justifiably outraged Democratic friends: Hillary’s name should be placed in nomination not for the presidency (Obama won that more or less fair and square)–but for the vice presidency. It would be an interesting roll call vote.

Another “I-feel-your-political-pain” sign can be seen in the up-front appeal by McCain to get Clinton voters by telling them that Obama dissed their candidate. The details from The L.A. Time’s Top of the Ticket blog:

This new Sunday ad is titled “Passed Over.” Aimed clearly at the 18 million disappointed Democrats who voted for her during the long primary season, the ad asks why she was passed over for the No. 2 spot?

It shows Clinton and says:

“She won millions of votes.

“But isn’t on his ticket.

“Why?

“For speaking the truth.

“On his plans:

HILLARY CLINTON: “You never hear the specifics.”

ANNCR: “On the Rezko scandal:

HILLARY CLINTON: “We still don’t have a lot of answers about Senator Obama.”

ANNCR: “On his attacks:

HILLARY CLINTON: “Senator Obama’s campaign has become increasingly negative.”

ANNCR: “The truth hurt.

“And Obama didn’t like it.

JOHN MCCAIN: “I’m John McCain and I approved this message.”

The Wall Street Journal’s Amy Chozick notes:

The ad is the latest sign that the presidential contest has grown increasingly personal. It’s also proof that the some times bitter battle between the two Democratic senators has provided useful fodder to the Republican opposition.

Both Obama and McCain are fighting to win over the 18 million voters who chose Clinton during the primaries.

Recent polls show her base of mostly white working-class women has not rallied behind the Illinois senator. McCain frequently praises the former first lady in an effort to woo her still undecided supporters.

“Passed Over” could strike a chord since many Clinton fans are upset that she was not seriously considered as Obama’s running mate. While most people considered the “dream ticket” a long shot, the Obama-Biden ticket still struck a chord among supporters and delegates who had held out hope that Clinton would be chosen.

“[Hillary Clinton] has said repeatedly that Barack Obama and she share a commitment to changing the direction of the country, getting us out of Iraq, and expanding access to health care,” says Clinton spokeswoman Kathleen Strand. “It’s interesting how those remarks didn’t make it into his ad.”

The depth of the resentment among some Clinton voters can be seen in one fact. Whoever would have thought during the early primaries that Clinton supporters who often pointed for the need to get a Democrat in the White House to ensure that the next Supreme Court nominee won’t be a conservative who can tip the court to undo Roe Vs Wade would be ready to vote for a Republican supported by Sean Hannity?

It underscores the fact that the nature of the anger isn’t over political agendas, but personal and that some of the votes cast in November will be political payback grudge votes.

Which is exactly what Kristol and the McCain ads are masterfully trying to fan, tap — and garner.