Gallup Says Higher Percentage Of Clinton Supporters Will Defect

Gallup reports that a higher percentage of Clinton supporters (28%) would vote for McCain if Clinton does not get the Democratic Nomination. 19% of Obama supporters stated they would vote for McCain is Obama didn’t get the Democratic Nomination. This poses an interesting question, which candidate would have the best chance of winning, if these numbers are true, and the vote really is close to being split down the middle for the democratic nomination. Of course, if you take all that into account and it is true, then Clinton would have the best opportunity for winning the Presidency within Democratic voters.

PRINCETON, NJ — A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for Hillary Clinton supporters, more than a quarter of whom currently say they would vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee.

These conclusions are based on an analysis of Democratic voters’ responses to separate voting questions in March 7-22 Gallup Poll Daily election tracking. In each day’s survey, respondents are asked for their general election preferences in McCain-Clinton and McCain-Obama pairings. Democratic voters are then asked whom they support for their party’s nomination.