From The Independent:
In the wealthiest suburbs of Virginia, a quiet revolution was under way yesterday as life-long republicans switched sides to vote for Barack Obama in the Democratic primary.
So deep is the disillusionment with George Bush, so uninspiring the choice offered by the Republicans, that many life-long conservatives are abandoning the Grand Old Party to support a liberal black candidate.
Think about how powerful that is.
Hardcore Republicans are voting for Obama because their candidates are so bad. As the article states, wealthy Republicans are voting for a black liberal.
That's not to say that Republicans will turn out in droves to support Obama in November (assuming he's the nominee), but if Obama can just pull 5% of those Republicans, while another 5% of the GOP base stays home because they are uninspired by McCain and can't imagine voting for any Democrat, then we have a GREAT shot to see President Obama sworn in on January 20 next year.
More from the same article:
Laura DeBusk, 37, a "stay-at-home-mom", is one of the refuseniks who turned out yesterday for Mr Obama across Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. In the past two presidential elections she voted for George Bush in the belief that he could best protect America from terrorists. It is a choice she now bitterly regrets.
And:
But if Mr Obama is denied the nomination, Ms DeBusk will not be supporting Hillary Clinton. "She is just too polarising, too divisive," she said. "I will vote for McCain instead. He's a decent man even if he is less inspiring."
This has been one of my arguments all along. Obama has the ability to inspire, GOTV, and gain GOP votes.
Hillary..not so much.