May 14, 2008 
By now you’ve heard that John Edwards finally has endorsed Barack Obama. Greg Sargent speculates why Edwards made the move now.
Clinton supporters still are arguing that Clinton’s support among white working-class voters makes her the stronger candidate in the fall. However, a recent Quinnipiac University survey says otherwise. Foon Rhee of The Boston Globe writes,
…both Clinton and Barack Obama lead presumptive Republican nominee John McCain nationally. Clinton leads 46 percent to 41 percent, with strong support from women and blacks. Obama leads 48 percent to 37 percent with strong backing from independents and blacks.
But while Clinton is trying to argue that she holds greater appeal to blue-collar voters essential to a Democratic victory in November, she and Obama face similar deficits among non-college-educated whites in the poll — McCain leads 48 percent to 41 percent over Clinton, and 46 percent to 39 percent over Obama.
And Clinton continues to have the lowest favorability rating. While 47 percent of voters have a favorable view of her, 44 percent have an unfavorable view. Obama’s spread is 49 percent favorable to 43 percent unfavorable, and McCain’s is 45 percent favorable to 31 percent unfavorable.
This is just one poll, but it suggests that Clinton’s “advantage” among white working class voters is a mirage. And the mounting hysteria among some people that the Dems are doomed without the white, small-town, working-class voters seems odd to me, considering that Dems haven’t had those votes for a very long time. That they are suddenly so essential now seems a tad irrational.
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