Some Clinton Supporters Continue to Be Obama's Biggest Foes

If presumptive Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama loses the presidential election in November, it may come at the hands of dissatisfied Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters than presumptive Republican Party nominee John McCain, polls and anecdotal evidence suggest.

Despite efforts Obama and even Clinton to show a united front, some of those who supported Clinton during the Democratic primary are resisting and resisting loudly. An ABC/Washington Post poll taking in mid-June stated that nearly a quarter of Clinton supporters are withholding their support from Obama.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that 54 percent of Clinton supporters who have given her $1,000 or more are planning on supporting Obama and that those supporters have given as much to McCain's campaign as they have to Obama so far.

During Obama and Clinton's unity appearance in New Hampshire, Clinton tried to gently nudge her supporters toward the Illinois senator.

"We may have started on separate paths, but today our paths have merged," Clinton said, according to McClatchy newspapers. "Today our hearts are set on the same destination for America."

Media reports at that event, though, suggested that some in the crowd were less than enthusiastic.

Obama and Clinton held a joint fund raiser Wednesday, meant to bring several million dollars more to Obama's presidential bid.

But instead of going away, Clinton supporters still upset about the Democrat primary seem to be organizing. In many of Clinton fans' anti-Obama sites, supporters seem motivated not so much their affection for McCain, but by their dislike for Obama.

For example, Texas Clinton backer Ed Hale created the website National Organizaton of Hillary Clinton Supporters for John McCain. One of the things that site does is push the debunked theory that Obama is or was a Muslim.

The creator of the Hillary Supporters for McCain blog is listed as Steve Mahoney, a political activist from Ambridge, Pa.

"Many Hillary supporters are coming to understand that there's only one way to stop the 'Obama Express,' " a post on the website stated. "That way is to contribute and to otherwise support John McCain."

Another website, the NOBAMA Network, states it seeks to create a coalition of all the Democratic anti-Obama efforts. It even has its own internet radio network, called Clintons4McCain.

McCain, for his part, has continued to talk favorably of Clinton in speeches and has organized teleconferences with Clinton supporters.

But Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's campaign manager during the primary, said on MSNBC Hardball program Wednesday that most of her supporters have already moved towards Obama.

"I think we're more united now than ever," McAuliffe told host Chris Matthews. "Most of her people have already come over. You can always find a new people who won't. We are all focused on winning this election. The issues here are much too great."

Some Clinton's supporters intent on derailing Obama, though, continue to make a lot of noise.