February 12, 2008
Posted: 08:10 PM ET
McCain walks to his office from the subway on Capitol Hill today after a series of votes.

McCain walks to his office from the subway on Capitol Hill today after a series of votes.

(CNN) – John McCain has been struggling to win over his party’s conservative base – and 1 in 4 Virginia GOP primary voters say they’ll be somewhat or very dissatisfied if McCain is the Republican nominee.

But Hillary Clinton actually fares worse on that question than McCain: more than 1 in 3 Virginia Democratic primary voters say they will be dissatisfied if she is her party’s nominee. Barack Obama does best in this respect: fewer than 1 in 5 primary voters would be unhappy if he is the Democratic candidate this fall.

–CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand

Filed under: Exit Polls • Virginia


California Independent   February 12th, 2008 8:17 pm ET

I would prefer Hillary as the nominee and I am an African American women.

California Independent   February 12th, 2008 8:18 pm ET

I would prefer Huckabee over McCain.

Tony Skaronea   February 12th, 2008 8:18 pm ET

Obama's volunteers are strong on the ground and also in the phone banks. I am one who never donated to a political campaign or physically campaigned. As of last week I have now done both. We are a strong bunch and getting stronger.

Russ C, Seattle, Wa   February 12th, 2008 8:19 pm ET

McCain and his handlers need to pay attention. He ain't that popular and they may be betting on the wrong horse. If you can't win your own party outright just how do you think you are going to beat the Democrats with all their enthusiasm?

Bob   February 12th, 2008 8:27 pm ET

Gee, maybe, just maybe at last the Republican Party can gain back its soul. It sold it off under Richard Nixon and has struggled to be the Grand Old Party ever since. Maybe McCain is the one who can get the GOP back where it belongs - out of the hands of extremists -and into the hands of its traditional progressive and moderate thinking Americans. Give us the party of Lincoln, Taft, Roosevelt, Dewy, Ford, Ike…give us a party we can be proud of. After several decades of spawning the likes of every right wing talk host - most of whom march to a different drummer (the sound of hob nail boots comes to mind) - it would be so healthy for America to have the REAL Republicans back!

Maybe it's McCain!

Ian   February 12th, 2008 8:30 pm ET

I took a poll of myself and found that 100% of me does not like John McCain.

California Independent   February 12th, 2008 8:34 pm ET

Hi Ian:

Amen! Amen! Down with McCain!

Stan   February 12th, 2008 8:35 pm ET

Two questions:

1. How many Romney voters switched to Huckabee?

2. What signal does it send to McCain that Romney is still getting votes, even though he dropped out?

annie   February 12th, 2008 8:35 pm ET

Barack does best in all respects!!!!!!! I am a middle aged, white grandmother who lives in N. Idaho. Not a lot of black folks up here yet, unfortunately, and guess what? We voted overwhelmingly for Obama here in Idaho. And they say our state is all republicans. He's ahead of all the rest because he is who the majority of us out here want to lead us out of this mess were in. We are ready for a change!!!

Go Obama!!!!!!!!!

Randy in TX   February 12th, 2008 8:36 pm ET

I am Hispanic, with an African American Father, and a Latino Mother, and we're all proud to live in Clinton Country, here in the Great State of Texas.

Sam   February 12th, 2008 8:38 pm ET

I love how people talk trash about McCain not being able to convince the base and that the republican party is fractured. Last time I checked the Democrats didnt have a leader either.

Guaranteed the GOP will have a nominee first. The Democrats are going to the convention and we will see which party is fractured.

Anarcho-sindicalist for Obama   February 12th, 2008 8:40 pm ET

Obama all the way, no ifs, ands or buts. I loved Bill Clinton, but I also remember the government devolving into a theater of partisan foolishness when he was president too. Time to move on to the next chapter in American history and that chapter starts with a capital "O."

james   February 12th, 2008 8:40 pm ET

McCains rating will further drop when he is comfronted on Iraq and starts dropping F-bombs at debates. Sure he's straight talk but also has a bad temper and stubborness.

Alex   February 12th, 2008 8:42 pm ET

Obama 08 :D

Franky   February 12th, 2008 8:42 pm ET

Poor, McCain, too many people hate on him. I kind of like him but his "differences" are not the same as mine but I do like him though.

Paul   February 12th, 2008 8:43 pm ET

In Australia we are seeing a movement to unite. In the united States i see the same overwhelming force, these are great days. Obama is a manifestation of all that is great about your country. Go obama, change our world.

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 8:44 pm ET

The only reason the Polls were kept open is so that McCain could win. If Huckabee would not have been ahead at the time they decided to stay open they would have tried to close early !

HE WILL NOT WIN OVER OBAMA and HUCKABEE WOULD ! ! !

THE DEMS are baiting the REPS. THE DEMS WANT MCCAIN TO WIN !

And if McCain is the Rep nomination , I WANT OBAMA to win to . I don't care how McCain fish flops after the nomination ….he will not be trusted by anybody but the Elites who have already maxed their campaign contributions like Gov. Crist and Karl Rove who get on and belch for him now and then .

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 8:45 pm ET

BOOOO MCCAIN BOOOOOOOOO

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 8:46 pm ET

MCAIN IS ONLY SEEN QUALIFIED BY FOSSIL VETERANS AND THE FILTHY RICH .

Joyce   February 12th, 2008 8:46 pm ET

I am a teacher at a Catholic school. Many of the 30 teachers are Republican. About a third are African-American woman. They supporting Barack Obama because he is the best man for the job first and maybe third because he is black. However they have said they would support John Edwards over Hillary if he was running against Hillary. The blacks aren't going by race only. Hillary is a nice woman who has done good things in her past, but she is also very STUBBORN AND SET IN HER WAYS. Stubborn people make horrible leaders! Less experience in this situation is better. Besides, Obama is an intelligent man. He will surround himself with brilliant experienced people to balance his skills and good judgement.

Tim in Arkansas   February 12th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

First Hillary, then McCain!!!!!

OBAMA 08 :)

Beverly Buthman   February 12th, 2008 8:49 pm ET

I just heard the term "civil war" applied to the ongoing democratic process of the Democrat's choosing a candidate for president. Please. Stop burying the family silver in the field. This is not 1860 and it is not a war. This is the election process in America. And why a call it a civil war? Because there is a Black candidate and a White candidate as front runners. Because there is a Woman and a Man as front runners.
Or maybe it is the Racists and the Sexists whose incredulous analysis and covert ideas are exposed.

JC   February 12th, 2008 8:49 pm ET

This Latino in Texas does not want Clinton to lie to us anymore. She has NEVER done ANYTHING for latinos! OBAMA is the uniter with EXPERIENCE of working in the communities.

TEXAS IS NOT CLINTON COUNTRY!

LATINOS AND TEXANS FOR OBAMA!

kathy   February 12th, 2008 8:49 pm ET

Americans must love war to be voting for McCain. I'd rather have Obama in than McCain. He scares me with his love for war. I guess there are those out there that like the fact that our men are getting killed for this war that is not our war.

Susan   February 12th, 2008 8:52 pm ET

Bob - McCain is a liberal. Nothing Republican about it.

Stan - I think Romney should not have dropped out and think that his voters can't support another candidate because of their disgusting attacks on him, not to mention they have different views.

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 8:54 pm ET

THANKS FOR THE WARNING … I'LL GO LISTEN TO MICHAEL SAVAGE ON THE RADIO WHILE THE "STRAIGHT TALKER " GETS HIS LIAR LIPS MOVING .

Barry James Moore   February 12th, 2008 8:55 pm ET

I do not see Mike Huckabee as John McCain's running mate. I do wonder if McCain might try to get Condoleezza Rice as his VP choice to garner both female and African-American support.

Jack Louton in NJ   February 12th, 2008 8:56 pm ET

Obama isn't really black. He's not a black candidate - he's a biracial candidate. The sooner black Americans realize this and quit calling him "brother" the better. Also, Obama's not an African-American. He wasn't born in Africa, he is an American who has never defended this country. Obama was born in the US and educated here in mostly white schools. Get real people! If you think Obama is going to help black people, think again. All of his money has come from special interest groups, blue collar unions and political action committees. He is owned by these people.

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 8:58 pm ET

WAY TO GO OBAMA ! WE WE CAN'T STAND MCCAIN AND IF THE REPS WON'T / CAN'T GET HIS LIEING BUTT OUT OF THERE

((((((((YOU'RE THE MAN THAT CAN )))))

Thomas   February 12th, 2008 8:59 pm ET

What a poor comparison. Clinton has 1 of 3 of today's VA Democrat voters against her and McCain has 1 of 4 of today's VA Republican voters against him. Uhhhhh, Clinton is in second in a tough race. It is not surprising people would be against her. McCain has basically already won the Republican nomination and he still has Republicans against him. Seems like a very odd comparison even to a Hilary hater like myself.

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 9:01 pm ET

I'VE CHANGED MY WAYS … I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT

FROM REP. TO OBAMA …

AND NOW I'LL BE ALRIGHT !

katey WI   February 12th, 2008 9:03 pm ET

Whats wrong with being a Veteran? They saved your sorry butt.
Whats wrong with being rich? Don't we all work for money?
Oh you lazy Socialists sure don't follow the Kennedy ideals….Ask not what your country to do for you but what you can do for the country.
Seems like theres been a complete flip. Now its all " I want and gimmee".
Grow up.

Suzi   February 12th, 2008 9:04 pm ET

Obama is not ready to be president. He is a great speaker and motivator but he isn't a proven leader with the credentials needed to show me is worthy to lead anything, especially this country. During his short time in the Senate, he couldn't be counted on to vote because the special interest groups own him. He never voted for or against any controversial issue. He did not take a stand for anything voting "present" to ensure his votes would not come back to haunt him. He's taken money from anyone willing to give it up and now he's backpedalling trying to refund other money to get the dirt off his hands. McCain should win this race when all of this comes out. I don't like McCain but he's better than Obama. Hillary? Hah - anybody but her!!

Mike   February 12th, 2008 9:06 pm ET

Clinton's looking past these primaries and focusing on the "big prizes" (Texas and Ohio) sounds alot like Rudy's plan for Florida. Too bad ,Obama will have all the momentum and the more people see him, the more they fall in love with him. Hilary is lose Ohio and most likely Texas as well.

Janet, Dayton, Ohio   February 12th, 2008 9:10 pm ET

Awwww, I really like McCain. I'm an Obama supporter, but if Hillary gets the nomination, I'm crossing over.

No matter what your politics, he really is a proud American. None of the candidates have given as much to this country as he has.

Obama 08

McCain in the wings.

CM   February 12th, 2008 9:20 pm ET

How many people came out to vote for Hillary versus came out to vote for John McCain? The ones that dont want him stayed home and didnt appear in your exit poll.

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 9:23 pm ET

WE NEED A MAN …

THAT OBAMA MAN …

A FRESH NEW FACE …

NOT WASHINTONS WASTE…

OUR HOPE IS IN ONE…

ONE WE KNOW THAT CAN …

WE NEED OBAMA …

THAT OBAMA MAN ! ! ! !

Jack Cavanaugh, Portland, Or   February 12th, 2008 9:29 pm ET

hey wait to go Huckabee youve almost caught Romney

Obama 08

puddytat   February 12th, 2008 9:33 pm ET

REPUBLICANS DON'T GET IT …

THEY THINK THAT WE'RE BLUFFING …

IF MCCAIN IS THEIR MAN …

INDEPENDENTS ARE HUFFING …

THOUGH MANY CAN'T VOTE TO SHOW THERE DISPLEASURE

THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT

IT'S AN OBAMA NOVEMBER !

VFH   February 12th, 2008 9:40 pm ET

If Obama is running in November, I'm voting for McCain!!! He has way more experience and ability.

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