Coulter wants Clinton over McCain
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/02/01/art.coulter.gi.jpg caption=" Ann Coulter said Thursday she'd back Hillary Clinton over John McCain."]
(CNN) - In the latest sign that a conservative backlash is starting to build against John McCain, conservative commentator Ann Coulter said Thursday she is prepared to vote for Hillary Clinton over the Arizona senator in a general election match up.
Speaking on Fox's "Hannity and Colmes," Coulter took aim at the GOP frontrunner, and suggested he was little more than a Republican in name only.
"If you are looking at substance rather than if there is an R or a D after his name, manifestly, if he's our candidate, than Hillary is going to be our girl, because she's more conservative than he is," Coulter said. "I think she would be stronger on the war on terrorism."
Coulter took aim at McCain's positions - particularly his fervent anti-torture stance - and said he and Clinton differ little on the issues. Coulter also said she is prepared to campaign on Clinton's behalf should McCain win the party's nomination.
"John McCain is not only bad for Republicanism, which he definitely is - he is bad for the country," she said.
Coulter is the latest high profile conservative to express dismay with McCain's surging candidacy. Talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh said Wednesday McCain's rise was the product of a 'fractured' conservative base and an "uninspiring" GOP presidential field.
"He is not the choice of conservatives, as opposed to the choice of the Republican establishment — and that distinction is key," Limbaugh continued. "The Republican establishment, which has long sought to rid the party of conservative influence since Reagan, is feeling a victory today as well as our friends in the media."
McCain has long been at odds with conservative members of his party. — Exit polls from the early-primary states have shown the he has consistently lost among those primary voters who identify themselves as conservative. But he passed a key test Tuesday in winning Florida's primary, the first early contest that only allowed registered Republicans to participate.
Reacting to criticisms from his party's most conservative quarters, McCain told the San Francisco Gate Thursday, "I'll continue to reach out to all in the party, try to unite the party, until everybody realizes that the only way we're going to defeat the Democratic candidate is through a united party."
- CNN Producer Alexander Mooney
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That's just so she has new material to write more books.
Maybe John McCain is doing well because the country is sick of big-business conservatives running us into the ground?
She represents everything that is wrong with the Republican party.
Once in a while she makes sense. This is not one of them.
so bombthrower Ann is going "kamikazi republican" Goodbye, as a moderate repub I am sick and tired of your and Rush'es and Sean' rants!!!!!!!!
Why on Earth would anyone care what Ann Coulter wants?
This is absolutely ridiculous. Ann Coulter is neither respected as a Republican or a commentator/analyst, or whatever she actually is. I am a fervent Republican who will back any of the candidates the party nominates. I think McCain's ability to reach across the aisle shows he is willing to make concessions and that sometimes the only way to get anything positive accomplished is to negotiate and both sides make sacrifices. This whole idea of "it's our way or the highway" is what is fractured about the Republican party and what has turned many of the independent voters toward the Democrats. They are sick and tired of the ego's in the Republican party and are ready for someone who can actually get things accomplished with Bi-partisan support. That is why McCain is so popular. It's time for the vast right wing conservatives to realize that if they are unwilling to change then they will go the way of the dinosaur. We just need a candidate that will adhere to our values but also be willing to understand that some battles you cannot win and you must negotiate. A true leader understands this and only an egotistical fanatic like that of Coulter is too stubborn to know the difference.
I agree with Ann. If John wins the GOP there will be many republicans who will not vote when it comes to the election and many others who will vote for the other party. Plain and Simple, McCain is dividing the republican party.
I would rather see John McCain ruin the Republican Party than see Hillary Clinton ruin the United States of America.
So is the woman who claimed that Jews needed to be perfected by converting to Christianity prepared to support a Morman?
Democrats will vote for McCain, Republicans for Hillary. I feel like Alice in Wonderland.
This is great.
The more controversial she can be, the more money she makes.
She's just another piece of trash like Rush and his veteran remark. Typical Republicans, they'll even invoke God if there's any money to be made.
Hey, Ann,
As a lifetime Democrat and Hillary supporter I have one comment: Don't do us any favors.
Who CARES what she thinks???!!!
Oh, this will help Hillary. FOR SURE!
Wow, even the Republicans would vote for Hillary !!
Yet another closet liberal showing her true colors. Nobody is listening to you anyway
Ann – How do you stand on Ron Paul? He is certainly more conservative than Romney or McCain. So conservative, he was only one of four people in congress to support Reagan during his first run for president. Everyone else (wrongly) supported Gerald Ford.
Ann Coulter is a psychopath. These arch-conservatives who are pro-torture and fervently for starting as many wars on as many fronts as possible, and blindly handing over as much power as possible to corporate interests who have shown time and again they can't handle power without supervision – these are the people responsible for the problems we are facing now. I hope when Ann Coulter or one of her family members is taken in for questioning by this totalitarian state she seems to desire that she takes her torture with a smile on her face and praises the country she helped create. Although with the water-boarding apparatus on you it is probably difficult to smile, or praise your captors. Bravo to all the REAL americans out there who realize where the Coulters and Limbaughs of the world would lead us.
I think that if someone running for President has never served in the US Military they should not be allowed to run for the Presidency. If they have never walked in the shoes of the military how are they gonna know how to run the Military? THINK! GO McCAIN!!!!
Coulter is hot!
Regardless of her sometimes wacky remarks, she's HOT!!
Talk about the ultimate kiss of death...
I think John McCain has a little more understanding of torture then Coulture could even imagine.
Clinton would not want Coulter to campaign for her. Ever.