Far from becoming a marginal figure, the eventual loser in the Democratic presidential nomination contest could wield great influence over the winner’s prospects for success in the general election.
But the loser could have a tough time persuading his or her supporters to back the winning Democrat, according to polls that show considerable ill will from the protracted interparty warfare.
“This has been a fierce contest, with rough feelings among both supporters’ camps,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said in response to questions from The Examiner. “But the party’s going to be unified.”
Sen. John Kerry, an Obama supporter, told The Examiner that his experience as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 taught him to discount the accuracy of polls such as those showing bitterness among Democrats.
“Once Barack has secured the nomination,” Kerry said, “President Clinton and Hillary Clinton and the vast majority of their supporters are going to turn their attention to winning.”
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said both Democratic candidates have passionate supporters.
“People have invested too much of their hopes and dreams in these candidates for either side not to walk away a little disappointed at the process if their candidate does not secure the nomination,” Wolfson said. “We will do whatever we can to get the support of people who have supported Senator Obama.”
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said that if front-runner Obama somehow loses the nomination, he will have great influence over the general election, which Clinton probably cannot win without Obama’s black supporters.
But Sabato said Clinton will be less able to play the role of kingmaker.
“Obama needs most or all of the Democrats who have been backing Clinton,” Saboto said. “But will they move into his column because she urges them to do it? I doubt it, at least in many cases. Only Obama can give them reason enough to back him.”
