Where Will Sen. Clinton's Supporters Turn?

Katie Couric Speaks With Seven Clinton Supporters About The Campaign

(CBS)  As Hillary Clinton inches closer to pulling out the race, Barack Obama must win over her supporters - many of them women. In the Democratic primaries so far, CBS News exit polls showed that Clinton won more than half of the female vote.

Women voters helped propel her to a big win in Pennsylvania. CBS News anchor Katie Couric asked seven Clinton supporters from that battleground state how they feel about the campaign, and what they're thinking now. What follows is a partial transcript of the conversation.

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Sandra Miller, former county commissioner: I think from the very beginning she’s been mistreated. I know - I watched a lot of interviews and so forth where Sen. Clinton was referred to as "Mrs. Clinton" whereas Sen. Obama was "Sen. Obama."

Meredith Ciambrello, teacher: It bothers me to think with the kind of coverage that we've had, that we’re speaking of, that it's influencing the voters. And when I talk to young men or other young women and they say, "I hate Hillary" and just the venom that comes out of them. And I wonder where is that coming from.

Kathleen O'Dell, sales manager: I think we have a little different standard with sexism than we do with, say, racism. I mean there have been people who go to their rallies and stand up - the guy who stood up and said, "hey, iron my shirt.” Now consider that if somebody had showed up at an Obama campaign and had a banner saying something about his race or about somebody's religion, we’d be up in arms. Everybody would be like, "how disgusting."

Katie Couric: What do you wish she had done differently?

O'Dell: First of all, I think she underestimated Obama tremendously, the mood of the country. She picked people who were very loyal to her, who weren’t maybe as savvy at running caucus states. The Internet. I think she got killed on the Internet.

Couric: Some people have said that, if she couldn’t run a better campaign, if she couldn’t surround herself with better people ... during the process, what does that portend for her ability to run the country?

Debbie Pellen, stay-at-home mother: I think it’s a fair comment but some of the people he seems to be surrounding himself with I think they are great PR people but I don’t think that’s a good indication of how they’re going to be with policy.

O'Dell: I hate to say it. How these campaigns are run I think does give you a pretty good idea of how they’re going to be in the White House.

Couric: If Hillary Clinton gets out of the race, what then?

Jennifer Miller, art instructor: I’ll vote for Barack Obama if Hillary doesn’t get in.

Doreen Ruffe, stay-at-home mom: I am thinking that but I would have to see what happens between now and November.

Daphne Mroz, executive assistant: I will definitely vote for another Democrat in the office.

O'Dell: Right now, I’m staying home. I don’t want to be taken for granted. I can’t hope that we change.

Pellen: I will definitely vote for Obama, but I don’t want her to get out. I respect the fact that she’s in and she’s fighting and, you know what, people have said, "get out, get out," and, you know what, it even makes her stronger that she’s not going to roll over. I mean, this is who I want fighting for me.

Couric: What about your husband, Debbie?

Pellen: My husband will look at it and say, "but we’re at wa,r Deb." And you know what? This person is untested. At least somebody has a record. He has a record versus no record.

Couric: And your husband is a Democrat?

Pellen: Democrat, registered Democrat.

Couric: Do you know any Hillary Clinton supporters who would be so angry about the outcome, and about the way she’s been treated that they would opt to vote for John McCain, almost as a protest?

Sandra Miller: Absolutely. That anger is just building and building. They have expressed to me that if she is not the candidate they will vote for McCain, just to vent that anger. Will they say that publicly? Probably not.

Couric: What has Hillary Clinton’s candidacy taught you?

Jennifer Miller: We still have a long ways to go when it comes to sexism and we will have a female president in the near future.

Sandra Miller: I would disagree that we’re going to have another female candidate - or a female president - in the near future if Sen. Clinton is not successful.

Mroz: If she does not win this time, I don’t know when - at least it won’t happen in my lifetime - when there would be any other candidate as well-qualified.

Ruffe: In terms of the sexism, I try to stay away from that. I try to teach my three kids you can do anything you want. And my oldest wanted to be president when she was six. I keep saying you can.

O'Dell: I think we have come really far. I mean, we are this close. And if it wasn’t for this other really great story, she would be the nominee.

[jacklynd]

Hillary was Elected and Obama was Selected by the party leaders. He is delusional to believe that we are all uniting behind him. It is just not happening. The so-called new Democrats are Republican spawn who demonized Hillary (you would have thought they were up against a KKK candidate) the same way that the Republicans swiftboated Kerry, and grossly misrepresented Gore. The Democrat National Committee is a bitter disappointment and clearly too stupid to be in charge of this country. I am a third generation Democrat... well, exDemocrat now. Talk about grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory.

[moodmusic2u]

omegetymon YOU JUST LIKE TO TALK TOO MUCH I THINK. ANYWAY, MCCAIN IT IS SINCE MY OWN PARTY AND MEDIA HAS NO CLASS..HILLARY WON, BUT THEY PUSHED HIM IN ANYWAY AS PRE-MEDITADED DIRTY ACT. AND I AM NOT VOTING FOR OBAMA, EVEN IF HILLARY GETS VP SPOT. NOW, THEY ARE BLACKMAILING HER FOR HIM TO WIN. I AM NOT ALONE, WHO WILL GO TO THE OTHER SIDE.

[omegetymon]

TO:"patriot"12436 AND undermyboot, Am I correct in assu
ming that the two of you consider yourselves REICHIOUS
GUYS by the teutonic tones you espouse here?

[omegetymon]

(TO: bullyforhim,) Or put the Engineer of BIRKENAU DEATH
CAMP''S grandson as Chief Architect to the LAST TWO-TERM President? (KARL Heinz ROVErer)They CAN hide them in PLAIN SITE with how well some PAY ATTENTION.

[omegetymon]

To: A Negro Man,If you are to make a complaint give facts. SENATOR Obama has nothing to do with CITY politics, or it''s CONSTABULARY! He DID work on those
problems when he first worked with City Council. Dear
Sir,POINT by FACTS,don''t leave speculation up for spin.

[omegetymon]

Maxxify55 needs to find their friend that they''ve been
SEEKing,I think his name is KIEL.

[omegetymon]

Moodmusic STOP PLAYING POLITICAL DIRGES. Please get your facts corrected! THERE''S TOO MUCH AT STAKE for a politically passionate person,like yourself, to make others believe in something that''s JUST NOT RIGHT.

[omegetymon]

You are all so sad to spout EVERY type of the blatant, prejudicial,uninformed and uneducated reasons to prove your adulthood and abilities to be allowed to exercise the of the rights and freedoms that you clearly DON''T KNOW. The people that ARE removing the rules of the constitution are cheerfully reading the words of stupidity and divisions lavishly scrolled here and KNOW that IT WON''T BE SO TOUGH THIS TIME.
As Khruschev told us at the United Nations when he said "We will bury you!"; When asked how he told the
reporter "YOU,(America), will supply the ''shovel''."
The ENTIRE WORLD IS WATCHING and all this article has
raised is the assurance of a VICTORY that WE CAN''T
SHARE! (BLACKMILITAN: YOU ARE THE REASON SOME AMERICANS STILL HAVE A TASTE FOR : ''STRANGE FRUIT''.
Just HOW TAN IS tan, do you know what "BLURPLE"
means? If you don''t, DON''T QUOTE! [blackstone.])

[omegetymon]

the mood music is tone deaf as well as quite high on the
periodic scale with density of facts.It''s sad that one
who will call sexism turns to prejudicial statements
that make this nation so vulnerable.THIS is why we have
lost most of the things that ARE important. Is there a MOOD for LEARNING our nation''s laws?

[omegetymon]

It SEEMS that most of these women started voting around 1972,the year that THREE women ran for the Highest office.Shirley St. Hill CHISHOLM placed as Hillary has, or has EVERY Woman forgotten ''HERSTORY''? It''s EASY to accuse when the moment creates anger. New York legislator as IS Hillary, an INTERESTING parallel! The sad part of the anger is that ,(most likely.), many of these women MAY have voted red... TWICE,in the immediate past.

[omegetymon]

It SEEMS that most of these women started voting around 1972,the year that THREE women ran for the Highest office.Shirley St. Hill CHISHOLM placed as Hillary has, or has EVERY Woman forgotten ''HERSTORY''? It''s EASY to accuse when the moment creates anger. New York legislator as IS Hillary, an INTERESTING parallel! The sad part of the anger is that ,(most likely.), many of these women MAY have voted red... TWICE,in the immediate past.

[moodmusic2u]

YES, MCCAIN IT IS, SORRY TO SAY, BUT I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA, I WOULD NOT TRUST HIM IF YOU KILL ME. THEY TREATED HILLARY LIKE GARBAGE, SO THE PARTY DOES NOT DESERVE TO WIN. THEY DON''T CARE, IF HE IS AMERICA HATER AND RACIST (TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFEEEE). I WONDER WHERE ALL HIS MONEY "CAME FROM"???????????????????? HIS OWN MUSLIM FRIENDS????? BLACK CHURCH????? TERRORISTS AND COMMIES???? AND SUCH?
WELL, TOO BAD, NOW I HOPE MCCAIN GETS IN, BEFORE WE ALL ARE VERY SORRY......

[bec67]

After the way the DNC and the media boys treated Hillary, you better believe, I''ll be voting for McCain just like every democrat I have spoken too this week. I would vote for a cloned goat instead of Obama.

[oldwhiteguy1]

Lets see if I get this right...Obama ran a campaign on the same platform as Hillary. Her supporters won''t vote for him for "sexism" reasons. They WILL, however, vote for McCain out of ''spite'' even tho he called his wife the "C-word"...excuse me but that doesn''t add up

[why_not_nar]

Any one of the Clinton supporters who votes for McCain is asking for four more years of the what has happened during the past eight years. McCain''s voting record is 90% the same as George Bush''s.
If we wanted consistancy, in 1770 we could have voted for King George. His policies weren''t in our countries best interest...he didn''t believe in ANY personal freedoms...but he was CONSISTANT.
In this world of instant communications...how can there be so little real understanding? There is a Repulican agenda, and although he is a war hereo, it isn''t just about the men, it is about what they stand for.
85% of American''s feel we are headed in the wrong direction. If a majority of them vote for McCain, that is the direction he will continue to take us. (although I admit, as a Prisoner of War, even McCain will vote against just one of Bush''s redicdulous policies...torturing prisoner''s of war. Bush has some other rediculous policis...or did we forget what they are? Or what they are doing to the people of this country?

[lonevoicedfw]

I am a Clinton supporter, who now contemplates voting for McCain in the general election, unless Clinton is also on the ticket. I''m holding my breath as I wait for a sense of direction from her upcoming campaign address this weekend.

Obama seems way too liberal for me. I like his inspiring words, but I''m more afraid of his unpredictable actions. I may not agree with McCain on everything, but at least, I know where he stands. I know that Clinton and McCain have reached out to both sides of the isles in the Senate. Both have dedicated their lives to public service.

In a final analysis, I always prefer resolute actions and straight talks over inspiring words! I suppose there is no such thing as a perfect candidate because Jesus is not on the ballot! I often end up voting for the best available "circumstantial candidate" instead of the ideal candidate of choice.

[why_not_nar]

Hang on.
I can understand anyone who believed in Hillary being disappointed. The fact is she lost by a very narrow margin. And the ONLY question she should be thinking about is how to best contribute going forward.
The night before last, McCain''s speech was about attacking Obama (personally), Hillary''s was about herself, Obama spoke about the American people. Health insurance, the war, the price of oil, our economy. That is what Hillary should have been doing all along.
What cost Hillary the Presidency? Bill Clinton did. Her need for him to campaign and raise money. No one, right or wrong wants to hear Bill Clinton calling people "xxxxbags". It is about BILL. Always was and always will be.
Look for one minute at Hillary''s positions...that are almost exactly equal to Obama''s. I have gained an enormous amount of respect for her. The way for that to continue is for her to do what is best FOR ME, for the American people, and that is to work to undo and change the terrible things that have occurred during the Bush presidency.
And she can do that in whatever role she is most comfortable with, Vice President, cabinet member, or the Senator from New York. Gore got beat in 2000...probably just as unfairly. He picked himself up and won a nobel prize.
That is Hillary''s current option. Not to change what has happened, but to make the most of what she has accomplished.

[remydck]

I was hoping against hope that Hillary would get the nomination. The DNC thinks they can just shove Obama down our throats. Well, tough luck. Never in a million years would I vote for Obama.

I am dumping my democratic affiliation and switching over to the Republican party. Here''s to McCain. At least I am sure that he REALLY loves this country.

[starpost]

I am a lifelong Democrat.
Never voted anything but Democrat.
I am 56 years old, college educated.
If she''s not the nominee, I will vote for McCain.
Why? The DNC should not be rewarded for its silence regarding blatant sexism and irresponsible charges of race-baiting and racism by the Obama camp and his supporters. Hillary has been called the worst names and has been totally disrespected. Well, I am a woman and I am angry at their treatment of "just another woman." McCain gets my vote in November. Men behaving badly should not be rewarded.

[graigrsmith]

Hillary did not loose because of sexism. She did amazingly well, and she''s no looser by any stretch of the imagination. She won practically half the vote. and you know, if it wasn''t for Obama being just an awesome candidate and having the perfect platform for the mood the country is in right now. she would have won.