They just can't stand Hillary.
I live in St. Louis, MO. Yesterday, I voted in my first primary election ever, helping Barack Obama to barely slip past Hillary Clinton in the Show-Me-State. I'd like to share a couple of stories with you.
One of my friends who goes to school here is from Louisiana, and I remember having a classic argument with him last year about how in the world he could consider himself a liberal while simultaneously voting for Bush in 2004. After combing through many topics, including his inherent hate of John Kerry, he said, "And come 2008, if you Democrats nominate Hillary, you can bet I'll be voting Republican. BUT, if you nominate Obama, not only will I vote for the guy, I'll campaign for him! He is something special!"
Next, I actually voted with a girl whom I originally had persuaded not to jump on the Ron Paul bandwagon. She is one of those classic people who was voting more against Hillary than she was for Obama. At the same time, her vote counts the same as any other Obamaniac like me! She's from Nebraska and although that state has about as good a chance flipping to the Democrats as I do of making the recommended list, it's always good to have another notch in the popular vote.
My brother just got out of college, and is a John McCain supporter, a Barack Obama admirer, and another classical Hillary Clinton hater. If it comes down to McCain vs. Obama, I think he will be legitimately torn. If it's McCain vs. Clinton, Illinois is one vote closer to turning red (gasp)!
You can spend all day at 270towin.com playing around and seeing how you think the electoral calculus will play out his November. I have my own theories about each candidate, but I am convinced that Obama is the most electable, even forgoing the Clinton brand of legend and lore. Personally, I think Clinton would still beat McCain by carrying all the states Gore and Kerry did plus AR (a 270-268 nail-biter!) But Obama, boy he has the opportunity to galvanize the youth, electrify the blacks (who already vote Democrat 9 to 1) to bring their friends and family, and still hold onto a strong majority of Clinton votes.
We will know in a couple months which one of our candidates will be the one to replace our leader who has lead us into a dark age in so many respects. For all the lies that the media gives us, I believe them when they say Hillary Clinton, although a formidable senator, is just too polarizing to bring us into the White House with a landslide. My college friends just might be on to something....