Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at a Women For Obama fundraiser breakfast in New York in July 10. (Photo by Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images)
by Katie Fretland
Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton are more interested in hearing her speak next week at the Democratic National Convention than hearing Sen. Barack Obama's planned acceptance of the nomination for president, according to a new study.
The Pew Research Center finds that 56 percent of Clinton supporters are very interested in her speech to the delegates, while 43 percent show similar interest in Obama's speech. Only 37 percent of Obama supporters report high interest in Clinton's address, while 60 percent say they are very interested in hearing the Illinois senator's speech.
More Americans are interested in the Democratic National Convention than in 2004, the study finds. Fifty-nine percent say they are interested in the convention, up 23 percent from four years ago.
John McCain's planned acceptance speech has drawn less interest among the general public and Republicans. Twenty-four percent of Americans are very interested in hearing McCain's speech compared to 33 percent for Obama. And 43 percent of Republicans are very interested in McCain's address, compared to 58 percent of Democrats for Obama, Pew reports.
Read the full report on public interest in the conventions at www.people-press.org.







Comments
Who cares? Once again the media is trying to fan something. The only thing I'm interested in hearing is Hillary's curtain call. She lost yet still gives a wink and a nod to enable a delusional sector to entertain her self serving purposes. It's sad. Instead of prepping for a better chance next time she's harpooning any hope of a continuing political career. It's the DEMOCRATIC party not Hillary's Party. Can we please put this to rest so Obama can win the general election and guide this country in the right direction once again and focus on things that MATTER?
Posted by: Avant Strangel | August 22, 2008 9:00 AM
"Vote for OBAMA! (smile) He's the BEST candidate!(bigger SMILE) The NEXT president of the United States! (2 HUGE THUMBS UP).....
(Umm..Errr was that clear and enthusiastic enough Howard? Dean actually thinks my former supporters are SO easily programmed like the Obamatrons that all they need me to do is yell at them who to vote for.) The next GREATEST BESTEST president in the history of the UNIVERSE!!!" -- Hillary Clinton
Posted by: Dr. Dave | August 22, 2008 9:01 AM
Let's hope HIllary's the veep.
Posted by: we NEED to win this one | August 22, 2008 9:05 AM
Enthusiasm form the Hill supporters is important, because unlike Michael Moore and the leftie pundits--it's the Hill supporters who do the WORK in getting out the vote.
And right now, on Moore's website, he's asking Caroline Kennedy to be the veep.
He's bemoaning that the 2 top running men voted for the war, sort of acknowledging that they were arm twisted and lied to as was Hillary.
Posted by: Pick Hillary as veep or we'll lose in the fall | August 22, 2008 9:09 AM
Pack your bags Hillary supporters. We will march and be heard in Denver!
Posted by: Susan | August 22, 2008 9:17 AM
Getting to a point in the campaign where a majority of the Hillary supporters staying away from Obama may do so for the duration. Emotions are just way too high with these people.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | August 22, 2008 9:17 AM
It's sad. Instead of prepping for a better chance next time she's harpooning any hope of a continuing political career.
Posted by: Avant Strangel | August 22, 2008 9:00 AM
This is the thing I don't understand. Are the Hillary supporters in such a state of denial that they can't understand that would be the end of her political career? If she and her supporters cause this election to be lost..she won't be able to run for dog catcher. And I would have gladly supported her if she won, now, it's their choice.
Posted by: bill r. | August 22, 2008 9:56 AM
Go Hillary Go!!! You da man! More so than the little wet-behind-the-ears Boy Wonder, anyway. Recreate '68!!!
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | August 22, 2008 10:26 AM
The game is over and if Obama is half as smart as his supporters think he is then he will select Hillary for VP. If he is as egotistical as I think he is then he will select someone else and lose in November. It really is that simple!
Posted by: jodi | August 22, 2008 10:34 AM
Hillary, who won more votes than Obama did, has done nothing but support Obama since June. Now Obama has little chance of winning in November but it has nothing to do with any lack of support from Hillary. It has to do with the racist and sexist camppaign he ran along with the fact that Hillary did not try to knock him out in the primary. She appeared to try to help him in many of the debates he lost to her. Now we has seen the same questions asked of both Obama and McCain and clearly McCain won hands down. The debates will be even more demoraliazing for Obama since he is used to Hillary helping him out in debates. I would bet that Obama will not get the chance to answer questions after McCain gives the correct response like happened so much with Hillary. Obama needs Hillary for many reasons and the best situation would be if Super Delegates used their heads and nominated Hillary with Obama as VP.
Posted by: jill | August 22, 2008 10:44 AM
This whole post primary episode that the media is stoking is really sad. The attitude of Clinton supporters is breathtakingly frustrating. Clinton spent most of her campaign trying to tear Obama down, giving the Republicans 80% of their campaign material. Her supporters seem bent on continuing the destruction of the democratic party. Rather than celebrate Obama's triumph they seem to want to wallow in her defeat.
Posted by: GEEP | August 22, 2008 10:44 AM
Some pundits think Obama is going to get a bump from his VP nomination. I don't think so. When he picks someone other than Hillary, I think there will be a backlash. The best bet for Obama to win the WH is to name Hillary VP and unite his party, but his campaign is either too dumb or too stubborn to do so. Good news for McCain. The Democratic party has always been its own worst enemy. In a year when Dems should run away with the WH, they find themselves in a dead heat and slipping, and can't get out of their own way.
Posted by: Herbie H. | August 22, 2008 10:56 AM
If Hillary doesn't get the VP, she is making a run at the convention. You heard it here first.
Posted by: BC | August 22, 2008 10:58 AM
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/08/21/union-members-25-percent-of-democratic-convention-delegates
Posted by: Whose Party is it, anyway? | August 22, 2008 11:46 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/us/21union.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin
Posted by: What, me worry? | August 22, 2008 11:51 AM
As I said hours ago, though the Swamp must have lost it...
It was nice seeing Hillary in Florida yesterday rallying the supporters behind Obama. Hopefully after the convention we'll have a unified party ready to elect a President.
Posted by: Flo | August 22, 2008 12:32 PM
Avant Strangel and bill r don't get it:
I'm NOT a Hillary 'supporter'--I was backing her after Edwards pulled out (unfortunate choice of words) and before that I was for Obama til I saw that their campaign was, well, not run very well.
I am an Obama supporter again--and I still think they're the bad news bears doing a political campaign, I mean DAMN!
So, yes, I'll work for Obama even if he doesn't pick the woman who WOULD HAVE HAD A 20 POINT LEAD OVER MCSAME RIGHT NOW as veep.
But, we'll lose in the Fall if he doesn't
Posted by: Face the truth and stop bashing anyone who speaks well of Hillary | August 22, 2008 1:04 PM
Avant Strangel--put it to rest means he'd have to apologize for flipping her off and disparaging her, and by extension all the middle aged women who've been WORKING for the party for 30 YEARS driving people to polls, registering voters, posting and reposting and reposting signs, passing out bumper stickers, calling people to register absentee, helping them do same, etc..
If you wanna win, quit acting like a naughty brat
Posted by: Come to Mama and bend over her knee, kid | August 22, 2008 1:11 PM
Hillary can have a career as long as she cares to.
SHE AND BILL RESCUED THE COUNTRY FROM THE REPUGS WHEN OBAMANOTS WHO CRITICIZE HER WERE IN DIAPERS!
She's wildly popular in NY state (where Obama only took the county that Ithaca is in) and she took ONE THIRD OF THE VOTE IN ILLINOIS.
With a significant green party challenge, obama would NOT be reelected in Illinois again.
Posted by: Watch UR OWN career, avant | August 22, 2008 1:15 PM
Must be terrible to be "blackmailed" for ten million-
Posted by: George | August 22, 2008 1:45 PM
Of course they are more interested in hearing Hillary speak, she usually has something interesting to say.
Posted by: ElliotNC | August 22, 2008 2:16 PM
It's not to late to save the party, fellow Democrats. The super delegates can break a virtual tie in other delegates and name a proven person of experience and accomplishment as the presidential candidate. She can do the job; Obama can't and won't.
Posted by: Rayburn | August 22, 2008 5:07 PM
Get a grip, people. Hillary LOST. It may have been "close" in some counties, but the bottom line is that she LOST. Obama didn't win by cheating, or from griping and sniping, or from encouraging scumbag stunts like Hillary continues to do. Obama is the superior candidate! When are people like the P.U.M.As of the world going to shut their flapping jaws and realize that their self-referential nonsense serves nothing and no one, and simply aids the Republican cause? Even worse, it's just plain dumb. Let me put it to you this way: nobody likes a sore loser. These folks should all act like adults and stop crying for coddling and a pacifier! Hillary was the lesser candidate, but some people couldn't see past their own noses to notice, because they were (and still are) full of anger and venom over issues that are long-since settled.
We've come a long way, baby - remember??? Look out the window. We've arrived.
Posted by: Kyle | August 22, 2008 8:21 PM
Well, Kyle, you'll be the one to be SORE when mcSame wins in the Fall.
and he will now that it looks like it's biden.
This isn't a BASKETBALL game--it's the white house---as in we coulda had it for 16 years hillary for 8 and then obama for 8.
Posted by: Focus on a democratic majority in congress is all we can do no | August 22, 2008 11:51 PM
Obama just made my choices perfectly clear:
McCain '08
Clinton '12
Thank you for your arrogance Obama! I cant wait to see you lose in November. I will smile when you falter :)
Posted by: D Yamagata | August 23, 2008 3:17 PM
Texas is one state Obama now has no chance of wining .
Clinton would have taken Texas .
http://wewillnotbesilenced2008.com/video/index.htm
This shows some of the fraud keep in mind , just a preview of more to come .
Posted by: RG Bruteli | August 23, 2008 7:15 PM
I see a lot of comments about how Hillary supporters "have to" and "must" support Obama for the "Party". Personally, I do not now, and did not then, think Obama was qualified. And to date I have seen nothing that makes me change my mind. In fact, all I have heard are vitriolic attacks by Obama supporters against Clinton supporters who wish to MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS. This does not indicate that Obama supporters wasn unity-it shows they want subservience-a far differently thing.
From the standpoint of qualifications, and looking at his recent history of changing his tune and mind on several occasions, I cannot, in good conscience, support Mr. Obama at this time. And if the only reason you can come up with is "lead the country in a different direction" with no evidence that this is the case (witness Mr. Biden), then you will have a hard time convincing met not to vote Green.
Posted by: DP | August 24, 2008 3:14 PM