Missouri Democrats split nearly evenly between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Missouri’s February presidential primary. Can Obama unite the party in time to win in November?
Obama, the presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee, has visited Missouri, a step in his effort to woo Hillary Clinton supporters and unite the party behind his campaign. University of Missouri-Columbia political science professor Peverill Squire says Obama will need to embrace some of the proposals Clinton pushed. Squire sees Obama pushing more aggressively on health care and poverty issues.
He might see a divided party, but not a deeply divided party. Squire says a number of Clinton supporters are disappointed, a disappointment compounded by the fact that it was such a long campaign.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has a chance to lure some disaffected Clinton supporters to his side, according to Squire. Squire says, though, that McCain must walk the fine line between appealing to disgruntled Democrats without alienating his Republican base.
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