In the past candidates frequently fought tooth and nail up to and including the convention without apparent ill effects in the general election. For instance, in 1952 the fight between Taft and Eisenhower was at least as bitter as Hillary/Obama, yet Ike was able to win the general election in a landslide.
For one thing, a contested convention cannot be stage managed as effectively as one that functions as a coronation and it cannot be predicted in advance what people will say or do. That apparently is scary to the punditry. SR
-------------- Original message -------------- From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
>
> This is standard issue punditry these days. All of Clinton's attacks
> on Obama are damaging his image for the general, and giving the Reps
> ammo they can use. I think it's bullshit - it's a primary, and
> everyone's going to forget it by July - but they keep saying it over
> and over.
>
> Doug
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