[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/23/art.unity.gi.jpg caption=]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
PUMA is an acronym that stands for "Party Unity My A–." It's the rallying cry for a group of disenchanted Democrats – "PUMAs."
Many are supporters of Hillary Clinton who just can't quite get over the fact that she lost and Barack Obama won.
A humorless group, they accuse the party of rigging the primaries to favor Obama, saying that the DNC unfairly punished Michigan and Florida. Others say Obama isn't qualified enough to be the party's nominee or competent enough to lead the country. But he won, so a majority of Democrats obviously think he is.
Now Clinton called on her supporters to vote for Obama after losing the nomination in June. She is not supporting these PUMAs, and she says the stakes are so high that anyone who voted for her has more in common with Obama than John McCain.
But the PUMAs aren't listening. The head of the group estimates there are 250 PUMA-related web sites and 2.5 million supporters online. They are supposed to hold a conference next month in Washington to plan for the Democratic Convention in Denver in August.
They want Hillary Clinton's name placed in nomination so delegates get a chance to vote. In the "cut off your nose to spite your face" category, we find a bunch of these people who insist that if they aren't successful at the convention – they'll vote for McCain instead of Obama in November.
A recent poll showed more than 4 in 10 Democrats still prefer Clinton as the party's nominee. But, Obama leads McCain in general election polls. And it's likely that as Clinton continues to show her support for Obama, more of her backers will decide to vote for him.
Here’s my question to you: Why do some Hillary Clinton supporters want to derail Barack Obama’s nomination?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ray from Florida writes:
I think they realize if Obama wins and Hillary isn't on the ticket, she has almost no chance of being president! On the other hand, if he should lose, the Clintons can run again in 2012.
Al from Lawrence, Kansas writes:
The bigger question is "Why doesn't Hillary denounce and reject them?"
Teshome from Haymarket, Va. writes:
Because we believe in Hillary, but thanks to you and your likes she lost the primary. Now, if Obama picks her as a V.P., he will get our vote. If not, John McCain will be the next president.
Susan from Georgia writes:
Republicans in Democratic clothing!
Karen from Tennessee writes:
They are like little children having tantrums, screaming and pounding their fists on the ground, and screaming, "NO! NO! NO!" because Hillary Clinton did not receive the nomination. Sadly, their idol is off somewhere doing exactly the same thing.
Zoe writes:
I am proud to be a “PUMA.” I will hold my nose and vote for the Democratic candidate, whoever it is. But I have every right to prefer someone else. That doesn’t make me racist, or stupid, or stubborn. It means I think about my vote and the leader I give it to.
Nancy from Jackson, Ga. writes:
Clinton supporters and others who are trying to derail Senator Obama are unhappy with their own lives. Mr. Obama is confident, intelligent, and knows how to galvanize the population. And for that reason, unhappy folk don't get it, but surely you do Jack: Misery loves company.
Tom from Avon, Maine writes:
Not every child in the playground learns to play well with others. We need to increase Head Start funding for the emotionally challenged, who can't get past “I'm taking my ball and going home!"