Democratic and liberal support for John McCain in 2008

The term "McCain Democrat" first appeared during McCain's 2000 primary campaign. McCain garnered attention for reportedly having cross-party appeal.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/12/us/the-2000-campaign-new-york-for-mccain-a-new-ardor-gets-spun-into-new-money.html|title=The 2000 Campaign – New York – For McCain, a New Ardor Gets Spun Into New Money – NYTimes.com|work=The New York Times |date=12 February 2000 |last1=Levy |first1=Clifford J. }} In Texas, Charles Gandy explicitly ran for the Senate as a "McCain Democrat."{{Cite web |url=http://www.amarillo.com/stories/031700/tex_LD0640.001.shtml |title=Amarillo.com |access-date=2008-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604004731/http://amarillo.com/stories/031700/tex_LD0640.001.shtml |archive-date=2011-06-04 |url-status=dead }}

The most well-known Democratic Party member to support McCain was Senator Joe Lieberman, who had run for vice-president as a Democrat in 2000. On December 17, 2007, Lieberman endorsed McCain,{{cite web

|url = http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/17/521481.aspx

|title = Lieberman, McCain Endorsement

|publisher = MSNBC

|access-date = 2008-11-06

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221161437/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/17/521481.aspx

|archive-date = 2007-12-21

}} contradicting his stance in July 2006 where he stated, "I want Democrats to be back in the majority in Washington and elect a Democratic president in 2008."{{cite web

|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVcL8KFDetU

|title=Lieberman: "I want to elect a Democratic president in 2008"

|publisher=YouTube

|access-date=2008-08-05

}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}

Lieberman cited his agreement with McCain's stance on the War on Terrorism as the primary reason for the endorsement.

{{cite news

|url = http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/16/lieberman_to_cross_aisle_for_m.html

|title = Lieberman to Cross Aisle to Endorse McCain

|publisher = blog.washingtonpost.com

|access-date = 2007-12-16

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080704144524/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/16/lieberman_to_cross_aisle_for_m.html

|archive-date = 2008-07-04

}}

On June 5, Lieberman launched "Citizens for McCain," hosted on the McCain campaign website, to recruit Democratic support for John McCain's candidacy. He emphasized the group's outreach to supporters of Hillary Clinton, who was at that time broadly expected to lose the Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama.{{cite web

| last = Rhee

| first = Foon

| title = Lieberman leads new pro-McCain group

| publisher = Boston.com

| date = 2008-06-05

| url = https://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/lieberman_leads.html

| access-date = 2009-01-04}}

Citizens for McCain was prominently featured in McCain team efforts to attract disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters such as Debra Bartoshevich.{{cite news

| last = Wheaton

| first = Sarah

| title = McCain Courts Democrats, Independents

| work = The New York Times

| date = 2008-06-14

| url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/mccain-courts-democrats-independents/?scp=1&sq=%22citizens%20for%20mccain%22&st=cse

| access-date = 2009-01-04}}{{cite news

| last = Falcone

| first = Michael

| title = Republicans Unveil War Room in Denver

| work = The New York Times

| date = 2008-08-24

| url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/republicans-unveil-war-room-in-denver/?scp=2&sq=%22citizens%20for%20mccain%22&st=cse

| access-date = 2009-01-04}}

Lieberman spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention on behalf of McCain and his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.{{cite web| last=Meckler| first=Laura | title=McCain Gets Boost from Senate Buddy| publisher=The Wall Street Journal| date=2008-02-13| url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/02/13/mccain-gets-boost-from-senate-buddy/| access-date=2008-02-13}} Lieberman was alongside McCain and Senator Lindsey Graham during a visit to French president Nicolas Sarkozy on March 21, 2008.{{cite web

| last = J.C. (lefigaro.fr)

| title = McCain loue l'ère "d'amitié franco-américaine"

| publisher = lefigaro.fr

| date = 2008-03-22

| url = http://www.lefigaro.fr/elections-americaines-2008/2008/03/21/01017-20080321ARTFIG00760-mccain-loue-l-ere-d-amitie-franco-americaine.php

| access-date = 2008-03-21}}

Lieberman was mentioned as a possible vice presidential nominee on a McCain ticket.{{cite web|url=http://www.chooseourpresident2008.com/gop.html|title=The 2008 GOP Field or It's the Tenacity, Stupid|access-date=2008-01-27|last=Christensen|first=Alex|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213064400/http://www.chooseourpresident2008.com/gop.html|archive-date=2008-02-13}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/NewsDetail.html?NewsID=44260|title=Say It's So, Joe – Vice President Lieberman?|access-date=2008-01-27|last=Kristol|first=William|date=2007-11-19}} ABC News reported that Lieberman was McCain's first choice for vice president until several days before the selection, when McCain had decided that picking Lieberman would alienate the conservative base of the Republican Party, due to his left-of-center positions on social issues.See http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/how-palin-came.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323133341/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/how-palin-came.html |date=2010-03-23 }} and https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/29/AR2008082901777.html?hpid=opinionsbox1. Lieberman had been mentioned as a possible secretary of state under a McCain administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28478|title=Gizzi on Politics: Convention Diary|work=Human Events|access-date=2009-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524120800/http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28478|archive-date=2011-05-24|url-status=dead}} In 2018 McCain confirmed that his advisers had counseled him to not pick Lieberman for the ticket, and that he regretted following their advice.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/joe-lieberman-unaware-john-mccains-2008-regret-book/story?id=55394455 |title=Joe Lieberman unaware of John McCain's 2008 regret until new book |last=Saenz |first=Arlene |date=23 May 2018 |website=abcnews.go.com|access-date=2 June 2018}}

Many Democrats wanted Lieberman to be stripped of his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs due to his support for John McCain.{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen.-lieberman-likely-to-lose-his-gavel--in-massive-reshuffle-being-discussed-2008-10-28.html|title=Sen. Lieberman likely to lose his gavel in massive reshuffle being discussed|last=Rushing|first=J. Taylor|publisher=TheHill.com|access-date=2008-10-29|archive-date=October 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029145217/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen.-lieberman-likely-to-lose-his-gavel--in-massive-reshuffle-being-discussed-2008-10-28.html|url-status=dead}} Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reached out to Lieberman, asking him to caucus with the Republicans.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/mcconnell-reaches-out-to-lieberman-015401|title=McConnell Reaches Out To Lieberman|last=Grim|first=Ryan|date=November 7, 2008 |publisher=Politico.com|access-date=2008-11-07}} Ultimately, the Senate Democratic Caucus voted 42 to 13 to allow Lieberman to keep chairmanship (although he did lose his membership for the Environment and Public Works Committee). Subsequently, Lieberman announced that he will continue to caucus with the Democrats.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/us/politics/19cong.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1 | work=The New York Times | title=Democrats Gain as Stevens Loses Race | first=Carl | last=Hulse | date=November 19, 2008 | access-date=May 1, 2010}} Lieberman credited President-elect Barack Obama for helping him keep his chairmanship. Obama had privately urged Democratic Senate majority Leader Harry Reid not to remove Lieberman from his position. Reid stated that Lieberman's criticism of Obama during the election angered him, but that "if you look at the problems we face as a nation, is this a time we walk out of here saying, 'Boy did we get even'?" Senator Tom Carper of Delaware also credited the Democrats' decision on Lieberman to Obama's support, stating that "If Barack can move on, so can we."[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/17/lieberman.senate/index.html?iref=newssearch Sources: Lieberman likely to keep top Democratic post], CNN.com, November 17, 2008.[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/lieberman.senate/index.html?iref=newssearch Lieberman credits Obama after Dems let him keep post], CNN.com, November 18, 2008.

The case of Debra Bartoshevich, a 41-year-old emergency room nurse from Wisconsin

[http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=762052 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] who was featured in McCain's national television ads, is an example of McCain team efforts to recruit high-profile Democrats and supporters of Hillary Clinton. In the ad, Bartoshevich declares herself "a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat" who will vote for John McCain, rather than Barack Obama, in the 2008 presidential election.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/25/AR2008082502104.html|title=Campaign Slog 70 Days to Go!|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Bartoshevich's support for McCain made national news because she was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, one of four people from Racine County, Wisconsin selected by a local Democratic caucus. The Racine, Wisconsin Journal Time quotes her, "in a speech before the votes were cast" telling other delegates "I support her because of her universal health care plan...I see the devastating consequences of diseases on the uninsured."

[http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/05/05/local_news/doc481e8f5b068f6954805776.txt Journal Times May 5, 2008]

Bartoshevich can be seen on YouTube telling a television interviewer that she was contacted by the McCain campaign "approximately three minutes" after Hillary Clinton's June 5 speech suspending her campaign for the presidency.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJm-56iKMAo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QJm-56iKMAo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Wisconsin Clinton Delegate's Credentials Challenged For Convention|date=16 July 2008|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

On Friday, June 13, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel's website reported Bartoshevich's public affiliation with the McCain campaign. She told the Journal Sentinel that her sister had "encouraged" her to sign up as a supporter with “Citizens for McCain,” an arm of the campaign targeting Democrats and independents. Bartoshevich added that it was the McCain campaign, not she herself, who then notified a reporter.{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=762052|title=Delegate's reversal stuns party|author=Craig Gilbert}} In a later statement to Wisconsin Democratic Party leaders, however, Bartoshevich claimed that it was in fact her sister, who was working for Citizens for McCain, who had put her name onto the McCain campaign website.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=7%2F25%2F2008&id=43793 |title=Journal Sentinel July 25, 2008 |access-date=2018-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919045931/http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=7%2F25%2F2008&id=43793 |archive-date=2008-09-19 |url-status=dead }}

McCain himself traveled to Racine in July, where he met with Bartoshevich before introducing her and her family to a campaign gathering of about 1,000 people.[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxTApa2sQRu0Xx99P3jt2bEXw7gD9290DR80 AP July 31, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808183336/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxTApa2sQRu0Xx99P3jt2bEXw7gD9290DR80 |date=August 8, 2008 }} On August 25, the new ad (called "Debra") was launched.[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKMDKzq3AMZKW6Esv_gH7lxSxWhAD92PIS2G3 AP August 25, 2008] {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} A second McCain ad launched the same day (called "Passed Over") also urged Hillary Clinton's followers to switch allegiance to McCain.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/23/new-mccain-ad-gets-more-personal/|title=New McCain Ad Uses Clinton Attacks|author=WSJ Staff|work=WSJ|date=August 23, 2008}}

Also on August 25, Bartoshevich was made the central figure of a press conference sponsored by the Republican National Committee and hosted by Carly Fiorina.[http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/rnc-fiorina-penny-bartoshevich-ruccia/story.aspx?guid=%7BB991FC0D-53AD-499D-BF48-0465E9EDB662%7D&dist=hppr Marketwatch] Bartoshevich, who is pro-choice, was asked about McCain's views on Roe v. Wade. She responded by saying, "Going back to 1999, John McCain did an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle saying that overturning Roe v. Wade would not make any sense, because then women would have to have illegal abortions". This raised questions, because McCain's position {{As of|2008|8|lc=on}} was that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828191804/http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/08/from_the_rnc_podium_mccain_doe.html Time]

[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17222147 NBC News] In the presidential debate held on October 15, McCain reiterated this point.{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/15/video.transcript/ | work=CNN | title=McCain, Obama face off in third presidential debate – CNN.com | access-date=May 1, 2010}}

File:P.U.M.A. (2817613665) (cropped).jpg advertising a website called "Hillary; now for McCain"]]

The Gallup Poll indicates McCain's support among Democrats calling themselves "conservative" by party standards has varied from a low of 15% to a high of 26% according to Gallup.{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/108049/Candidate-Support-Political-Party-Ideology.aspx|title=Candidate Support by Political Party and Ideology|author=Gallup, Inc.|work=Gallup.com|date=August 12, 2008}}

During the campaign, there was significant media discussion of Democratic Hillary Clinton voters backing McCain, in particular members of People United Means Action (also known as PUMA, originally standing for "Party Unity My Ass," and also known as "Just Stay No Deal") and those sympathetic to it.[http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/A23B524B2A05AFC9852574E5006130B7?Opendocument Times Record]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} After Clinton's June 8 concession, 40% of women who supported Clinton described themselves as dissatisfied and 7% described themselves as angry; 25% said they would support McCain in November.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/26/AR2008062604162_pf.html|title=Hill, Yes! O., No!|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

According to Gallup Polls from June 9 to August 17 McCain's cross-party support fluctuated between 10% and 13%. In the poll for August 18 to August 24 support for McCain among Democrats peaked at 14%. From October 13 to October 19 polls showed McCain's support among Democrats to be 7%, which was the lowest thus far.{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/109042/Candidate-Support-Political-Party.aspx|title=Candidate Support by Political Party|author=Gallup, Inc.|work=Gallup.com|date=August 12, 2008}} The CNN exit polls placed his Democratic support at 10% with the same percentage for liberal support. These results may not represent the general voters due to early voting.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1|title=Local Exit Polls – Election Center 2008 – Elections & Politics from CNN.com|website=CNN}}

According to exit polls on Election Day, McCain won the votes of only 10% of Democrats nationwide, the same percentage of Democrats' votes that George W. Bush won in 2004.

• Bartle Bull (the elder), aide for Robert F. Kennedy.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/08/31/2008-08-31_john_mccain_not_obama_is_following_in_th-2.html?page=1 |title=New York Daily News |website=New York Daily News |access-date=November 3, 2008 |archive-date=September 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902204145/http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/08/31/2008-08-31_john_mccain_not_obama_is_following_in_th-2.html?page=1 |url-status=dead }}
• Wendy Button, former speechwriter for Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-28/so-long-obama/1/|title=So Long, Democrats|work=The Daily Beast}}[http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/10/29/wendy-button-obama-staffer-who-s-voting-mccain-inspired-by-joe-the-plumber.aspx Wendy Button (Obama staffer who's voting McCain) inspired by Joe the Plumber]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Newark National Post, 29 October 2008.[http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/10/29/is-there-any-gain-in-endorsing-mccain.aspx Is There Any Gain In Endorsing McCain?], The New Republic[http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/7512 Obama Speechwriter Defects Democratic Party, Endorses McCain], Cleveland Leader
• Orson Scott Card, science fiction author and Democratic columnist{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/zito/s_595081.html|title=John the Populist|author=Salena Zito|date=26 October 2008|work=TribLIVE.com|access-date=2008-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030004527/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/zito/s_595081.html|archive-date=2008-10-30|url-status=dead}} said that he supported and voted for Barack Obama during the primary season, but had become a McCain supporter by September 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2008-09-07-1.html|title=WorldWatch – September 7, 2008 – Barack Obama, Spinmeister – The Ornery American|access-date=October 23, 2008|archive-date=November 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119232312/http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2008-09-07-1.html|url-status=dead}}
• David Carlin, former Democratic majority leader of the Rhode Island Senate (pre-1992)[http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php3?id_article=2222 Commonweal Magazine]
• Likewise I say, “John McCain is the worst possible candidate for president-except for all the others”..."Even though-being a Democrat of the FDR-Truman-Kennedy-LBJ variety-I’m pretty conservative by contemporary Democratic standards, still I’m a Democrat, and that means that I have deeply ingrained anti-Republican prejudices."
• Mark W. Erwin, former U.S. Ambassador{{cite web |url=http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17521951/detail.html |title=Could North Carolina Go Blue in 2008? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024205127/http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17521951/detail.html |archive-date=2008-10-24 }}{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EE5C80AFAD14555&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Charlotte: Search Results}}
• Brenda Ferland, formerly Democratic member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/memberlookup.aspx New Hampshire House Page]{{cite web|url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081002-NEWS-81002021|title=NH: Longtime Democratic legislator backs John McCain|work=seacoastonline.com}}
• Dick A. Greco, former Mayor of Tampa, Florida{{cite web|url=http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=0ac30a07-8d71-44e0-a6b2-5f781f258e82 |title=Home – abcactionnews.com – Tampa Bay News, Weather, Sports, Things To Do – WFTS-TV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929103411/http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=0ac30a07-8d71-44e0-a6b2-5f781f258e82 |archive-date=2011-09-29 }}
• Doreen Howard, member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives{{cite web|url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20080916-NEWS-809160347?sfad=1|title=Longtime Democrat backs John McCain|author=Jennifer Feals|work=seacoastonline.com}}
• Paul Johnson, former Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona (1990–94)[http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-08-07/news/postmodern-mccain-the-john-mccain-some-arizonans-know-and-loathe/9 Phoenix New Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813095907/http://phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-08-07/news/postmodern-mccain-the-john-mccain-some-arizonans-know-and-loathe/9 |date=August 13, 2008 }}
• "Paul Johnson, former mayor of Phoenix, who spent much of the early 1990s publicly loathing the senator, is now a Democrat for McCain."
• Alexander M. Keith, former Lt. Governor (1963–1967) of Minnesota (conservative, member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)[http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/view/democrats-for-mccain Minnesota Independent]{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/06/john-mccains-dinos.html|title=John McCain's DINOs|work=OpenSecrets Blog|date=June 23, 2008}}
• Elaine Lafferty, former editor of Ms. magazine{{cite web|url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/32204284.html|title=Palin courts the female vote|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=August 3, 2023 }}
• Joe Lieberman, Former Senator for the state of Connecticut and 2000 Democratic vice-presidential candidate (ID-CT)
• Shelly Mandell, president of the Los Angeles, California chapter of National Organization for Women{{Cite web |url=http://www2.presstelegram.com/ci_10641675 |title=Long Beach Press Telegram |access-date=2008-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008033437/http://www2.presstelegram.com/ci_10641675 |archive-date=2008-10-08 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.ocregister.com/articles/palin-mccain-women-2180284-democrat-obama Orange County Register] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007170415/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/palin-mccain-women-2180284-democrat-obama |date=October 7, 2008 }}"...lifelong Democrat and president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization For Women, Shelly Mandell. While NOW has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama as best representing women's interests in the race, Mandell has taken a different view."
• Zell Miller, former U.S. Senator (D-GA)
• Tim Penny, former Representative (1983–1995) (once a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)
• Lynn Forester de Rothschild, businesswoman and fundraiser for Hillary Clinton[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080917/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_clinton_backer Yahoo News]
• Donald Trump, businessman, television personality, politician, and current president of the United States (at the time belonged to the conservative wing of the Democratic Party before subsequently becoming a Republican).{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/18/trump-endorses-mccain/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921003145/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/18/trump-endorses-mccain/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |title=Trump endorses McCain |publisher=CNN |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=July 12, 2016}}
• Bill Veroneau, former mayor of Concord, New Hampshire
• Steve Wenzel, former state representative in Minnesota (Bush appointee to the USDA, since then he has only contributed to Republicans){{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-76962303.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022051423/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-76962303.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-22|title=Rep. Wenzel resigns to take federal job; A DFL House member for 29 years, he'll become the state's USDA director for rural development.(NEWS)}}
• R. James Woolsey Jr., former CIA Director under President Bill Clinton, who describes himself as a "Scoop Jackson Democrat."{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10670361|title=A chat with CIA chief-turned-venture capitalist R. James Woolsey|author=Matt Nauman Mercury News|date=12 October 2008}}

• Dov Hikind, New York Assemblyman and host of The Dov Hikind Show
• Gene Taylor – U.S. representative from Mississippi's 4th congressional district[http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/26/1892307/mississippi-democrats-vote-for.html Miami Herald]{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democratic-rep-gene-taylor-i-voted-for-mccain/|title=Democratic Rep. Gene Taylor: I Voted for McCain|website=CBS News|date=25 October 2010}}

• Democrats for Nixon
• Reagan Democrat
• Party switching
• Obama Republican
• Obama–Trump voters
• People United Means Action

{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mccain, John, Democratic And Liberal Support For}}

Category:Centrism in the United States

Category:John McCain 2008 presidential campaign

Category:Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)

Category:Crossover voting