I spend a lot of time in my car, due to the nature of my work. I am a member of our local NPR station, and spend most of my radio time on that channel. But years ago, I started a practice of getting just enough of the right wing radio folks to know what they are saying.
I live in Dallas. The number one rated AM station has Rush and Hannity, with a local member of their echo chamber, Mark Davis, in the morning. I remember vividly the attacks by Limbaugh on Kerry during the last election.
I assure you that Hillary Clinton is right -- whoever is the nominee will be attacked as strongly as she would be. (Though I think Obama will be up for the challenge).
For months, Hannity called his daily show the "Stop Hillary Express." Lately, he has "suspended" that, and gone full attack mode on Obama. Earlier this week, he kept a running tab on what the "socialist programs" of Obama would cost us. The last figure I heard was $875 billion. He is attacking Obama as fully as he ever did Hillary. I haven't heard Rush lately, but I have no doubt that he will do the same.
In Dallas, there is a large group that listens daily to these people -- and believes them. And it is far more than just one station -- Savage and Medved and Laura Ingraham are spread across two additional different stations. (And we lost Air America quite a while back).
Here at Kos, and other sites, I think we have always underestimated the influence of these people and their programs. And, with McCain as the nominee, I think that we think their influence is waning.
Don't bet on it.
I think we should be prepared for all the attacks on our nominee this Fall. It looks like Obama. But whoever actually makes it, the charges and attacks will be endless. Of that, I have no doubt.