Do you "vote the odds" in a primary?

Question

That is, do you vote for the candidate you think will be most able to win against the other major party, or do you see it as an opportunity to tell your own party who you think would be the best president? Don't you think it's necessary to tell the party leaders who should represent you, and not just go with the odds as perceived by the mass media?

Since I'm a Libertarian, I plan to vote for Ron Paul for the Republican nomination in the primary. I think he's the only one who can successfully distance the Republicans from the dismal Bush record.

Answer 1

I vote my conscience in all elections. And my conscience is telling me to vote for Ron Paul.
http://www.whowouldtheworldelect.com/

Answer 2

I vote in the Republican Primary, since I feel that I will at least have a minute chance of minimizing the damage in that arena. I then vote for the candidate of my choice in the General Election. My political beliefs lean toward the Libertarian side as well, but unfortunately, being the party that wants to basically put itself out of business rarely attracts the best and the brightest candidates.

I tried voting against a candidate once, just once. the candidate won (you'll never guess who!) anyway and I have always felt bad about doing it. So, from now on I will go back to the belief that the only wasted vote is the one I do not caste, and possibly the vote I caste against my own conscience, just to keep another candidate out of office. I am impressed with Ron Paul, as I am with Dennis Kucinich (probably spelled wrong, but the only suggestions our helpful spell checker offers are fettucine and Mucilage!) but I also like Barac Obbama. Once again, I am sure that I will be tempted to vote Against Giullinani, but I hope to listen to my better nature this time.

Answer 3

For the primaries I'll vote for the candidate I think is best...that's what it's for, after all. If I have a wide selection, I'm going to pick my favorite.

For the election, however, I'll be voting for whoever got the nomination (obviously). I've already got a "Hillary" bumper sticker (even though she's not one of my top choices), just because I know she'll be the Democratic candidate (unless Obama's odds were really undershot). But she's not who I'll be voting for during the primaries.

Answer 4

I'll consider the "odds", but only as a secondary consideration. The first thought is which candidates qualify on the issues. In this case, even though my philosophy may differ from yours a little bit, we've come to the same conclusions. Ron Paul is the only realistic candidate who has any credibility on the Republican side. (I'd have considered Tancredo, Hunter, or Brownback, but each has their weaknesses, and anyway, they're way behind Paul in fundraising and in volunteer support).

And, as you say, he's much better at distancing himself credibly from Bush, whose administration has set the Republican Party and the conservative movement back a generation.

Answer 5

I always vote for the best option on the table. If I REALLY feel like there are no remotely good choices, I won't vote. I used to get a guilt trip about that, but now I feel abstaining from a vote is just as much a mandate as voting for or against something. It denies the winner the ability to claim moral authority by denying them numbers, and gives moral authority to criticism after the election. (For example, "so-and-so won with the slimmest of margins" or "so-and-so won but with record low turnout" etc.)

Peace and (((hugGs)))

Answer 6

I vote on where the candidate stands on the issues.. that's more important.. I will be voting for Ron Paul in the primaries... If he doesn't win the nom, unfortunatley in the gen. I will be stuck voting for the democrat..

Answer 7

I vote for the person that will best represent ME in office. I have no party loyalty when it comes to MY views being represented. If a Republican can represent ME then he/she gets my vote. If a Democrat, then he'she gets it, if someone else then the same.

BB,
Raji the Greenwitch

Answer 8

I think you are right about Ron Paul. But I will vote for Edwards in the primary and general election.
Hope I'm not dreaming.

Answer 9

I vote my conscience. In the general election, if my candidate didn't get the nomination, I end up voting for the lesser of t evils.

This time it will probably be Hillary (UCK) vs. Rudy in November. I will be voting for Fred in February.