vote your heart in the primary

[Jack Sprat]

The Democratic primary is your one sure chance of voting your heart. Regardless of what the polling reflects or who the current front-runner appears to be, you owe it yourself to vote for your candidate of choice. The primary is also a good way to ensure that your voting status is correct at your precinct and you are ready to vote in the general election.

[demommom]

1. No .....

Use your brain and vote with that.

[DFW]

2. The OP got it right, I think

Vote your heart in the primary.

Vote your brain in the general.

[AtomicKitten]

3. that used to be the adage

However, I'm thinking strategic voting in the primary, i.e., really picking the nominee instead of letting a candidate win by default, might be the way to go.

[Colobo]

4. My heart and mind both support Obama, so that's who I will vote for.

[Hollow Shells]

5. I like gay marriage...

universal health care, pure (wise) Iraq voting records, real standards for education, ending the war on drugs, reproductive choice, and a healthy environment. I will be voting Kucinich.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

6. I'm inclined to disagree.

Suppose that, for the sake of your arguement, your order of preference goes

Some guy no-one's ever heard of who you think would be perfect for the job.
Kucinich
Edwards
Obama
Clinton

Now, presumably you're going to have to make some trade-off between electability and desirability.

How far you go between increasing a small chance of something very good, or a larger chance of something moderately good, is not clear, but I think the best strategy is unlikely to be "always vote for the most desirable candidate, regardless of the odds of them winning".

[lyonn]

10. Besides, we don't want the media thinking for us

For instance, I like Biden and will probably vote for him in the primaries. What if there are a lot of closet Biden people out there but don't feel comfy revealing to others since his polling is sooo low. First off, not sure I believe the polls, maybe wishful thinking.

In the 04 primary I was pretty rabid about Dean, was determined to vote for him. Then I concluded that Clark would possibly win the primary in Okla. and according to the "polls" Dean didn't have a chance so I voted for Clark since he was my next favorite. So polls in some instances are fairly accurate. Clark won the Okla. primary. Dean made a poor showing. It was hard not voting for your favorite tho.

[goodgd_yall]

7. I am changing my mind about this

A few weeks ago I agreed with the OP's suggestion and intended to do just that. But, that was when I was ambivalent about the candidates. My ambivalence is fading and I'm beginning to have a preference among the top 3, who most likely will continue to be the top 3 come primary time. So, now I am thinking of voting strategically. I've set my preferences among the top tier candidates and will vote according to the realistic possibilities at the time of the primaries. Otherwise, I may be stuck with my least favorite of the top tier. I can, by my vote and others voting similarly, give my candidate enough delegates in the Convention to actually get my favorite nominated.

[DemDogs]

8. I want an electable progressive

I think we have only one of those running, but we do have one. But an unelectable progressive does us no good.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I agree!

I am voting for who I want in the primary!

The rest of the candidates can all go jump off a cliff, as far as I'm concerned...

Kucinich is my man in the primary...

:patriot: