serious political question

[LoveTrains]

So we have a big primary tomorrow. It's a three way race. Here is a link to an article about it:

www.politico.com/story/2014/09/rhode-island-governor-election-democratic-primary-110667.html

So there is the candidate that I really want to vote for, but I'm not sure that they could win. Meanwhile, I really don't want one of the candidates to win, and I like the other candidate.

Do I vote for the candidate I really like who probably won't win - but then candidate I really hate might win. 

Or do I vote for the candidate who I like and who has a better chance of winning general election - and bonus, prevents the candidate I hate from winning?

[penguingrrl]

I would vote for the one you truly believe in.

[lasagnasshole]

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

[NewOrleans]

We have to stop viewing our votes as political maneuvering or throwing a vote away or giving a vote to the candidate you oppose. These views are keeping us stuck in the misery that is a 2-party system, with no one giving 3rd party / alternative candidates the time of day. Vote for the one you really support and send them all letters explaining why.

@ladydisdain eclaires!

[NewOrleans]

Sept 8, 2014 8:38:23 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

lol.  I just said the opposite of you.  We're not talking now.  

[lasagnasshole]

Sept 8, 2014 8:42:27 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Sept 8, 2014 8:38:23 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

lol.  I just said the opposite of you.  We're not talking now.  

But science.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duverger's_law


ETA: the stupid apostrophe makes it impossible to hyperlink it. You'll have to c&p it. THANKS, PROBOARDS.

[wawa]

Sept 8, 2014 8:38:23 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

we aren't talking about a 3rd party vote though.  This is a primary election.

[lasagnasshole]

Sept 8, 2014 8:46:05 GMT -5 wawa said:

Sept 8, 2014 8:38:23 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

we aren't talking about a 3rd party vote though.  This is a primary election.

DAMMIT.

I need more coffee. But I'm not allowed to have a third cup.

[Velar Fricative]

I read the article and that is a tough decision if my guesses are right as to the two you would consider voting for. My heart says vote for the one you like best and my head says vote for the one most likely to win. Is the winner of the primary likely to win in November? Would you consider voting GOP if the one you dislike wins? Ultimately, if you don't like any of the GOP candidates I'd vote for the electable one.

Also, Michelle Kwan is married to one of the candidates! Did not know that. #importantissues

[lasagnasshole]

OK, now that I'm thinking more clearly about the primary part of it - how close is the race?

If it's not that close, I'd vote for who you like the best.

If it's very close between your #2 choice and the person you don't like, I'd vote for your #2 choice.

[StrawberryBlondie]

If its a close race or the one you don't like is ahead, I'd vote for the one you like and think can win. If not, I'd vote for the one you like best.

[LoveTrains]

Sept 8, 2014 8:38:23 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

It's not a third party. It's the democratic primary!

[LoveTrains]

Sept 8, 2014 8:48:37 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

OK, now that I'm thinking more clearly about the primary part of it - how close is the race?

If it's not that close, I'd vote for who you like the best.

If it's very close between your #2 choice and the person you don't like, I'd vote for your #2 choice.

Read the link! It's like really close. 
Candidate that I hate is currently polling #2 at like 29%
Candidate that I like is currently polling #1 at like 31%
Candidate that I love is currently polling #3 at like 26 or 27%. However he kind of tanked in debate last week. And apparently registered as a republican out west. 

[wawa]

Sept 8, 2014 8:48:37 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

OK, now that I'm thinking more clearly about the primary part of it - how close is the race?

If it's not that close, I'd vote for who you like the best.

If it's very close between your #2 choice and the person you don't like, I'd vote for your #2 choice.

I had a similar situation in the democratic primary for gov here in MD.  It wasn't close AT ALL so I just voted for the one I really liked. 

ETA: which is not helpful for OP at all.  In the case of a close race I'd vote for the one I don't hate that has the better shot.

[lasagnasshole]

Sept 8, 2014 9:01:57 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Sept 8, 2014 8:48:37 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

OK, now that I'm thinking more clearly about the primary part of it - how close is the race?

If it's not that close, I'd vote for who you like the best.

If it's very close between your #2 choice and the person you don't like, I'd vote for your #2 choice.

Read the link! It's like really close. 
Candidate that I hate is currently polling #2 at like 29%
Candidate that I like is currently polling #1 at like 31%
Candidate that I love is currently polling #3 at like 26 or 27%. However he kind of tanked in debate last week. And apparently registered as a republican out west. 

Well, now I come back to voting for the one you really like. You're just one person. You won't be the difference. I could start in in VOTING IS IRRATIONAL if you want.

[LoveTrains]

Sept 8, 2014 8:48:35 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I read the article and that is a tough decision if my guesses are right as to the two you would consider voting for. My heart says vote for the one you like best and my head says vote for the one most likely to win. Is the winner of the primary likely to win in November? Would you consider voting GOP if the one you dislike wins? Ultimately, if you don't like any of the GOP candidates I'd vote for the electable one.

Also, Michelle Kwan is married to one of the candidates! Did not know that. #importantissues

You just want wait until I see her around town and take a selfie with her!!!!! It is going to happen. 

And I actually would vote GOP if candidate I hate wins the primary. I hate him that much. He is our current mayor.  

I mean, our state is already so messed up, I'm not sure how much damage any governor could inflict in four years. And the GOP candidates aren't socially conservative so its not like we are in danger of some Kansas type antics. 

[LoveTrains]

Also the candidate I really like has run a really positive campaign. The other two campaigns have been nasty and negative.

[pixy0stix]

Vote for the one you like. In primaries there's regularly upsets because people are more likely to vote for who they like vs. straight line political parties.

[Deleted]

Personally, I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils so I would vote for the candidate I really like.

[sporky]

Vote for the person you love.

[Deleted]

Sept 8, 2014 8:41:35 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

We have to stop viewing our votes as political maneuvering or throwing a vote away or giving a vote to the candidate you oppose. These views are keeping us stuck in the misery that is a 2-party system, with no one giving 3rd party / alternative candidates the time of day. Vote for the one you really support and send them all letters explaining why.

@ladydisdain eclaires!

EXACTLY THIS. EXACTLY THIS. TOTALLY.

You want different representation in legislation? Start voting your conscious and for the person, not the party. /soapbox

[LoveTrains]

Sept 8, 2014 10:05:32 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

Sept 8, 2014 8:41:35 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

We have to stop viewing our votes as political maneuvering or throwing a vote away or giving a vote to the candidate you oppose. These views are keeping us stuck in the misery that is a 2-party system, with no one giving 3rd party / alternative candidates the time of day. Vote for the one you really support and send them all letters explaining why.

@ladydisdain eclaires!

EXACTLY THIS. EXACTLY THIS. TOTALLY.

You want different representation in legislation? Start voting your conscious and for the person, not the party. /soapbox

They are all members of the Democratic Party. It is the Democratic Primary. This has nothing to do with a third party.

[NewOrleans]

Sept 8, 2014 10:10:55 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Sept 8, 2014 10:05:32 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

EXACTLY THIS. EXACTLY THIS. TOTALLY.

You want different representation in legislation? Start voting your conscious and for the person, not the party. /soapbox

They are all members of the Democratic Party. It is the Democratic Primary. This has nothing to do with a third party.

No, I know.  But the view that a vote for the one you really like is a vote for the one you hate is an American problem that needs to go away.  Be the change, love trains.  Lol.

[downtoearth]

Sept 8, 2014 8:38:23 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

I would vote for the one you like and think can win.

Third parties are bullshit and are not viable.

See, e.g., Ralph Nader, Florida, circa 2000.

I hate to agree with this, but it's how I usually vote.

[secretlyevil]

Vote for YOUR candidate. We'll discuss third parties after primaries.

[aurora]

Sept 8, 2014 9:01:57 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Sept 8, 2014 8:48:37 GMT -5 lasagnasshole said:

OK, now that I'm thinking more clearly about the primary part of it - how close is the race?

If it's not that close, I'd vote for who you like the best.

If it's very close between your #2 choice and the person you don't like, I'd vote for your #2 choice.

Read the link! It's like really close. 
Candidate that I hate is currently polling #2 at like 29%
Candidate that I like is currently polling #1 at like 31%
Candidate that I love is currently polling #3 at like 26 or 27%. However he kind of tanked in debate last week. And apparently registered as a republican out west. 

That's actually pretty close.  I'd vote for candidate #3 in that case.

In say a Presidential election I might vote for candidate #2 for reasons others have suggested.

[LoveTrains]

UPDATE:

I voted for the one that I love this morning. Don't tell my H!!!

I only had to wait half an hour at the polls.

[LoveTrains]

Second update - even if no one cares but me, because goddamnit, this is the politics board.

My guy lost.
But the person I like won. So that means the person I really don't like lost also.
So success!

[LoveTrains]

Oh and my candidate won in the mayoral primary! That was a nailbiter, too. Woohoo.