In a few short months, primary voters will begin selecting the Republican presidential nominee. The two debates thus far have been underwhelming. A third is approaching on Nov. 8, but it, too, promises to be the kind of unhelpful event that lacks the virtue of at least being entertaining. Yet I’ll be watching — tuned in and deciding which candidate to support. I’m not a Republican, but I’ll play one on Super Tuesday, March 5.
As an independent myself in Colorado we get to pick which primary to vote in. Typically the Democratic Primary doesn’t have any impact, usually its individuals running unopposed. So I vote in the GOP primary and pick candidates that are most likely to lose to the Democrat. The GOP here might be the worst run in the nation. No funding, run by climate deniers, xovid deniers, conspiracy theorists, and morally corrupt individuals. Essentially Boebert types. The rural communities that vote in Republicans are the poorest parts of the state and refuse to change. Their representatives do absolutely nothing but collect a paycheck.
This would be a solid strategy if Boebert actually lost the election.
Yep. Republicans always see the big R and vote for it. They don’t give a shit about political beliefs. Believing they might not vote for R on the ballot is childish.
Democrats outnumber Republicans 4 to 1 in Colorado. Independents still make up 70% of voters. That means using this strategy typically puts a moderate on the ballot who draws in the most voters.
Obviously this screws over ultra left wing types but they don’t get independents voting for them either.
Same here, though my rule usually is ‘vote for the least crazy Republican in the hopes of having least crazy vs. sane’ when I’m voting for a Republican in a Primary. However, this doesn’t hold if there’s an actual race on the Democratic side. I will vote in the Blue Primary if there’s a competitive race there.
We haven’t had a race for the Democrats in ten years on the primary ballot.
That’s sort of interesting. Then your only job is to create the vote on the primary ballot. Voting in your opposition party’s primary election only reinforces their entrenched position. Stop doing it, again especially because you are helping the far right.
If the Democrats are united and running unopposed then what? Circle the automatic winner? Or you can influence who the challenger is, hopefully picking some idiot that allows the unopposed Democrat to steam roll them.
Republican voters don’t care who is on the ballot, Democrats do. Republicans will vote a pro pedophile candidate into office. So voting in their primary is useless, again especially by voting for the extremist candidate. You are directly voting that extremist into office when you cast your primary vote.
You are what we used to joke about a lot. People who think they can trick the right. We always knew better by always voting regardless of the candidate.
Republicans and Democrats don’t decide elections, independent voters decide elections. Republicans make up 25%, Democrats make up 25%, Independents make up 49% of voters. 1% are third party like Libertarian.
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Why do you hate strategic voting by independents? Do you think they shouldn’t be allowed to vote? Independent voters are doing exactly what George Washington intended.
“However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” SEPTEMBER 17, 1796
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Uncivil comments will be deleted.
I know I’m being a dick to you but I’m curious. Is this a DM? I’m obviously new to lemmy and I’m using boost only so I can’t tell if it is.
I’m honestly sorry for being so rude but you can’t assume Republican voters care about anything but the R next to a candidates name. It’s a childish assumption that yields extremely dangerous results. And the “I answer to no party” rethoric is dumb too. If your ideals line up with one of the two valid party’s you support that party.
I was just letting you know. Arguing is fine but community rules discourage uncivil behavior towards any community member. Insults, expletives towards members always results in a post being removed. It’s the most common reason for a comment getting removed actually.
Ok, noted.
I am being uncivil but only to show you who you are voting for. Doesn’t matter if it’s only a primary you are supporting those who openly hate you.
You might not like it, but Democrats used it to turn Georgia and Arizona blue. The conditions have to be right but left leaning Independents can absolutely torpedo GOP odds, but you have to weigh the numbers in your favor.
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/06/gop-primaries-chaos-democrats-243487
Yes it can, thanks for the example. The reality is it barely ever works and can (and does) backfire much worse by pushing the party further right. Which is why I believe it’s a horrible idea to ever try. Makes my inner Republican come out its box I tucked it into.
The problem is the great evil that’s waiting by even giving support in primaries for a party that wouldn’t blink at putting people in camps. I’ve heard multiple conversations from people who think they are moderate Republicans discussing putting homeless people into camps or just outright killing them all. It’s getting scarier than just supporting the bad candidates to maybe spoil the vote. These are people I barely know openly discussing killing a large group of people. Working in manufacturing exposed me to tons of yokels all over the country.