Have you changed candidates?

[AP]

Poll question: Have you changed candidates?

I want to get a sense for how much flux there is in the support for the presidential candidates.

So, have you changed candidates?

(And if you have, post your shift in support in the subject line of a post, with arrows -- eg, "Kuckinich -> Sharpton -> Edwards" -- and then explain why.)

[ibegurpard]

1. Yes. Gore>Dean

n/t

[pmbryant]

2. How about...

"I have switched in the past, but am now undecided."

I've gone from Gore to (lean Dean) to Bob Graham to ???

--Peter

[AP]

3. Put that as option 2, and post: "{name} -> undecided"

[pmbryant]

33. Graham -> undecided

There you go.

:-)

-Peter

[goobergunch]

4. Kerry -> Dean

Back in January, I supported Kerry. Then I found out about Howard Dean and quickly switched.

[Padraig18]

5. From Gore to Dean.

:)

[poskonig]

6. Kerry-->Dean-->undecided-->Dean

I originally supported Kerry for all of the positive reasons about his campaign. However, I was concerned that no one was taking Bush to task about the lies about the war. I heard about Dean word-of-mouth from a liberal in California, but didn't switch until I saw him give his "what I wanna know" speech on C-SPAN.

I became undecided during the Confederate Flag deal. *I* didn't find Dean's comments offensive, but I was worried Dean would piss off all of the black people and all of the rural white people by the way he was handling the situation. I leaned towards Kerry, but was weirded out by the clowning around with motorcycles and such. That wasn't the professional statesmanlike guy I originally supported. I also looked at Clark, but the comments about regulation and shipping our jobs to India made me uneasy, given Clark's political history. Then I saw the candidates a few more times on C-SPAN and fell back into the Dean campaign.

[rucky]

7. Often

Lieberman (pure name recognition) > Dean (Iraq) > Kucinich (platform) > Dean (Kucinich electibility) > Clark (learned more/electability) > Dean (Speech in SC) > Kerry (Wilson/Beers) > Kucinich (Screw electibility) > Decidedly Undecided between all 4 (late primary, why commit?).

[LuminousX]

8. Kerry->Dean

Dean was more vocal at a time when I felt it was immensely important to be vocal, and then when I looked into his background and record, I liked what I saw.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Dean to Clark

But I did that switch back in August. Dean still bounces around between my numbers two and three slots with Kerry, depending on what strengths and liabilities I am concentrating on that week.

[BOSSHOG]

9. Undecided to Clark

I vow my undying support to whomever gets the dem nomination, however, my money and efforts are going to the General right now. AND I WILL NOT say one negative word about any democratic candidate during the primaries.

[maddezmom]

11. Kerry>>>Clark

[cindyw]

12. Gore --> Kerry

I was with Gore until he bowed out. I considered Dean from some early appearances on c-span, but he was too conservative for me. The more I saw of Kerry, the more I knew about kerry, the better I liked him.

[zulchzulu]

68. Gore > Dean for a day and a half > Kerry all the way

I thought Gore might make a run for it...watched some Dean vids on CSPAN and saw through him and then started getting interested in Kerry. The more I dig into Kerry's background/record/issues, the better I like him.

[AntiCoup2K4]

13. Undecided --> Dean

Probably would have been for Gore's re-election initially, but he was never really in this campaign.

[Monte Carlo]

14. I've stayed behind Kerry since the get-go.

I've seen no reason to change, so I haven't.

[Nazgul35]

15. Graham ---> Dean

wasn't much of an attachment as I knew Senator Graham and went into this as a leaner towards him. After looking into the other candidates I decided to support Dean after viewing his record and became frim after attending a MeetUp and saw how great the grass-roots campaign was....have never looked back since...

And am working my ass off....

But I really will not be offended should another Dem win...being a grown up and all....i'll just shift my activities towards their campaign and help get rid of the idiot-in-chief next novemeber...

But damn Joe...you really are making it hard!!!!!!!

[libview]

16. Dean to Clark

The Republicans want Dean to be the nominee, so I don't

[AntiCoup2K4]

38. Ridiculous statement.

Some Democrats wanted Reagan to be Jimmy Carter's opponent in 1980, because they didn't think a washed up B Movie actor in his late 60's (70 soon after innauguration) could possibly beat Carter.

Sadly, they were wrong. But so are the Republicans who think they can beat Dean :)

[Jack_Dawson]

67. "I hope Howard Dean is the Democratic Nominee"

-Tom Delay
MEET THE PRESS
December 21, 2003

[Jerseycoa]

17. Dean>Graham >Clark

I found Dean's appeal, for me, grew thinner and thinner. I wanted someone who was a deeper thinker and more careful speaker. I never cared for Dean's demeanor, for one thing, and I found his statements consistently inconsistent with his record and from statement to statement. As the war opened and went on, it became clear to me that Dean did not have the depth of foreign policy experience or understanding needed in a president.

I found my perfect candidate in Bob Graham, except I was sure he wouldn't translate his talents into charismatic popularity among voters. I stuck with Bob until he withdrew. I still believe if people had bothered to listen to this good man, he would have been a formidable opponent to Bush.

I also liked Kerry and Edwards, although I never committed to either, and I'm not sure why entirely, but if Clark had not entered when Graham pulled out, I would have selected Kerry over Dean.

I had been wanting Clark to run since his CNN stint, and when he did, once Graham was already out, he was the natural choice for me. I signed up opening day. In Clark I find a combined Howard Dean and Bob Graham, only more.

[SahaleArm]

18. Kerry leaner to Clark n/t

[damnraddem]

19. Dean all the way.

I had no candidate before settling on Howard.

[Rowdyboy]

20. Graham -> Clark

n/t

[catherineD]

21. Kucinich to Clark

When I could see that Kucinich didn't have the right kind of organization to be taken seriously by the media, I looked at the Draft Clark movement and I am so excited about this guy! He has a 100-year plan! This is somebody who is going to try to put into place structures that will be paying off for the next 100 years! Just amazing. In a test of 1,000 or more officers to see who was best at predicting future trends, Clark was the best. And we know he's got the mind. Plus, as a sci-fi fan, I love a guy who likes to argue time travel with astrophysicists.

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Yes

from Dean to Clark.

[Kathleen04]

23. Undecided --> Clark n/t

[adadem]

24. Gore -> Dean -> Kerry n/t

[Mz Pip]

25. Dean -> Clark

I switched from Dean to Clark because I became disilusioned with Dean's negativity. I felt too much like I was being lectured at and it got tiresome.

I like Clark because he wants to change the divisiveness in Washington. I don't know if he can but he's got a better chance than someone who calls members of his own party "cockroaches."

I like Clark because he has a clear policy for dealing with the mid-east. He seems to understand the geo-political history of the region and what needs to happen to affect change. Foreign policy experience will be important this time around.

I like Clark because as a Southerner he will bring some coat tails to the races in the South where 5 Dem Senate seats are up for grabs. If we lose those seats, we will lose fillibuster. Not a pretty thought.

I like Clark because I think he will do well with crossover voters, independents and still keep the base.

For those who say if Clark can't beat Dean in the primaries he can't beat Bush should realize that primary voters are more partisan than the general electorate. Dean may win the primaries but will probably only win Vermont in the GE.

MzPip
:dem:

[Johnyawl]

26. ABB ->ABB ->ABB ->ABB ->

[Northwind]

27. Gore > Kerry > Dean

I believe the progression explains itself.

[helleborient]

28. Kerry=>Kucinich=>Dean

Kerry lost me at the Iraq vote...and has done nothing but go downhill in my estimation since.

Kucinich lost me at the moveon.org primary, and he has shown no traction as a candidate since.

Dean is it since June!

[beyurslf]

29. Dean Dean Dean no change. ABB in NOV.

[artistaboard]

30. Movin' on up

Started with Kerry, even got a bumper sticker... then got caught up in the Howard Dean fervor... downloaded a poster; then read Michael Moore's "Dude, Where's My Country" and learned more about Wesley Clark. Read his positions, observed his intelligence, experience and candor, I'm staying with Wes Clark all the way.

[WillyT]

31. Yes... Kerry => Dean

Dean captured my anger, and spoke truth to power.

:kick:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

32. I have never changed candidates

as far as I can recall at this moment.

[Hoppin_Mad]

34. Kucinich > Dean

[MuseRider]

35. Dean ---> Kucinich

[no name no slogan]

63. Dean ---> Kucinich

was initially interested in Dean because he spoke out against the war and got the media attention. Then did some research on his platform and found out he was not nearly as liberal as I initially thought.

I did more research and found Bob Harris's Kucinich vs. Dean comparison last summer, and got interested in Kucinich. The icing on the cake was when I found out that DK had previously visited Minnesota (my home) and campaigned for Wellstone previously.

I've now become very active as a volunteer and help run the MN for Kucinich website at www.minnesotaforkucinich.com. And I haven't looked back.

[redqueen]

36. Gore -> Dean -> Kucinich

I supported Gore at first, because he seemed like the one to run against bushista considering he won last time. :)

Then when he dropped out, Dean's anti-war message was circulating so I signed up with Meetup, was all set to donate, but then I found out he would not cut the Pentagon's budget.

So then I switched to Kucinch, and I haven't even considered switching. I never thought I could feel so comfortable and confident about whom I supported. :D

[wyldwolf]

37. Three times...

Started with Kerry. Went to the first two Dean meet-ups in Atlanta and was briefly interested but still leaned Kerry. But got sold on Clark.

[edzontar]

39. Kerry > Dean

Kerry seems to have blown it.

Dean has run the best campaign.

Not sure about Clark, but not hostile.

[plurality]

40. Yes - Dean to Kucinich

Liked Dean because he was 'anti-war' but the more I learned about him, the less I trusted him, so I switched to Kucinich.

[cryofan]

41. Dean --> Kucinich --> Clark

I first read a bit of the mass media stuff about Dean, and bought into his schtick. THen after a couple more months of reading, I found out that Kucinich was a much better candidate. Then after some more research I determined that Dean needed to be stopped, and so I researched Clark, found him fit for the Presidency, and will vote for him and send him a few bucks.

Of course, if Kucinich surges, then I will go back to him.

[_NorCal_D_]

42. Dean -> Clark

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

43. Kerry to Kucinich to Dean.

Kerry was my guy for a couple of years until he shamed himself with the unforgivable IWR vote. I had some small hope that Kucinich (or Sharpton or Mosely-Braun) would somehow catch on. Sadly, they didn't.

I came to Dean late, suspicious of some of his "moderate" stances. I still don't see him as the savior of the Democratic Party but as the thin edge of the wedge that has the possibility of galvanizing the left in transforming the party from being the moderate wing of the republican party to a viable alternative.

If Clark should beat Dean I will (probably) vote for him and hope for the best if he should become president. My fear being that he will give the right wing of the party room to claim victory.

If Kerry, Gephardt, Edwards or Lieberman get it (or, the VP nod) I'll be voting Green.

[NewJerseyDem]

44. I've change A LOT!!

It think it went something like this:

Kerry->Dean->Gephardt->Edwards->Kerry->Dean->Clark->Braun(for about a day)->Gephardt->Edwards->Clark

I thought for a moment I was settling down with Edwards but I don't really like his populist rhetoric. I don't really care if he was poor or not when he was growing up. The only thing that matters is his views today and his electability. He seems to be running his campaign as a campaign against the rich and I don't like that because even though I'm not rich, I'm kind of "upper middle class" and it seems like he is trying to run a campaign that says that there is something wrong with you if you didn't grow up like he did.

[MODemocrat]

45. I switched from John Kerry to Howard Dean

I started watching Howard Dean, liked his take on domestic issues, his stance on the Iraqi war, and switched over. John Kerry, however, still remains one of my favorites.

[LWolf]

46. Dean -> Kucinich

last January or February, when I spent some time exploring their platforms.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

47. Dean> Kerry/Dean>Clark

n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

48. Graham was my first choice and I was leaning heavily towards him when

he dropped.

I REALLY REALLY like Edwards but cannot get past his inexperience.

I like Dean in some ways but do not see him as a statesman on foreign relations.

I really think the most liberal candidate in thr top 5 is Kerry but he has run a poor campaign thus far.

If Kucinich stood a snowball's chance in hell, I would vote for him.

[Donna Zen]

49. In the beginning...

Edwards & Kerry-->Dean-->Clark

I was shopping when the candidates began to announce and paying close attention. Edwards and Kerry were both on my radar screen with a NE lean to Kerry. I've always liked him and after reading a Rollingstone interview and remembering his acid comments in the WP on the night of the selection was pretty much in his camp. Then a friend and I went to see him at a Vets meeting in Bangor...my friend asked Kerry some questions about the up coming war. It was not pretty!

Dean came up on the ol' radar, and I sent him money and watched the Sunday line up for possible Dean appearances. It quickly became apparent what was going on. Early on Dean was branded as too liberal. He was also not ready for primetime.

A Wellstone colleague suggested Clark to me. Quite frankly I couldn't believe it not realizing the high regard Wellstone had for Clark. There has never been a moment since I began digging through Clark's past or present that has not made me like him more. I am amazed by the quality of this man.

As for the original Edwards-Kerry interest, it is still there. Kerry could be forgiven for that terrible meeting if he would just kick junior's ass. Edwards, a good Democrat, and a good person, is certainly someone I would vote for. Dean has soured my imagine of him to the extent, that while I could vote for him in a general election, I would puke on my shoes.

Clark is the finest candidate for the presidency I have seen. I have stopped shopping.

[arewethereyet]

50. Started with Edwards and have zero reason to look elsewhere

unlike most of the others

[revcarol]

51. Dean -> Kucinich

when I found out that Dean wasn't really anti-Iraq war, just wait 60 days and get more allies.And "fiscally conservative" to reduce social services (won't cut military budget.)

[JohnLocke]

52. Graham==>Edwards

[mot78]

53. Gore (late '02) to undecided, to leaning towards Dean, to Clark

[DrBB]

54. Kerry >> Clark

Though I wasn't an adamant Kerry guy, just thought he had the best stature and resume at the start.

[Cheswick2.0]

55. Gore --->(Carol, undecided)---->>Clark-->>Dean

n/t

[Zynx]

56. Kerry>Dean>Clark>Dean

Yes. I flipfloped. Sue me.

[Cheswick2.0]

58. we are all going to be on the same side soon enough

No need to start suing each other. :7

[GBD4]

57. Graham -> ???

If the primary was today, I'd be writing in Bob's name (if that's even an option in the FL primary!)

inspire me, Nine Democrats Who Would Be President! :)

[Crunchy Frog]

59. Dean-->Clark

I supported Dean early on because of all the announced candidates he was the only one who seemed to have real fight in him, and was saying the things that needed to be said about Bushco. I felt that those qualities were absolutely necessary in order to have any possibility of beating Bush. I also was impressed by his taking an early and firm stand against the war.

As the possibility of Clark joining the race entered my radar screen I became intrigued and wanted to know more about him. Dean seemed to have some real weaknesses that concerned me, plus I just was never able to really connect with him.

When Clark finally entered the race I remained somewhat ambivalent and undecided, wanting to get a better look at him and a better feel for his stands on the issues. It soon became apparent to me that he also was a fighter and really willing to take agressively take on Bush, and that he had stronger credentials and credibility to do it, especially from the standpoint of foreign policy. I was also impressed with how intelligent and articulate he was, plus I just plain liked him and found myself really connecting with him.

Besides liking his message, vision, and policies, I have become increasingly convinced that he is our best hope for taking back the White House. He is also the first candidate since Gary Hart that I was just plain excited about(and GH was probably closer to a schoolgirl infatuation). I am now fully committed to him until he either wins or is no longer a viable candidate. Dean remains my second choice. I never really considered anyone else.

Having been a lurker at DU since last March, I pretty much learned everything about the candidates here, and from links to articles and websites that I got through here.

[eileen_d]

60. Kerry --> Clark

And the more I read about Kucinich the more I just love the guy. He'll be getting a donation from me but since my primary is so late I don't know if he'll be on my ballot. :(

Frankly, I got sick of hearing Kerry going on and on about Dean. I didn't think he ever went over the top with it, but I just wished he would run on his own strengths. I still think Kerry would make a fantastic POTUS.

[UrbScotty]

61. Dean-->>Graham-->>Kucinich-->>Dean

December 2002-October 2003: Dean
For about a week in October, 2003: Graham
October 2003-November 2003: Kucinich
Since November 2003 (for about 5-6 weeks now): Dean

[Piperay]

62. Edwards>>>Clark

I always liked Clark but Edwards was my choice until Clark jumped into the race.

[MoonRiver]

64. I switched from Kerry to Dean to Clark.

[Jack_Dawson]

66. Nice work!

:toast:

[Jack_Dawson]

65. Clark > Clark > Clark

[AngryAmish]

69. Mind is still open

Send me stuff, I can be bribed.

[SayitAintSo]

70. Kerry -> Clark

I still think Kerry would make a great POTUS, but I'm afraid his campaign just hasn't taken off. I feel Clark is the most electable at this point... if he can get past dean... Dean...DEAN !!!