WHEN do you decide who you'll vote for?

[cleveramerican]

I spend a long time assembling mental lists of pros and cons of all of them I basically "like" all of them.I narrow it down to two or three and I decide finally at the VERY last minute.I remember deciding to vote for Jesse Jackson literally as I closed the curtain of the booth!

I off-handedly told a activist pal of mine I usually decide while in line at the polls and he just about jumped down my throat, How can you not work now to get your guy the Nomination?he explained, How can you not decide in time to attempt to convince others to see it your way?

When it comes to primaries, I decide at the last possible moment.I'm not sure why and I never thought it was so unusual.
I'm referring to primaries now.

when do you decide? ten minutes before voting? two weeks? ten weeks? a year? and why? just a habit like me or is there some strategy behind your timing?

I'm just curious.

[MrSlayer]

1. It depends who's running but usually fairly early.

At this point, I'm voting for Kucinich but I'm hoping Clark or Gore get in.

[NMDemDist2]

2. depends

if I really like someone, I'm on the bandwagon quick (I emailed Kerry to run in Aug of 02)


right now, I'm torn and don't know yet....

[Double T]

3. AFTER ALL the debates.

[B Calm]

5. That makes sense..

[MADem]

13. That's me, too--UNLESS a "favorite son" (hey, in the future it could be "favorite daughter") is

running.

If I have a personal or local relationship with a candidate, like, say, Paul Tsongas, well, the whole "study the field and listen to the debates" stuff goes out the window.

As a general rule, though, even if I THINK I like one candidate over another, I make it a point to judge them like it's a dog show--taking each on their own merits with an overall HIGH standard in mind.

I will say, though, I won't be looking at the GOP the same way. I have no intention of voting for one of them, even if they somehow choke up a hairball of a candidate who agrees with every single idea I hold dear. See, it's the cabinet, the judges, the Supremes that are at stake, too.

[Double T]

16. Hillary is my Senator BUT that does NOT automatically mean........

she gets my vote. All Democratic candidates have an equal opportunity to give me good reasons to vote for HER or HIM.

[blm]

15. I decided after the debates and still will. 2004 was an exception, because I

followed government corruption issues for so long and WANTED Kerry in the oval office as an open government Democrat who believes in every citizens' right to know MORE about their government and its dealings.

As of right now, I will NEVER support a Democrat who protects secrecy and privilege of the elite over justice and accountability for corruption committed under the cloak of government actions.

The coverup Democrats get NO SUPPORT from me. Not after 9-11. Not any more.

[SKKY]

4. I went "All In" with Mark Warner very, very early, and he dropped out...

...then Evan Bayh, and he too dropped out. So, after those two, I'm waiting until the very last minute next time.

[mmonk]

6. I've chosen two I could vote for this time.

Then I'll wait for developments. The new primary system is geared to produce party boss candidates, so I'm not real excited or motivated yet. I'm more interesting in getting this nation straight. I'm not going to focus in that direction because the apparatus wants me too.

[krispos42]

7. When I catch the coin and take a peek.

j/k

Honestly, I don't know. I've only voted in one primary, and I don't remember how I picked. I think listening to AAR helped at the time, though. This was like 8 months ago, by the way.

[Clark2008]

8. I have no clue.

It may be at the last second if someone else doesn't jump in.

[Benhurst]

9. I've already decided.

I will be voting for the Democratic candidate in the 2008 general election.

As for the NC primary, if it's still a contest, I shall decide early next year.

[madokie]

10. It sure won't be anytime soon

Al or Wes haven't announced yet so I'll be hanging in there waiting for the word from either

[qwlauren35]

11. It is changing as I get older.

The more I work on campaigns, the earlier it gets.

But in general, I try to wait until the field is "saturated", and then make my decisions on major candidates, so that I have time to support them as a campaigner.

Part of this is a result of frequently moving from state to state, and not yet having regional/local ties. I sense that once this happens, I'll also be on board with campaigning for local candidates, especially if there's an issue at stake locally that I care about.

[KansDem]

12. Oh, I dunno...I usually wait until I get into the voting booth and flip a coin...

BWAHAHAHA!!! Not really, but don't people who say this just irritate you! They do me! By the time one goes to vote, they should already know who they're going to vote for. I spend a lot of time and effort researching the candidates to see if I agree, or at least respect, their positions. But I don't ever do this "flip a coin" bullshit!

And I never fall for the "they're all alike" and "lesser of the two evils" crap!

[Auggie]

14. The Democrat with the best chance to beat the Republican

[cleveramerican]

17. WHEN does that become clear to ya?