2016 Postmortem

Denninmi

(6,581 posts) Mon Feb 13, 2012, 07:31 PM Feb 2012

Is malicious, cross-over primary voting of any value?

If your side has a primary in name only, i.e., the candidate of your choice is unopposed, is it of any value to vote in the other side's primary with the intent of inflicting some damage? Say, voting against the perceived front-runner or voting for the candidate you think is the weakest against your side in the general election to be held later?

Or, is it better to just give your side a symbolic victory and help add to the numbers there?

12 replies

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Is malicious, cross-over primary voting of any value? (Original Post) Denninmi Feb 2012 OP

I frequently vote in the GOP primary because that is where most of my local races are decided. tanyev Feb 2012 #1

I fully intend to vote for Ron Paul, just because I can.. and because K Gardner Feb 2012 #2

I don't know but it makes me feel good rurallib Feb 2012 #3

Will the media care if President Obama gets a few less votes customerserviceguy Feb 2012 #4

I'm interested in maximizing the quality of the eventual repub presidential nominee. mysuzuki2 Feb 2012 #5

I like to vote for "Douglas Fir" once in a while. This year i recommend "Obama's Dog" L. Coyote Feb 2012 #7

Works. There is a long history of knocking off the best opponent by this method. L. Coyote Feb 2012 #6

I adore people with the strength to go through with this but I can't... Rowdyboy Feb 2012 #8

I plan to, if my state is still in play in April Ruby the Liberal Feb 2012 #9

I have thought about this as well davidpdx Feb 2012 #10

Not this year - except maybe on the local level. HopeHoops Feb 2012 #11

I'm actually now thinking of changing my mind and doing this davidpdx Feb 2012 #12

tanyev

(42,673 posts)

1. I frequently vote in the GOP primary because that is where most of my local races are decided.

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 07:43 PM

Feb 2012

Of course, I also have a little fun with the top of the ticket while I'm there. I'm sure it doesn't accomplish much except put a little grin on my face as I leave the voting booth, but that's OK.

K Gardner

(14,933 posts)

2. I fully intend to vote for Ron Paul, just because I can.. and because

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 07:48 PM

Feb 2012

we have the local homophobe Stacey Campfield running for delegate for Newt on a local ballot.

There's a big move by local Dems to GET OUT THE VOTE for GOP this year.

rurallib

(62,482 posts)

3. I don't know but it makes me feel good

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 08:30 PM

Feb 2012

especially when I can vote against Terry Branstad (Iowa)

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

4. Will the media care if President Obama gets a few less votes

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 08:31 PM

Feb 2012

in a no-contest election? Or will it be better for us if that idiot Ron Paul takes our fake encouragement as the go-ahead sign to run his third party, and sap votes from the Republicon nominee?

mysuzuki2

(3,521 posts)

5. I'm interested in maximizing the quality of the eventual repub presidential nominee.

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 09:07 PM

Feb 2012

Therefore, I plan to vote in the repub primary by casing a write in vote for the best available candidate - "a box of rocks."

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)

7. I like to vote for "Douglas Fir" once in a while. This year i recommend "Obama's Dog"

Reply to mysuzuki2 (Reply #5)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 11:58 PM

Feb 2012

since Obama's pet is smarter than any of the Rs

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)

6. Works. There is a long history of knocking off the best opponent by this method.

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Mon Feb 13, 2012, 11:55 PM

Feb 2012

One of the places this worked well was in North Dakota, when Bill Guy was Governor. Bob McCarney would run in the R primary, and Dems would put him over the top. They, Guy would win the general election.

Not all states make this easy. If you have open primaries, where you walk in and specify which ballot you want, it is particularly easy.

Rowdyboy

(22,057 posts)

8. I adore people with the strength to go through with this but I can't...

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Tue Feb 14, 2012, 03:04 AM

Feb 2012

I've tried, but I can't make myself vote in their primaries. It just makes me ill. Sorry.

Ruby the Liberal

(26,219 posts)

9. I plan to, if my state is still in play in April

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Tue Feb 14, 2012, 03:09 AM

Feb 2012

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)

10. I have thought about this as well

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Tue Feb 14, 2012, 08:59 AM

Feb 2012

My situation is different though as I'm overseas. I'm not sure if I want to screw with my voter affiliation if it doesn't get changed back. I am pretty sure in most of the top level races in my district (not counting state ones) there would be nothing to lose as the incumbent representative and senator are both Democrats. The other thing is Oregon's primary isn't until mid May and by then the Republican nomination might be decided. If it was earlier, I'd seriously consider doing it.

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

11. Not this year - except maybe on the local level.

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Tue Feb 14, 2012, 11:51 AM

Feb 2012

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)

12. I'm actually now thinking of changing my mind and doing this

Reply to Denninmi (Original post)

Fri Feb 17, 2012, 09:46 PM

Feb 2012

I'd posted in this thread that I was doubtful Oregon would be in play. Well if Texas gets moved back to May 29th, that means there are almost 500 delegates available after Oregon votes. This may put Oregon in play (even despite the small number of delegates).

I'm going to be voting by e-mail for the first time. I could theoretically wait until after the primaries the week before were decided and then decide how I wanted to cast my vote.

In the end, I think Romney is the weaker candidate against Obama.

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