If Santorum wins the nomination...

[thraashman]

I can say I'd vote for Obama over any of the Republican options. If Huntsman were still in it, I might actually have a choice. I'm not sure there could be a candidate I would possibly vote for Santorum over.

 

[Anarchist420]

Dr. Paul will get my vote regardless. The only wasted vote is one you don't believe in.

 

[MovingTarget]

I can say I'd vote for Obama over any of the Republican options. If Huntsman were still in it, I might actually have a choice. I'm not sure there could be a candidate I would possibly vote for Santorum over.

This. I could potentially vote for Huntsman over Obama. However, the GOP has gone way too far to the right by even thinking about nominating Santorum. They do not deserve to win the presidency. Obama could've been a slam dunk for the GOP had they nominated one of the now extinct moderates within their party.

 

[schneiderguy]

Ron Paul 2012

 

[Kadarin]

Santorum is a lunatic, so no thanks. In fact, the entire Republican party is well along in the process of going crazy.

 

[quest55720]

I will vote Libertarian if that religious nut gets the nomination. At this point no one can beat obama. So I assume Santorum gets the nomination so he can get destroyed. Maybe then the party can inch back towards the center on social issues.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

This. I could potentially vote for Huntsman over Obama. However, the GOP has gone way too far to the right by even thinking about nominating Santorum. They do not deserve to win the presidency. Obama could've been a slam dunk for the GOP had they nominated one of the now extinct moderates within their party.

Who are these extinct moderates you refer to?

Perry, or that fat pizza guy?

Funny that the poll currently has 1 more vote for not showing up than for Santorum (5-4).

 

[werepossum]

Santorum getting the Pubby nod is the only thing I can imagine that would make me vote for Obama, but that will do it. Although discrimination against gays offends me on principle, it isn't one of my hot button issues. I have no gay relatives or close friends, so it doesn't really affect me personally. However, the idea of empowering a social crusader whilst our country is falling apart is about the worst thing I can imagine us doing. Santorum is as big government as is Obama, and while his preferences would probably affect me personally less than Obama's, a war of personal liberty is even more distasteful to me than a war on achievers.

My voting matrix is pretty simple.
Romney = Romney
Gingrich = Johnson
Santorum = Obama

Although I usually vote Libertarian, doing so is not an acceptable response to nominating Santorum.

 

[Triumph]

I will vote against any candidate who runs on a "God" platform. We've had enough of those nutjobs in Washington.

 

[MovingTarget]

Who are these extinct moderates you refer to?

Perry, or that fat pizza guy?

Funny that the poll currently has 1 more vote for not showing up than for Santorum (5-4).

The ones so extinct we now call them DINOs.

 

[Mxylplyx]

I will vote against any candidate who runs on a "God" platform. We've had enough of those nutjobs in Washington.

This.

I am so sick of social issues dominating an election. What have Republicans done to turn back the clock on ANY social issue?

Abortion is still legal.
Gays are gaining the right to marry in more and more states.
Drug legalization, at least MJ, is gaining momentum.

The only thing 8 years of Bush accomplished was 2 wars, wider income disparity, and huge deficits. His social agenda amounted to NOTHING.

We have REAL problems in this country that CAN be solved through government, so lets focus on those issues, shall we?

 

[fskimospy]

Not that I'll vote anyway, but if I did it would probably be for Santorum just to get the reaction from people at parties.

I still stand by that I cannot see any future where a sane Republican Party nominates that guy. Maybe I just totally misunderstand how the right wing of America thinks, but they seriously can't be this dumb.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I want a "none of the above" option at the voting booth.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Not that I'll vote anyway, but if I did it would probably be for Santorum just to get the reaction from people at parties.

I still stand by that I cannot see any future where a sane Republican Party nominates that guy. Maybe I just totally misunderstand how the right wing of America thinks, but they seriously can't be this dumb.

The Republican establishment isn't that dumb IMO, but since the advent of the tea party, a pretty significant rift has developed between the RNC and many of the party faithful. Usually rifts like this have been the domain of the Democratic party, ie blacks, environmentalists, feminists, progressives, academics, etc. Republicans have enjoyed the simplicity of a fairly monolithic base over the years, mostly being business owners and social conservatives. Tea partiers advancing such hopeless candidates as Perry, Bachman, and Palin has made the nomination process considerably more difficult for them I imagine, considering the establishment knows that Romney is the only one with any chance against Obama, and I'd consider even that chance pretty slim.

 

[Ausm]

You're certainly free to vote however you wish, but unless it comes with a huge personal impact, I never understood "hot button" voting. If the election were a guy you agreed with 90% of the time, but was ok with abortion, against a guy you strongly disagreed with 90% of the time, but was against abortion, would you still vote for the latter?

My brother is a 1 issue voter too. He is constantly voting against his best interest and it's a good thing I vote to cancel his out.

 

[Ketchup]

My brother is a 1 issue voter too and he is constantly voting against his best interest and it's a good thing I vote to cancel his out.

I think almost anyone would be a one-issue voter, depending on what the issue issue. But I also believe most people who are, are quibbling over 1 issue that isn't that important in the grand scheme of theme.

But if that 1 issue was driving America to a dictatorship, I would vote against them.

 

[Mursilis]

I don't get the "I won't vote" mentality. Disillusioned voters should still show up and vote for a third-party candidate, even if that person has no shot at winning. At least it sends a middle-fingered message to the Dems and GOP.

 

[fskimospy]

I don't get the "I won't vote" mentality. Disillusioned voters should still show up and vote for a third-party candidate, even if that person has no shot at winning. At least it sends a middle-fingered message to the Dems and GOP.

I don't want to get into this again but voting at all, no matter the candidate, is an irrational activity. The real question isn't why they aren't voting, but why you are.

 

[dank69]

I don't get the "I won't vote" mentality. Disillusioned voters should still show up and vote for a third-party candidate, even if that person has no shot at winning. At least it sends a middle-fingered message to the Dems and GOP.

The winner cares that he won, the first loser cares that he lost and neither of them care about any of the other votes. You are basically giving the middle finger to a brick wall.

 

[woolfe9999]

I was surprised that at the moment, Santorum actually polls second best against Obama, and very close to Romney.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../general_election_santorum_vs_obama-2912.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_paul_vs_obama-1750.html

I suspect that when we get to the general election, if Santorum actually does win the nom, a lot of independents who are displeased with Obama but not following the GOP primary that closely will learn more about Santorum and the balance will shift more toward Obama than the present polls suggests. Still, only a 6.4% gap in favor of Obama is interesting.

- wolf

 

[fskimospy]

I was surprised that at the moment, Santorum actually polls second best against Obama, and very close to Romney.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../general_election_santorum_vs_obama-2912.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_paul_vs_obama-1750.html

I suspect that when we get to the general election, if Santorum actually does win the nom, a lot of independents who are displeased with Obama but not following the GOP primary that closely will learn more about Santorum and the balance will shift more toward Obama than the present polls suggests. Still, only a 6.4% gap in favor of Obama is interesting.

- wolf

Remember, Obama only beat McCain by 7% or so, and that was a pretty epic ass kicking. Hell, Clinton only beat Dole by 8.5% and I remember the Onion running gag headlines about Dole demanding a preemptive recount.

 

[hal2kilo]

I was surprised that at the moment, Santorum actually polls second best against Obama, and very close to Romney.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../general_election_santorum_vs_obama-2912.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep.../general_election_gingrich_vs_obama-1453.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_paul_vs_obama-1750.html

I suspect that when we get to the general election, if Santorum actually does win the nom, a lot of independents who are displeased with Obama but not following the GOP primary that closely will learn more about Santorum and the balance will shift more toward Obama than the present polls suggests. Still, only a 6.4% gap in favor of Obama is interesting.

- wolf

He will definately get hurt when it comes to the independent women's vote.

 

[woolfe9999]

Remember, Obama only beat McCain by 7% or so, and that was a pretty epic ass kicking. Hell, Clinton only beat Dole by 8.5% and I remember the Onion running gag headlines about Dole demanding a preemptive recount.

True, but a 6.4% advantage is narrow this far in advance of the actual election. If the aggregate polls show that kind of gap on, say, October 20, that will be a different story. To me, 6.4% at this stage is kind of scary as it suggests that he's in striking distance given the amount of time left. I have speculated that the gap could widen when we really get into the general election campaign. I hope I'm correct.

 

[fskimospy]

True, but a 6.4% advantage is narrow this far in advance of the actual election. If the aggregate polls show that kind of gap on, say, October 20, that will be a different story. To me, 6.4% at this stage is kind of scary as it suggests that he's in striking distance given the amount of time left. I have speculated that the gap could widen when we really get into the general election campaign. I hope I'm correct.

McCain was actually briefly leading in early September of 2008, but most people knew he never had a chance. The campaign hasn't even actually started yet, and Santorum is an opposition researcher's dream.

I wouldn't worry about it. If Santorum is the GOP's nominee it will be a slaughter.

 

[woolfe9999]

McCain was actually briefly leading in early September of 2008, but most people knew he never had a chance. The campaign hasn't even actually started yet, and Santorum is an opposition researcher's dream.

I wouldn't worry about it. If Santorum is the GOP's nominee it will be a slaughter.

You're probably right, but do you now think he has a chance of getting the nomination over Romney?