Would you switch party's?

[oldman420]

If you found that a candidate in the opposite party that more closely matched your views would you vote for them anyway?

 

[dguy6789]

But of course. The candidate running is more important than the party itself. If one person has views you agree with more than another person, you should not allow the party to get in the way.

 

[Moonbeam]

I could not find a candidate in the opposing party why would think anything at all like me. I can't even find one on the side that thinks more like me. The label is not really important but reality precludes people who think like me being voted for in general.

 

[oldman420]

I answered unsure as I am unaffiliated.

 

[nageov3t]

the only time I've ever voted a straight ticket (all D's) was in the last election... whatever disagreements I may have had with some politicians seemed to pale in comparison to the importance of getting the republicans the f out of congress.

 

[piasabird]

They would have to vote traditionalist, support the troops, and be willing to stand against abortion, and be willing to defend our southern border. Many Democrats claim to be centrists, but then they vote liberal or straight along the Democratic party line. I see no originality from politicians these days

 

[Sinsear]

Yes I would, and have done so in the past.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: oldman420
I answered unsure as I am unaffiliated.

This should really be it's own poll choice.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
People actually adhere to political party?

Seriously.

I look at all candidates and evaluate them based on their platform and past merits/demerits.

 

[TheRyuu]

I can think of one. His name is Giuliani, and no I wouldn't vote for him, just like I never voted for him while he was mayor (and how I still hate him).

k?

 

[Fern]

I don't think I've ever voted a straight ticket. So I put up a "yes" on your poll.

I think a lot of voters are that way (crossing party lines), they're called "swing voters" IIRC.

I take your statement "more closely matched your views" to mean that their stance on the issues more closely matches mine. But an article in this Sundays newspaper discussed a big poll that found only minority (about 33%) of voters focus on the issues when voting for candidates, the majority (over 50%) care more character issues (honesty, integrity, leadership etc).

I don't really understand that, I look at issues first, character second. If (s)he holds the same veiws I'm not sure I really that much if they cheated on their spouse or smoked pot etc.

Fern

 

[ericlp]

Hmmm, relise that the majority of the votes are the none voters... So, it's kind of hard to switch party's if there are only TWO running. America doesn't want you thinking too much.


Paper or Plastic, witch is it?

 

[Craig234]

IMO, we're at a point where the GOP is all about the wealthy and powerful interests at the expense of other Americans. Even GOP members of congress are pressured greatly to 'stick to the party line' on votes to get money for their re-election (as are democrats, but with a different agenda).

So, I think that the party determines most of what you get today. The days of just 'voting for the person' are long gone IMO. But some people still fall for that, in fact one of the main roles of the candidate is to get the votes and keep the party agenda out of the election as much as needed. Compassionate conservative, indeed.

The situation today means the only sensible vote is by party, with rare exception.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: oldman420
If you found that a candidate in the opposite party that more closely matched your views would you vote for them anyway?

Yes.
Chuck Hagel.

 

[ProfJohn]

I saw a ranking of Senators running for reelection in 2008. It listed them from most liberal to least liberal, according to their scores by a liberal benchmark group. According to the list even the most conservative of Democrats is still more liberal than the most liberal Republican.

The point is that even though someone like a James Webb may look like a very conservative Democrat and vote the ?right? way on a lot of issues, overall he is still going to be more liberal than nearly any Republican in his position.

So why it may make sense to vote for someone from the other party because they share a lot of your views, what you may end up getting in the end is someone who supports a few of your key issues, but who goes against your overall philosophy.

I don?t think those of us who lean strongly to the right or left would ever find a candidate from the other party who would share enough of our values to vote for them. But if you are closer to the ?middle? then I can see you voting against your normal patterns.

 

[daveshel]

No, but I might switch parties.

 

[1EZduzit]

I already switched from the R's to the D's so I could vote in the Dem primaries. I'm sure someday I will switch back to the R's for the same reason.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: daveshel
No, but I might switch parties.

Thank you.

:beer:

 

[DaveSimmons]

I don't belong to either party and regularly vote for candidates in each.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: oldman420
If you found that a candidate in the opposite party that more closely matched your views would you vote for them anyway?

Yes.
Chuck Hagel.

He would be one of my picks as well, but the rest of the party kind of has to change as well. It's hard to want to be a Republican when you have the likes of Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter as your spokesmen.

I don't really have much driving me to be a Democrat other than thinking the last six years of Republicans have been crap.

 

[Brainonska511]

I don't vote on party line. If I candidate "A" supports my views more so than candidate "B", I'll vote for "A," with no regards to what party they are from.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Absolutely. If Zell Miller had decided to run for an office I could vote for I would have voted for him without hesitation. If you ever get a chance to read his book, check it out. (National Party No More)

 

[daniel49]

No , but have voted for members of the other party.
One has to also look at the platform of said party candidate is running on.

 

[Cerb]

Bad poll. Your choices assume a person has a party to begin with (IE, there needs to be two separate "no" answers, or removal of the part after the comma). To be more specific: I fina all parties to be opposing parties.

 

[ntdz]

I might vote for a different party in that one election (I could vote for Lieberman), sure. But I'm not going to "switch parties" if the other party has less views in common with me as my current party.