[kesg]

That voter has left the party. If someone leaves the party the best you can hope for is that he stays home or votes 3rd party. Would you rather him vote for the Democrats?

I would rather him vote Republican, thus helping to defeat the Democrat. Is this a trick question?

[Lexinom]

You're begging the question. Jeff's premise is that they have left the party for some reason or other. They owe it no allegiance.

If I might make so bold, I believe his broader point is that the party needs to stand strong and minimize such defections.

[JeffAtlanta]

I would rather him vote Republican, thus helping to defeat the Democrat. Is this a trick question?

Apparently for you it is. The person has left the party - he's gone - he isn't voting Republican anymore.

If a person votes 3rd party in a close race, that should tell you that he had no intention of supporting either the democrat or the republican and did not care who won between the two.