Are you going to vote in the November 2008 election no matter who wins the Republican primary?

[cradle of freedom]

I would like to know if you are going to vote in the November 2008 election even if your candidate does not win. Will you stay home if you don't like the Republican candidate?

Another thing that I have often wondered about is whether people actually stay home when they are disheartened. News commentators often say that some voters may have decided to stay home because they were not happy with the candidates. I think that is a mistake because even if you do not like the person at the top of the ticket you should at least vote for the other candidates. Have you every actually stayed home and not gone to the polls at all because you were not happy with a candidate?

[saveliberty]

How do you help your candidate when you won’t be as reliable as he?

[torchthemummy]

Living in the People’s Republic of California, I don’t think it matters if I vote for the ‘pubblie or not. This degraded state’s electoral votes are gonna go to the ‘crat no matter what I do on election day.

While I sympathize with your predicament, I'll just remind you of one fact: 36 days.

It was the Florida mess and Gore's attempt to hijack the election by-any-means-necessary that was all fueled by the argument, "Gore won the popular vote, he has a moral obligation to fight on" Electoral College be damned. This was a sentiment that was conveniently forgotten when Kerry came fairly close EC-wise but lost decisively popular vote-wise.

Bottomline: Every vote counts - maybe not as much as one would want but the feeling is mutual for any voter that resides in a state that goes the opposite way or, like yourself, is pretty much guaranteed to go the "wrong" way.

[TheThirdRuffian]

No, I will not support a RINO (Rudy or Romney).

I will stay home or vote third party.

[ArmyTeach]

I will vote and it will be Republican. If I have reservations or complaints about the new Republican administration, they will hear from me, loud and clear.

[television is just wrong]

darn straight on that idea.

[baiamonte]

I would vote for a semi-trained monkey if that is what it takes to keep Hillary or Osama out.

[Brilliant]

OK. I get it. You’re going to vote for someone who you agree with on abortion and gun control. But you obviously don’t give a damn about preserving the capitalist system.

I see that in a lot of conservatives these days. They believe in social conservatism, but not economic conservatism.

[upchuck]

Most of the posters this reply is directed to have written something like, “Yes even if I have to write a name in.” or “If Rudy wins the nomination, I will not just stay home. I will vote AGAINST him.”

Considering that a vote for any candidate other than the Republican or the Democrat (and for purposes of this thread I guess we’re assuming that will be The Hildabeaste), I am genuinely interested in knowing how you come to these conclusions.

[skully]

I will vote in the 2008 election probably for the GOP candidate, because I don’t want Hillary. If she’s not the Dem’s nominee, then I could possibly abstain from that race; if I don’t like the GOP nominee. I currently don’t support any candidate, but have to February 5 to make up my mind. Besides McCain, I could vote for any of the top tier GOP candidates.

[saveliberty]

Well said.

[G8 Diplomat]

Look, I’d only vote for him in the interest of stopping Hillary. While both are bad, Rudy’s the lesser of two evils...although not by much. I was on the fence with this before, but if Hillary gets the nomination she’s gotta be stopped.

But, why don’t we all just work our asses off for Fred’s and Duncan’s campaigns and vote for REAL conservatives in the primaries so we won’t have to worry about Rudy getting nominated?

[Paperdoll]

Make sense, would you? How am I not reliable please? I have not changed my tune and will not change it - you can bet on it.

[Faith-Hope]

I thought Huckabee was a friend of the Freeper’s. He came and played for the Freeper’s when everyone was in Washington for Bush’s first Inauguration I think I remember that everyone thought he was a really good guy at that time and a lot of fun. Maybe my memory is wrong.

[Beagle8U]

ditto

[kjam22]

It doesn’t matter for me. I’m in one of the very reddest states in the country. I may stay home just so I can say that I didn’t vote for Rudy.

[BlueAngel]

Yep, I will vote for whoever is running against HRC. The thought of that couple in the White House once more, is unbearable.

[roamer_1]

They believe in social conservatism, but not economic conservatism.

You can't have one without the other.

[penowa]

I have never stayed home before. I’ve always held my nose and voted for Bush I the 2nd time, or for Bob Dole, etc. This time if the nominee is Rudy or McCain, I will NOT vote for the Republican candidate. If it is one of the others, I may be able to hold my nose again and unenthusiastically vote for whoever although I don’t see any of the non-conservatives beating Hillary regardless. If Rudy or McCain wins the nomination, I will either stay home or vote 3rd party as I am not nearly as afraid of Hillary as I am of conservatives losing the Republican party.

[saveliberty]

Because if Duncan Hunter were needed for a crucial vote, he would be there. He would be gracious and we could rely on him.

This is why he is a good candidate. If he wins the nomination (it is a long shot at this point, but it’s early enough), he needs your help for us to not focus on the negatives of other candidates, but on his positives.

[G8 Diplomat]

I am genuinely interested in knowing how you come to these conclusions.

Well who said we HAVE to vote for the nominee? That's why there's a write-in slot. I think whoever said they'd write a name in meant they'd write in someone like Fred or Hunter (a REAL conservative) if Rudy wins the primaries. But if you've read any of my further posts you'll see I had a change of opinion on this whole "to vote or not to vote" thing.