The time for "sending a message" has past. I will support John McCain with all I have to give. It is not because I have even one ounce of admiration for John McCain. It is because I have tons of despise for socialists/democrats.
My desire to see socialists/democrats/moonbats crushed far outweighs any principles I have where McCain is concerned. I cannot do anything to stop McCain, so I may as well use him to support my most important passion.
I understand what you're saying but McCain already has the nomination wrapped up. This is the one time no one can argue that voting to "send a message" isn't something that would change the outcome.
If I vote for Keyes, they could just take that as a Keyes supporter, which given the field and if it were a close race, he's about the best of the lot. If I vote No Preference, then that might send a signal that I don't really care, and that's not true. I'm leaning towards leaving that whole area blank.
It'll be interesting to see the voting difference between the other Republican offices and who voted for president. For instance, Elizabeth Dole is running against Pete Di Lauro for the Republican nomination for US Senate. Dole will win, but the total number of votes they receive compared to the total number of votes in the "Presidental Preference" race might be significantly different.
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that would be an interesting vote to count - how many people refuse to declare their candidate, or just vote 'other' ...? the down ticket candidates are not as affected and that may be a huge part of the population voting this way. how would we know?
but i have one question and one comment for ya..
do you really like Alan Keyes? Cause he comes across as somewhat hysterical and holier than though at times. I did see him at the 92 GOP Convention in Dallas and I did like him then; since then, he just seems like a cartoon who isnt really all that interested in being president.. he never shows up to debate anyone, doesnt put out ads or even make his voice heard. and when he does go out there and speak, he sounds kind of crazy. i'm curious to know, cause we agree on a lot.. so, that's a sincere question.
and my comment is; i thought voting for Nader would send a message as well, but it was absolutely the wrong person to vote for - he keeps coming back and just wasting people's time and money. his ideas were timely in the 60s and 70s; he definitely brought some safety issues to the fore and he walks the walk, or he used to (I really have no idea about his lifestyle now) but he threatens to split the party in almost every presidential race and it wouldnt even be that he needed many votes. if he gets 1 percent, that could throw the whole thing to the Dems.. cause we now know, this country is divided right down the middle. our elections are very tight. so give it some thought..