Honesty time!
 

This is a quick poll to help expound on a deeper question.

When you vote...are you truly voting for YOUR candidate?

OR...are you voting AGAINST the opposition?

I hear more and more people telling me what they don't like in each other's candidates and parties, without revealing what they like about theirs. So when you hit the polling places, are you voting FOR someone in particular? Or, are you just trying to keep the other side out.


I realize that in this information age we get far too much info on these candidates; but.... DAMN!...will there ever be another candidate that we can have some true confidence in? Not just more confidence than with the rival?

Cynically yours,

Sticky

It really depends on how cynical you are I suppose. We tend not to think that somone can do good, even if they're our guy, but at the same time we believe that not only does the other guy have bad intentions, but also the capacity to actually cause bad things to happen.

I vote for my candidate because when I vote I go for the guy who has more positive things to offer this country.

Hmmm

About 50/50 on the poll and that is how I have been voting lately too.


This presidential election will definitely be the lesser of two evils.

I'm a registered independant and no candidate ever represents all my beliefs. However some beliefs trump others and certain candidates are downright evil.

I vote against.

ditto.

i dont like any candidates for president ive ever looked into sufficiently. so yeah, i vote against.

Both actually.

Sometimes I'll vote for the candidate because I completely support him/her. Yet, just as often, I'll vote for a candidate, not so much out of support, but because I am vehemently against the opposition.

Agreed. I voted 'yes' in this instance, but if there had been a "a little from column A, a little from column B" option, I would have picked that instead.

Depends on how big the difference in quality between the two candidates is.

I'll likely think Bush to be significantly better than the dem, and thus vote against the dem. But otherwise, I'd vote for the libertarian (or whatever third party candidate seems best).

edit: Actually, there may yet be the possibility that I'll consider Bush to be the best candidate, and not just the best major candidate. I don't like the Libertarian stance on the war in Iraq or on abortion.

I'd rather define myself with what I am for, than with what I am against.

It depends on the election. In local elections i always vote for my candidate, while in national elections i am generally more inclined to vote against the other candidate.
Just like the framers of the constitution intended.;)

I will be a first time voter this year, and I've got to say that I will probably be voting for my candidate (whoever it is) because of both reasons. Now, I do realize that seems like a cop out answer, but it's mostly the truth. I do have some issues with some of the Democrate candidates at this point, but would definitely vote for Clark/Dean/Edwards/Kerry (probably in that order) before Bush any day. I see very little good Bush is doing for this country, and any new face in the White House would be so much better for the nation at this point.

So yes, I'd be voting for both possible motives you have stated.

Generally speaking, I vote for MY candidate. On occation, I have voted against someone rather that for someone, but it is rare. I recently voted for someone who I wanted out of office, because the individual who was of my party was a complete joke, so I guess I won't vote for someone just because I dislike their opponent. Whomever I vote for needs to be qualified, just in case they do win.

Good question. I would like to think that I tend to vote for my candidate, but I admit there are times (present elections included) my vote will be a vote against.

I always vote for my candidate in primaries. As for the general election...

i always vote for my candidate, unless its a 3rd party, because thats probably just a wasted vote

This time I say remember ABBA....

Anyone But Bush Again!

Cuz yes, It will change to entire future of the USA and the World.

It has been a while since I felt any connection to a candidate. Most of the time, it is the lesser of two evils that I have to try and cope with, so it is unfortunitly the second.

I wish I had a candidate to believe in again. I miss Ronnie....

I would like to be able to vote FOR someone someday. As it stands, every time I vote, I vote against somebody.

This seems to be the way it works for me too! It's a shame you really have to look for the lesser of two evils instead of voting for who you think would do the best job.