Doug Kerr
Well-known member
It is interesting to reflect on the Republican presidential primary season for the 2012 presidential election. What might influence the choice of an individual voter at a Republican primary election or caucus?
Consider first a person who assumes they will vote for the Republican candidate in the general election. In voting in a Republican primary election or caucus, that person might be motivated by one (or more) of these considerations:
a. To try to nominate the candidate who, if elected president, would have the most positive effect on the course of the nation overall.
b. To try to nominate the candidate who, if elected president, would have the most positive effect on the circumstances of the voter.
c. To try and nominate the candidate who has the best prospects of defeating the opposing candidate (presumably President Obama).
d. To try to nominate the candidate who most seems to fulfill the current criteria for "most genuine conservative". (Do not get me started on what "conservative" should perhaps really mean!)
Now consider a person who is most likely to vote for President Obama in the general election but who chooses to vote in a Republican primary election or caucus. (They would see no need to "waste" their vote in a Democratic primary or caucus, since it is assumed that President Obama will in any case be the nominee of the Republican Party.) That person might be motivated by one of these considerations (pretty much mutually-exclusive):
a. To try and nominate that candidate who, if elected (even though this voter would hope that such did not happen), would have the most positive effect on the course of the nation overall.
b. To try and nominate that candidate who, if elected (even though this voter would hope that such did not happen), would have the most positive effect on the circumstances of the voter.
c. To try and nominate the candidate who has the worst prospects of defeating the opposing candidate (presumably President Obama).
An interesting structure.
Best regards,
Doug
Consider first a person who assumes they will vote for the Republican candidate in the general election. In voting in a Republican primary election or caucus, that person might be motivated by one (or more) of these considerations:
a. To try to nominate the candidate who, if elected president, would have the most positive effect on the course of the nation overall.
b. To try to nominate the candidate who, if elected president, would have the most positive effect on the circumstances of the voter.
c. To try and nominate the candidate who has the best prospects of defeating the opposing candidate (presumably President Obama).
d. To try to nominate the candidate who most seems to fulfill the current criteria for "most genuine conservative". (Do not get me started on what "conservative" should perhaps really mean!)
Now consider a person who is most likely to vote for President Obama in the general election but who chooses to vote in a Republican primary election or caucus. (They would see no need to "waste" their vote in a Democratic primary or caucus, since it is assumed that President Obama will in any case be the nominee of the Republican Party.) That person might be motivated by one of these considerations (pretty much mutually-exclusive):
a. To try and nominate that candidate who, if elected (even though this voter would hope that such did not happen), would have the most positive effect on the course of the nation overall.
b. To try and nominate that candidate who, if elected (even though this voter would hope that such did not happen), would have the most positive effect on the circumstances of the voter.
c. To try and nominate the candidate who has the worst prospects of defeating the opposing candidate (presumably President Obama).
An interesting structure.
Best regards,
Doug