What is your process for selecting a presidential candidate?

[30abob]

Try this - Select a Candidate Quiz 2008

Probably one of the least scientific "tests" I've ever completed. Eleven questions to pick the leader of the free world based on the "what flavor ice cream I like" model.

No big surprises here! Top pick went to Ron Paul... we're alike on all but three issues, I guess I'm now certifiable. I'm not surprised at the bottom three either; the three democratic front runners are in a dead heat - just like in Iowa.

SJ - as for your original question:
I think I have spent more time this go around than ever before. I can't boil it down to a 1-2-3 scenario. But I certainly don't think it's as easy as answering a few "hot button" questions. As for research, in the beginning I just looked at the front runners' in each party - the ones the media was covering. After 4.6 minutes I realized there wasn't much "gold in them hills", so I went to each party's website to see who else was there. I looked at each of the remaining candidate's websites and saw that I had several key issues (for me) in common with Ron Paul. I have felt more Libertarian than Republican for the past several years and the last time I rooted for a Dem was in 76' when I was 7 (I grew up 15 miles from Plains and spent my Saturday afternoons with my Dad at Billy Carter's gas station). As Libertarian sympathizer I didn't really expect to find ANYONE!

I also watched a lot of YouTube clips of the candidates, from debates and sound bites, and found the more I watched Ron Paul the more he made sense... to me. The FREEDOM/LIBERTY message is very appealing to me. IF Hell freezes over and he gets elected I'm not real optimistic about him accomplishing everything in his "cost/department cutting" plan, but I do think he'll get out of Iraq faster than anyone else.

 

[Smiling JOe]

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

 

[DuneAHH]

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

Why bother at this point? After the conventions, people who have spent months slandering one another will kiss, make up, and team up.

 

[DuneAHH]

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

Why bother at this point? After the conventions, people who have spent months slandering one another will kiss, make up, and team up.

And then I'll change my mind about 1 of them. ;-)

 

[florida girl]

Here's a site I found informative, http://www.votehelp.org/.

 

[JUL]

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

YES...

 

[Andy A]

I usually wait until after the conventions. It really narrows it down.

AMEN, Miss Kitty! Your arrow hits dead center once again!!!

 

[wrobert]

AMEN, Miss Kitty! Your arrow hits dead center once again!!!

Waiting does reduce it to the choices that the involved minority wish to have. But I do not think that is a good thing.

 

[hnooe]

30abob, we might be cousins. lol.

Do any of you consider the candidate's potential based on the rumors of who might run as VP with them?

In 2008--absoultely, look at how much political control and influence Cheney now wields over Jr....

As far as I am concerned, the answer is YES--example: I like Obama, but his lack of foreign policy experience would ordinarily rule him out for me. Now, if he were to get a Chris Dodd or Joe Biden to be his running mate, I would feel more comfortable with Obama as far as a balanced ticket....

 

[Smiling JOe]

Wouldn't it be interesting if a Presidential Party Nominee had to select a VP from a Party other than his or her own, in order to provide some balance? However, that might also draw more assassination attempts.