On what basis do you vote for a presidential candidate?

[nonconformist]

Health and Education matter to me most in the UK -- in general, I think our economy will do well under all three of our main political parties. Actually I sincerely doubt that any of them will have any major impact on the economy at all. The LibDems, however, would do the most damage to our economy, whereas the Tories would do the most damage to our... well... everything else. Labour don't seem so bad right now, if only they could stop being scandalous authoritarian hypocrites.

Strange, I always pegged you as an economic lefty.

As for me, I (would) vote on platform alone; Civil rights and public services are what I care about most, economics come secondary, so I could forsee myself voting for a Brownite Labour party, if they shape up.
Otherwise, I'm quite content supporting the Lib Dems.

 

[Virote_Considon]

I guess my vote will be going to Lib Dems, too. I just remember what happened to our econemy just over a dacade ago, when the Torries were in charge...*shudders*...And then over on the other side, the ONLY thing I like about Labor is how well the econemy does under them...

I guess what'd really make me happy is if there was a Hard-left party that doesn't focus on pointless racist attacks all the time. As far as I'm concerned, a couple of "Freedoms" I'd happily loose if it meant a better country on the whole. But alas, the right has been lost to the "Racists".

 

[Mise]

Strange, I always pegged you as an economic lefty.

Oh I am, I'm just not convinced that the Lib Dems have really thought things through. For example, their proposed changes to council tax will hit students and recent graduates (i.e. ME!!!) the hardest, since it means that I won't get any discounts to council tax for sharing a house with friends.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Meh. I couldn't care less how much tax I pay, so long as I still get enough money for everything I need (Gas, water, food, house), and some luxuries (Electricity, phone, internet).

 

[Bill3000]

I'd say positions toward science (I'm pretty much a technocrat in that respects), but there's no option for that, so I chose Health/Education, which probably is a close second.

 

[Till]

A mix of sound fiscal policy and stout support of civil rights matter the most for me. Not easy to find, unfortunately.

 

[mrtn]

I don't vote for presidents.

 

[Tycoon101]

I voted the first option because you didn't have an option about guns. If they try to enforce gun control then I'll refuse to follow them. There are Liberal Rupublicans and Coservative Democrats.

Let me have a gun and I won't bother you!

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

I'm all about economics. A strong nation needs a strong economy. If the canidate does not prioritize the economy it really hurts their standing with me.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I prefer Republicans, but I evaluate the person as a whole, party affiliation is not my end-all be-all. My candidate is strong-willed, unafraid to go to war to defend our country (but not a warmonger either), and someone who really believes what they say, not just trying to get someone ot like them, somone who is fair, just, and basically genuine. In short, someone like me.

 

[eyrei]

Mostly competence, and the candidate's party doesn't matter if they belong to one of the two major parties. There are few practical differences between republicans and democrats at the moment.

I voted for third party candidates for everything but president last election, provided there was one to choose. I have a hard time voting for republicans these days because the neocons scare me, but the democrats have a hard time putting forward good candidates. I voted for John Kerry only because Bush epitomizes incompetence and needed to be removed from office.

 

[GenMarshall]

A Canidate's Competence in office as well as sharing simmilar view points as I do.

If a canidate is Pro-choice, for same-gender marrages (I hold a libertarian view on same-gender marrages and any marrages should not be in the affairs of the Government), and other non-negotable issues. Then I wont vote for that guy.

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

For me its a myriad of issues (economy/defense/civil rights are always high) that I'd like say is completely objective, but it really comes down to a gut feeling. For President I've voted Republican 3 times and Democrat 2 times. Every vote for President has been a relatively easy pick, though I've always been disappointed that my primary pick hasn't ever won the primary.

Bush1 was easy because I liked Reagan.

Clinton was easy because I was disappointed in Bush1 for a myriad of reasons, especially his tax increase; and I didn't trust Perot, but then I was also very pro-NAFTA which Perot wasn't.

Clinton again was easy as our involvement in Bosnia really affected me: military might made to make the world better - it is the primary reason I stayed in the military, also liked his civil rights stances, and a Rep/Dem split between the branches seemed to be working great.

Bush in 2K was easy as Gore was ignoring the recession that had already started during the campaign and I read his book which was the easiest way to get me to vote against him; I actually did like his 'lock-box' talk, but thought bigger reform for SS was required, which we still don't have. Bush was a pro-immigration rights Republican that I thought would be fiscally conservative. (I just wish he still had the political clout to ram a good bill through for immigration.)

Bush in '04 was the easiest because I really didn't like anything about Kerry.

I've been disappointed EVERY time that my primary candidate lost. I really wanted Sen McCain in 2K and Sen Dean (though I think he would have been a far more conservative Democrat had he been nominated than he is now as an 'activist') in '04.