Next round of primaries and making my own choice

[hsapiens]

If you live in a Super Tuesday state and haven't already voted: please don't forget to go and vote!

For the first time since I started voting at age 18, I might cast a presidential ballot that counts -- assuming that the Democratic party primaries go as expected today. I might have to choose between Hillary and Obama. Since neither lines up more directly than the other with my politics, I'll probably end up choosing based solely on electability.

For now, I think Obama is more electable. He seems to wear well with the electorate (the more time he can spend with a group of voters, the more his poll numbers go up) and he doesn't inspire the rabid, frothing-at-the-mouth opposition that Hillary does. It annoys me greatly that the latter is a concern but I'm nervous about running Hillary. I really, really, really don't want another round of Republican presidents, their Supreme Court nominees, their judges, their handling of the economy, their profligate spending and graft, or their flavor of foreign policy.

Happily the Democrats have an amazing wealth of talent. I'd have preferred to vote closer to my morals and had the chance to vote for Kucinich but he has withdrawn. I think Obama would make an excellent Democratic president so, as much as it annoys me that I have to consider the unreasoning and unrelenting hate of the talk radio/right winger branch of the opposition in my vote, it isn't as if I'm having to choose someone I have serious reservations about.

I know a lot of people said they were turned off by the way the two campaigns went at each others' throats in South Carolina but I'm one of those voters who wants to see some toughness in a candidate. I don't ever want to send out a candidate against the Republican machine who refuses to fight or correct gross mischaracterizations. I *liked* seeing Obama stand up for himself. He challenged the much liked former president when he got it wrong. I don't want another guy who will stand for president rather than run. I don't want another Swiftboat election.

I'm still livid at Bill Clinton for injecting race as an issue -- and incredibly disappointed in him -- but I'm glad Obama got the chance to show me the stuff he's made of as a candidate.

Comments

[tejas.livejournal.com]

To be honest, given Bill Clinton's political genius, ya gotta wonder if that was calculated. Not quite sure what his motive might be, except that he might not think Hillary Clinton is electable in the grand scheme of things.

Or he just screwed up. ;-)

I, too, would have preferred Kucinich or at least Edwards. Clinton and Obama are both far to conservative for my tastes, but I could vote for either one without feeling like I'm grossly violating my principles.

Of the two, I'd rather see Clinton stay in the Senate... and I agree with you on her electability. I fear Rethugs who might stay home if Obama was our candidate might move heaven and earth to get to the polls to vote against Clinton.

[superbadgirl]

I usually end up hating both of the final "big two" candidates by the end of any given campaign, regardless of party.

But I'm moving to Canada for real this time if my fellow contemporary yokels elect Huckabee (if he ends up being the Rep. candidate, that is).

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Huckabee won in the West Virginia convention.

I'm almost sorry he doesn't stand a chance of getting the Republican nomination because his being on their side of the ballot would mean we could run Jiminy Cricket and win. ;-):-)

[juneprota.livejournal.com]

YAY OBAMA!!!!!

[roundrockronin.livejournal.com]

Have you had a look at Ron Paul, seriously? Yes, I am biased, but he his certainly very different from the other Republicans that are running.

[memento1.livejournal.com]

I voted Hillary. Whatever. I like her policies. I like her. But I'm not adverse to Obama. Personally, I'd love to see a Clinton/Obama ticket, either way.

And I totally missed out on this Bill and racism issue, whatever it is, and I'm glad I did.