General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Are there really people on DU who won't vote for the Democratic candidate if [View all]Xyzse
(8,217 posts)Truth of the matter is, there are only two realistic choices in the general election. The Democrat or Republican. A third party has a snowball's chance in hell in winning. Hence, to me a 3rd party is either equivalent to not voting, or a vote for whomever you don't want.
This is why the primaries are so important, since it is in the primaries that we get the closest to what we want.
In 08, I was so unhappy that it was Clinton and Obama who were the front runners for the Democratic nomination as there was no chance that I would vote for the Republican.
This year, even if Clinton is my last choice, I am still very happy with O'Malley, Clinton and Sanders as they are light years ahead of any one in the Republican field.
They don't even have a John Huntsman this time. The current Republican field is a boatload of crazy, and I will not be a part of allowing themselves to get legitimized by winning the Presidency. Whatever helps to avoid that, that is where I will go.
If one wants to have more progressive aspects in a candidate, then support the candidate that fits your view best during the primaries. Even if they don't win, they will then at least put the debate closer to your cause.