What percentage of voters vote for the candidate they think will win?

[moondust]

As opposed to the candidate they think will do the best job of running the country.

Any idea?

[Lucky Luciano]

1. My mother used to teach HS in NYC

and she was appalled when she overheard some of the teachers speaking of voting for a particular candidate because they thought he would win!!

There is a significant population that votes this way...a horrible thing...maybe that is why these preelection polls are so important - they can be very influential on numbskulls.

[moondust]

3. Teachers no less!

Now that's scary! I have the same feeling that some of these polls are trying to deliver the numbskulls assuming this kind of voting is widespread. Ugh.

[mimitabby]

2. it is hard for me to imagine

about as smart as faking orgasms.

[arbusto_baboso]

4. Americans see sports and politics in much the same light...

And unfortunately, "bandwagon" fans and "fairweather" fans in sports are endemic. I live in Southern California, and when the Lakers were winning their championships, you saw NOTHING but Lakers flags flying from every third car. Funny how the same proportion of people weren't fans during the playoffs when things were looking grim. I can't even begin to tell you how few Angels fanss there were the year they won the World Series, yet for years before I was VERRRRY lonely in my team preference!

So, I can definitely see many Americans being similarly stupid and shallow with the presidential election. After all, to most uninformed, underinformed or misinformed Americans, Republicans and Democrats are just different "teams", and it's better to root for the "winner".

[The River]

5. Exactly Right

It's a well known phenomenon called BIRG-ing;
"Basking In Reflected Glory". The "scientific" version
of "Everyone loves a winner" There is a reverse
phenomenon but I've forgotten the acronym. Basically it's that
People want to disassociate themselves from "losers".
All of the "Woe is us, woe is Kerry" threads, not to mention
all the negative poll posts, only reinforce the notion that
the Dem's are losers.
Where's your confidence people?
Bush IS unelectable. Period
Say it till you believe it.

[Lucky Luciano]

6. AGreed

I had this discussion with a friend a few months back about how it is like choosing teams...It is like two sides each singing "We WIll We Will Rock you..boom boom boom"

Then there are Freeper types that believe in their mantra because they are naturally very mean spirited vicious people, but most republicans and democrats identify themselves in their repsective ways out of habit and team/mob mentality.