How many people vote for the person who is "ahead in the polls" anyway?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

Are there a significant amount of mindless lemmings who will vote as if its a popularity contest dictated by the media?

[Norbert]

1. Yes.

There is a certain segmant of people who will vote for the frontrunne,r no matter who it is, just to say they voted for the winnner of the election.

I think this is what made the McGovern defeat worse than it really was.

[DebJ]

2. Yes, some. But others don't bother to vote if their

candidate is ahead, especially by what they perceive as a comfortable margin. They interpret this as 'not necessary' to bother to vote.

[rfranklin]

5. Yes, Bush has an insurmountable lead!

So, no need for Bush supporters to go to the polls on November 4th.

[HFishbine]

6. Cuts both ways

I'm sure there are some voters who are only marginally inclined to vote. For them, a candidate down in the polls is just not enough reason to get off the couch.

[davhill]

3. A lot of people

Want to feel they are on the winning side even if their convictions put them in the opposition. Politics like War is largely a team sport and the voters are spectators who want to be seen as cheering for the right side. When Democrats decided to get into a macho chest beating thing as to who is the mightiest warrior instead of who could be the wisest leader they forfeited their distinction from the the opposition.

[Zynx]

4. My parents have only voted for one winner in 8 elections.

That was in 1988 when they voted for George H.W. Bush. They are voting for Kerry this time, so their voting record makes me nervous about our own chances. ;-)

[leetrisck]

7. A lot - they like to say they voted for the winner

I absolutely know people who voted one way and if their candidate lost would say they voted for the winner. Strange indeed.