<p>I'm just curious what candidate you guys are supporting and why. Since most of us are in high school and can't vote, I'm just curious to hear who you're supporting, why, and if you're doing anything for his/her campaign.</p>
<p>We have a primary in January and everybody's already sick of the election.</p>
<p>Ron Paul. I agree with him on the biggest two issues in this election, federal spending and Iraq. With the enormous national debt, we need a candidate who will cut spending dramatically. I still have an open mind and recently listened to the Democratic debate on NPR but right now, Biden and Kucinich are the only Democrats that still interest me.</p>
<p>I can and will be voting. If today was Election Day and Paul wasn't on the ballot, I'd vote for the Libertarian Party candidate.</p>
<p>Koko</a> (gorilla) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>Koko the gorilla</p>
<p>as a protest vote because everyone on the list sucks (oh and I'm not forgiving colbert as he opted not to run as an independent)</p>
<p>I like Obama....he seems very down to earth. People say that it's bad that he doesn't have as much "political experience," but I think that is a good thing. Less political experiece=less corruption.</p>
<p>Hmmm, well I will be able to vote in my first election next year! Woohoo, exciting.</p>
<p>It is still kind of far away, so I haven't looked into the candidates <em>too</em> much, but on first impressions I'm wavering between Obama and Clinton.</p>
<p>I don't think another Republican will win though, because it seems there is a Stigma attached to the Republican party as a result of Bush and the "liberal media."</p>
<p>I honestly don't like most of the candidates so far.</p>
<p>I don't like the Republicans because they don't support gay marriage (a major issue for me).
Giuliani- MAYBE ok, not sure yet.
Obama- Again, maybe, but he seems almost too inexperienced.
Clinton- NO, more reasons then I want to explain right now!</p>
<p>Ron Paul</p>
<p>Everybody else is just a politician.</p>
<p>Mike Huckabee</p>
<p>Ron Paul--One of the first politicians in a long time with whom I share many political views.</p>
<p>Ron Paul-support most of his views except abortion
Giuliani-don't know what to make of him...did a good job after 9/11, I guess.
McCain-speaks Bush. Can't win. Not viable.
Hillary-um.....
Obama-inexperienced in politics, I like that.</p>
<p>I love how in the United States, you have to basically pick the presidential candidate that you DESPISE THE LEAST. Some democracy.</p>
<p>If I were voting, I'd vote for Alan Shore....</p>
<p>Obama is very personable but does anyone know how he's going to pay for his programs? His health plan costs almost as much as the USAF. I really don't like his policy on PayGo, because he says he won't abide by it for his major domestic policy agenda. That sounds a LOT like deficit spending to me.</p>
<p>You guys, its too early to commit</p>
<p>The fact is that these candidates will begin to flip-flop on their views as the game progresses in order to appease more voters</p>
<p>Let's see. Where to begin. I turned 18 in November (just in time to vote), so I've been examining the race closely. I'll start with the Republicans.</p>
<p>Ron Paul intrigued me when I first heard about his platform, but no longer does so. I know it's trendy to be a libertarian lately, but it's the kind of ideology that looks best on paper. Plus he's anti-choice, which is a strike against him. Plus there are some pretty nutty organizations supporting him, including that one that just got shut down for printing "Ron Paul dollars" to try and overthrow the US currency.</p>
<p>The media suckered me into thinking Giuliani was the "progressive Republican," but he infringed on some serious civil rights while he was mayor. That and his making tasteless and insensitive comments about torture to McCain (a torture survivor) rule him out for me.</p>
<p>Mitt Romney was a moderate while he was governor of Massechusetts, but now he's reversing his positions on key issues to appeal to the GOP's conservative base. I don't trust him.</p>
<p>Nohing to say on Fred Thompson. He's less of a politician, more of a TV personality.</p>
<p>That leaves McCain and Huckabee. I believe both are good men, but Huckabee is openly pandering to the Christian right, which upsets me. If I had to go vote in the Republican primary today, I'd vote for McCain. I disagree with him on most social issues, but I admire his integrity.</p>
<p>Now the Democrats. Since I lean left, this has been harder.</p>
<p>I'm a big Mike Gravel fan during the debates. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell, so I think I'll give up supporting him once I decide on Clinton, Obama, and Edwards.</p>
<p>I encounter lots of people who dislike Hillary Clinton, very few of whom are willing or able to articulate why. I don't know whether it's because of latent sexism or association with her husband or what, but when I look at her I see an intelligent, competent candidate, and I like her frim stance against the GOP, as opposed to Obama's conciliatory attirude. By that same token, though, nothing I've heard her say has really blown my mind.</p>
<p>I'd ruled Obama out until I watched one of his speeches (the one about the role of religion in government, in case anyone's curious). He's extremely articulate, intelligent, and charismatic, and his international background is a plus.</p>
<p>I like John Edwards for many of the same reasons as I like Obama. Of the three candidate's I feel like he's the one who's put the most emphasis on the poor in this country and ways to help them. I hope he places well in Iowa</p>
<p>I can find things I like about all three of the Democratic frontrunners. If I had to go out and vote today it'd probably be for Edwards, but I have to keep researching their platforms. Democracy is so time-consuming!</p>
<p>The Iowa caucus is in less than a month, Lucaskhan. It's not too early for anything.</p>
<p>I don't like Clinton because she contradicts herself way too many times (yes I know all politicians do this, but it just seems like she does more than average), among other reasons that I'll post later.</p>
<p>Dane, there are 11 long months in between the caucus and the general election.</p>
<p>Do you really think someone like John Edwards isn't going to change up some of his promises in order to grab additional moderate voters?</p>
<p>Are you familiar with how the primary process works? Candidates have to win their party's primary before they can run on the national level.</p>
<p>By February 5 ("Super Tuesday") it is usually clear who is going to be the nominee for what party. That means voters have about two months to research the candidates and decide whose platforms are sturdiest and who they'd like to run. After that, they have to live with their choice.</p>
<p>Hillary Clinton</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are you familiar with how the primary process works? Candidates have to win their party's primary before they can run on the national level.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And he is saying that candidates can still change their "views" in order to clean up more votes on the national level.</p>
<p>Ron Paul. He is libertarian, I am libertarian. Just don't like his abortion views, as someone else also said. Unfortunately for moi, I turn 18 3 months after the election...</p>