I have confession.

[TNNurse]

I voted in a Republican primary today. Before you judge, please let me explain. I live in deep red East Tennessee. There was a judge, road supervisor and county commissioners at stake. If I had voted in the Democratic primary, I would not have had a vote. There were only two candidates running and they were commissioners but not in my district, no judge, no road commissioner.

In my defense I did two other things. When the ladies in front of me asked the worker a question about the ballot she answered very badly. There was one general election choice and two primaries. The general election choice was a tax. The worker said " you have to choose one, general, Republican or Democrat" and the ladies looked confused and concerned. They clearly wanted to vote for the tax and in the Republican primary for their town. (This is early voting so we were at the courthouse not at our local polling place). I spoke up (and I was kind of loud) and corrected her and said "They can vote in the general election and one of the primaries, isn't that right?" She said "Well, yes" and gave me a mean look. I suspect because I was doing her job better than she was, but they relaxed and moved forward.

When the register person asked me which primary, I answered "unfortunately, Republican". It made me feel a little better.

You just have to pick your battles.

[jwirr]

1. Did that in Iowa many times. When you live in a state like that and have no voice you do what you

have to.

When I was working in George McGovern's campaign the rethugs would come up to harass us and tell how they were registered Democrats I would smile and say "That is good. I am a registered Rethug working for McGovern." And I was.

[elleng]

2. You did the right thing(s.)

Thanks

[merrily]

3. Nothing wrong with strategic primary voting.

I'd have to change my voter registration in order to vote in a Republican primary.

Otherwise, I could vote for the Republican who I thought least evil of the field. That way, if the Democrat lost the general, I'd end up (in theory) with the best possible Republican in my eyes, however cold comfort that might be.

Or, I could vote in the Republican primary for the Republican I thought least likely to beat the Democrat in the general.

Either way, I'd vote Democratic in the general, of course, even if I were sure he or she would lose. Easy for me to say: I've always lived in blue districts in blue states.

[TexasProgresive]

4. In Texas we don't register a party as such

When you vote in a primary they stamp your registration card with the party of the primary. I hate to see that republican on my card. But as others have said, you do what you gotta do.

[classof56]

5. You did good!

Molly would be proud.

[TNNurse]

6. What a nice thing to say.

I watched her on YouTube the other night. It was wonderful and sad.