Do endorsements matter?

[dsa]

i've seen lots of threads about such and such a politician is endorsing one of the presidential candidates. do these endorsements have any influence over you or not?

i personally don't pay any attention to them and they have no effect on who i plan to support.

what about you?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. often, they have the reverse effect.

say that Tom DeLay endorses someone. I automatically know that I want nothing to do with that person.

[ccpup]

2. on the other hand,

in close knit communities, if a trusted and admired lawmaker/Senator/etc. throws their support behind someone, it may be easier to trust that person's judgment and take a second look.

[robcon]

3. It's rarely the endorsements themselves.

It's the effect of the endorsements on funds. There is an inevitability of a candidate that "seems" to happen when they line up important endorsements.

Big-time money will follow winners, or apparent winners, for the most part. Fortunately grass-roots money, e.g. from the internet, is not as affected by endorsements.

[MrSlayer]

4. Not to me personally but they mean a lot to the candidates.

An organization that endorses you ensures you that all of their people on the ground on election day will be out pushing for you. Unions, Churches and so on and so forth.

[primative1]

5. I think that they do ...

In the case of candidates I am unsure of or unfamiliar with, I would be more likely to support them with the endorsement of someone I trust than without .... Endorsements are kind of like job recommendations .... Not necessarily a deal sealer but necessary just the same.

[Inspired]

6. They didn't seem to help Dean.

He had 2 great endorsements that come to mind. Gore and my own Senator Tom Harkin. These endorsements didn't help him at all in Iowa.

Former Governor Vilsack's endorsement of Clinton hasn't helped her in Iowa. If she does well, it will be on her own merits. In fact, I think this endorsement hurt a little with progressives in Iowa. And it hurt Vilsack's credibility.

[nevergiveup]

7. Unfortunately

endorsements often times speak to who the particular person thinks is going to win rather than who they think might be the best candidate for the job. Everyone wants to be with a winner. I think this is what we are seeing with Hillary at the moment and it does add to the "bandwagon" aspect which obviously helps a candidacy. There is a problem in primary endorsements, however, because who you think will win the primary doesn't necessarily mean zilch in terms of the main election. I really admire those having the guts to endorse Edwards or Obama. Either of these men have a better shot nationally and I think many of those who are endorsing Hillary know it and this is what makes it discouraging. This is just my opinion for what it is worth.

[BOSSHOG]

8. At the local level - yes AND WELCOME TO DU DSA

We will be having an election this summer for County Sheriff. Two of my neighbors whom I enjoy a good relationship with are backing two different candidates for that post (8 candidates are running.) I'm weighing their arguments and I value their thoughts. On the national stage I would be effected in an opposite way. If a right wing lunatic endorsed anyone, I'd know to cross that person off my list but for a national post I'm not often swayed to vote FOR anyone based on an endorsement.