Why so many posts about 'I don't vote till 02/05, so my vote won't count'?

[sinkingfeeling]

Why do you say things like that? A primary is nothing but a way to get your state delegation to support a candidate. Lots of states do that by dividing up the delegates proportionally to the primary percentages.... if Obama gets 38% and Edwards gets 30% and Clinton gets 29% and all of the others account for 3% of the Democratic vote, then in a state with 100 delegates, 38 will support Obama, 30 will be for Edwards, etc. They go to the National Convention and cast their votes for their candidate. Now some states have a 'winner takes all' deal where the one with the highest primary vote gets all the delegates.

But what happens in Iowa or NH does not effect what your state delegation will do at the convention.

Edited to add instructive link on how delegates to the Democratic Convention are chosen and how they vote. Look at all 3 tabs.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/02/delegate.explainer/index.html

[LeftCoast]

1. Normally, by the time the primary election rolls around to my state everyone has dropped out.

This year my vote will actually matter. I find myself in the unexpected position of having to figure out who I want to vote for.

[aquart]

3. I HOPE there will still be a full slate.

I don't like "inevitability" in any candidate.

[leftynyc]

8. Same here

Which is why all this talk about this one or that one should drop out pisses me off. Nobody should do anything until after Super Tuesday. Then reassess. If it's close, let it continue on until someone has the delegates to win outright.

[HeraldSquare212]

2. And some states, like NY, award delegates by congressional district nt

[Roland99]

4. Herd mentality.

[TahitiNut]

5. In Michigan, your description doesn't apply.

:banghead:

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Because the DNC said they'd not sit the Michigan's delegates?

[TahitiNut]

7. Because they're candidly not honoring the voters, period.

(1) Some candidates removed their names form the ballot. (2) Some candidates tried to. (3) Most candidates refuse to campaign in Michigan. (That means they don't bring money to a state that needs it.) (4) Write-ins for candidates whose names were removed are DISALLOWED. (5) Hillary Clinton REMAINS on the ballot. (6) National Dems say Michigan delegates will be refused seats at the convention, but some claim they'll be admitted at the 11th hour. Nonetheless, they'd be given seat in the third balcony and merely accepted for their "me too" votes.

In the meantime, the GOP primary is full steam ahead.

Guess what impact that has on liberals in Michigan. :puke:

[blondeatlast]

9. Because too many good candidates have to opt out to soon for lack of money.

Our field seems very strong this year, but losing the two we lost last Tuesday makes our field a good bit weaker, IMHO.

We still kick the RRR's asses, but Biden and Gravel brought important issues to the fore that now will be ignored for the most part.