# Will you vote for Santorum just to mess with Romney's numbers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501 "2012-03-02T00:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/1 "2012-03-02T00:14:26Z")
Think about your answer and wait for the poll to appear. Your call is very important to us and will be answered in the order received… ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/2 "2012-03-02T01:15:42Z")
I said no because it won’t make a difference but the real answer is more varied than that. I also don’t wish to pass on voting in my Democratic congressional primary just to toss a vote at Santorum. I admit it may not be keeping with everyone’s spirit of voting but I don’t think it’s “wrong” either. Each qualified person gets one vote to do whatever they want with. Vote, don’t vote, vote in some bizarre manner, write in “Lizard People”, whatever. Passing judgment on how people use their vote seems worse than trying to assume some ideal. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/3 "2012-03-02T01:16:12Z")
I voted for Gary Johnson to mess with both their numbers. ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/4 "2012-03-02T01:24:29Z")
What if your state already had its primary _and_ you think it’s wrong and immature? I don’t think it’s immature, though, more just dishonest. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/5 "2012-03-02T01:46:22Z")
I don’t think the California Republican primary is open, even if there is still a battle when they get to us. But I might - if it is good enough for Mitt to do, it is good enough for me! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/6 "2012-03-02T10:27:28Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/7 "2012-03-02T15:30:50Z")
We don’t have open primaries in DC and the primary vote is what matters for most local office so I wouldn’t want to change my affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/8 "2012-03-02T15:32:32Z")
Where’s the option “No - I’m one of Romney’s supporters”? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/9 "2012-03-02T15:33:42Z")
My state already had its primary, and I voted for Santorum just to mess with Romney’s numbers. I also turned my mom and wife out to vote for Santorum as well. Michigan voter here. So how should I vote in your poll? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/10 "2012-03-02T15:38:08Z")
Then vote “Yes, you bet!” ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/11 "2012-03-02T15:58:20Z")
When we know what Romney would do. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqCeJQgYZnY&t=0m30s) ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/12 "2012-03-02T16:06:43Z")
I am too chicken to vote for Santorum. I want President Obama to be re-elected but I am going to vote for Romney in the primary because if the Republicans take back the White House I’d rather have him than Santorum. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/13 "2012-03-02T16:13:22Z")
This poll only for democrats? How many states have open primaries? In mine you can only vote in the primary for the party you are registered for. By the time it comes around the point will probably be moot anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/14 "2012-03-02T16:17:05Z")
> [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > I am too chicken to vote for Santorum. I want President Obama to be re-elected but I am going to vote for Romney in the primary because if the Republicans take back the White House I’d rather have him than Santorum. Probably not voting in the primary; if I were, I would vote in the Democratic primary; if I were to cross over and vote Republican, I would vote for Romney for this reason. Or possibly for Paul because I actually support him on some of his issues (while thinking he’s dangerously wrong on others). ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/15 "2012-03-02T16:42:02Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Probably not voting in the primary; if I were, I would vote in the Democratic primary; if I were to cross over and vote Republican, I would vote for Romney for this reason. Or possibly for Paul because I actually support him on some of his issues (while thinking he’s dangerously wrong on others). I am a Democrat and that is exactly what I am doing. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/16 "2012-03-02T17:05:58Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > My state already had its primary, and I voted for Santorum just to mess with Romney’s numbers. I also turned my mom and wife out to vote for Santorum as well. Michigan voter here. > > So how should I vote in your poll? **Happy** , were you influenced by Tony Trupiano, or somebody else, or was it your own idea? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/17 "2012-03-02T17:10:30Z")
I’d be likely to do it, since we have an open primary and there are no important races on the Democratic ballot that I’m aware of. And I don’t have any ethical qualms about it. Why will I probably not bother? Santorum’s already got quite a sizeable lead in the polls here. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/18 "2012-03-02T17:13:50Z")
I don’t listen to Tony (had to actually Google him to see who he was). It was my own doing. I figured Santorum had the best chance at beating Romney; voting for anyone else on the ticket would’ve been essentially a worthless-- or a “message”-- vote. I wanted to see Romney further weakened by losing to an even weaker candidate. But basically I just wanted to take a page out of the Rush Handbook of Electoral Politics. Although, thinking back, it ultimately didn’t really work so well for Rush’s followers either when he first promoted it in 2008’s Hillary-Barack duel. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/19 "2012-03-02T17:20:18Z")
I will go to the polls to specifically vote against Santorium, because he scares the willies out of me and if the Middle East blows up, gas prices go to $10.00 a gallon, the Euro collapses and takes the stock market with it, he might actually get elected. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501/20 "2012-03-02T18:04:57Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > But basically I just wanted to take a page out of the Rush Handbook of Electoral Politics. Although, thinking back, it ultimately didn’t really work so well for Rush’s followers either when he first promoted it in 2008’s Hillary-Barack duel. Yeah, it only really works if a state is on the cusp, just to give one person bragging rights for winning. Otherwise, the best you’re going to do is… what? Shift one delegate in a proportional award state? Michigan was the best chance this year to do it and it still didn’t amount to anything. In 2008, the only state that might have been affected in any way that mattered was Clinton’s thin victory in Indiana. But Clinton really needed to WIN Indiana (and was expected to do well) not “barely win” Indiana so it still didn’t affect anything. Basically, it’s amusing for the voter I suppose but ultimately not a big deal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-vote-for-santorum-just-to-mess-with-romneys-numbers/614501.md?page=2)