Well, I have to admit, this is rather desperate. However, I will be voting in Oklahoma's DEM Presidential primary tomorrow and suddenly find myself totally torn-up about it... Perhaps other D-Kos readers will be able to help me find my way.
First, let me say that I was and pretty much still am a total Deaniac. Nearly everything about his candidacy appeals to me. I've gone to his campaign events and donated a good deal of money to him, even though I don't have much to give. If I was purely voting my heart, there won't be an issue...Dean all the way. However, as much as I hate to admit it, life isn't so simple here in the wake of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Dean, having given up any hope in Oklahoma, has fallen in the polls here and will be lucky to get high single digits, barely enough to pass Lieberman. This just isn't an important state for Dean anymore. Meanwhile, Kerry has sky-rocketed in the national polling (both among DEMs and in head-to-head against Bush). He is also essentially tied with Clark and Edwards here...making this an excruciatingly close race for the top spot.
So, what do I do? Vote my heart and go Dean. If I do will that make me the DEM primary reincarnation of a 2000 Nader voter, undermining the support of the eventual nominee (if it's not Dean) by supporting someone who has absolutely no chance in my state??? Or, do I vote my head and go Kerry/Clark/Edwards (yes, I've discounted voting for Sharpton, Kucinich, Lieberman, etc.)? If the latter, which of the three do I vote for... To boil-down my feelings on the three, I like Edwards' message, Kerry's experience, and Clark's integrity... I guess if I had to choose one of them (other than Dean), I'd vote Kerry simply because of his recent gains. My vote, no matter how small, would at least help make him a more decisive winner overall and bring a quicker end to the circular firing squad that has been this primary campaign.
We have to remember that Bush is enemy #1 here. Other than knowing that, I'm really confused... What to do???