What would change your mind?

[huskrthill]

FeelLikeAStranger started a thread asking people whom they would vote for from the opposite party, and it kind of goes along with an idea I had recently.

Most of us here in the Cafe have already made up our minds about the presidential candidates. However, is there anything that could change your mind? If you're a Romney supporter, is there an event that could cause you to switch your vote to Obama? Same for the Obama supporters... what would change your mind?

For me, it would take a series of events rather than just one thing. Despite the policy differences, I find Obama to be a reasonably likeable guy. I don't buy into the notion that he is trying to destroy America (though I do think he wants to make some pretty radical changes). If Romney were to do something that caused me to really question his character, I'd have a hard time voting for him. I'm not talking about cutting a kid's hair in high school. I'm talking about something really damning, like John Edwards-esque. I mentioned more than once that I had a hard time ever getting behind Newt Gingrich because of his personal issues, and it would be the same with Romney.

I can't say that alone would push me to Obama. I'd probably not vote at all if that happened. However, if you combine a Romney character issue with massive economic growth over the next few months, there is a chance.

[Squatchsker]

A Kenyan birth certificate.

[Squatchsker]

President Obama walking into Nancy Pelosi's, and Harry Reid's offices and slapping the hell outta both of them.

[Squatchsker]

Mitt Romney tongue kissing Perez Hilton.

[Squatchsker]

Mitt Romney sitting down and not ordering decaf.

[Huskers57]

Mitt not wearing his "mom" jeans...

[Huskers57]

[Husker Poyer]

I think if the economy really goes south in the next 4 months I'd have to consider voting Romney. Or if Romney came out in favor of the social policies I favor, then I'd have to take a look at voting for him.

[RedPhoenix]

I think if the economy really goes south in the next 4 months I'd have to consider voting Romney. Or if Romney came out in favor of the social policies I favor, then I'd have to take a look at voting for him.

Agree.

[huskernut]

President Obama walking into Nancy Pelosi's, and Harry Reid's offices and slapping the hell outta both of them.

Yeah, that might make me vote for Obama.

[huskernut]

A clear and significant character issue for Romney - not simply an affair, for example, but probably an affair plus a cover up. Or a clear demonstration he was going to be so beholden to the Santorum wing of his party that he would actually pursue an activist far-right agenda on social issues.

Obama making Hillary Clinton his VP would have some effect on me. I respect her ability and would like to see a woman President, so that would be a step in the right direction. I would re-evaluate, for sure, though not sure if that would bring me over. She wouldn't be in a position to impact the issues I feel need address obviously, so I would likely still go with Mitt.

[hskrdavey]

Years ago I swore I'd never cross party lines. Then I backed off and looked at the "candidate" himself vs. whether he was Pub or Dem... Wise folks warned me..."A wolf in a sheep's skin is still a wolf".....I stuck with my gut and voted for a Democrat..... That Democrat was Ben Nelson. After what he did with Obamacare vote... never again.

I will always vote for a weak Republican vs a good Democrat. He ruined it for me.

[Red Crawdad]

Well, I'm not a Democrat, but did vote for Obama. To change this vote I'd need to see a Romney do a few of these things:

1) Not cater to the Tea Party
2) Come forward with a clear, rational plan for reducing the debt. Be willing to say he'd raise taxes if needed.
3) Support scientific discovery rather than religious ideology
4) Come out pro-environment
5) Instead of complaining about "Obamacare", propose his own detailed health care reform
6) Detail how he'd fix the social security gap
7) Not cater to the Tea Party
8) Not cater to the Tea Party

[ChitownHusker]

As others have said, it would have to start with a major character issue with Romney indicating that he was in some way unfit for the presidency.

Then to get me to vote for Obama rather than simply not vote, it would have to be some sort of legislative achievement indicating an inclination toward bipartisanship that has not been present as of yet. Put another way, Obama would have to show me that he could work with a Republican Congress in the same manner as Clinton. Specifically, the one thing that could most get me to consider voting for Obama would be the achievement of a "Grand Compromise" that put us on the path toward financial sustainability.

[McKinneyTXHusker]

I think if the economy really goes south in the next 4 months I'd have to consider voting Romney. Or if Romney came out in favor of the social policies I favor, then I'd have to take a look at voting for him.

Agree.

Honest questions:

1. What are those social policies that would make you consider Romney?
2. Don't you think the economy - and especially the deficit - are already far enough south?

[McKinneyTXHusker]

As others have said, it would have to start with a major character issue with Romney indicating that he was in some way unfit for the presidency.

Then to get me to vote for Obama rather than simply not vote, it would have to be some sort of legislative achievement indicating an inclination toward bipartisanship that has not been present as of yet. Put another way, Obama would have to show me that he could work with a Republican Congress in the same manner as Clinton. Specifically, the one thing that could most get me to consider voting for Obama would be the achievement of a "Grand Compromise" that put us on the path toward financial sustainability.

Agree. But at this point, I consider the odds of that about equivalent to me getting struck by lightning before the election, unfortunately.

[Chi-Town Cube]

As others have said, it would have to start with a major character issue with Romney indicating that he was in some way unfit for the presidency.

Then to get me to vote for Obama rather than simply not vote, it would have to be some sort of legislative achievement indicating an inclination toward bipartisanship that has not been present as of yet. Put another way, Obama would have to show me that he could work with a Republican Congress in the same manner as Clinton. Specifically, the one thing that could most get me to consider voting for Obama would be the achievement of a "Grand Compromise" that put us on the path toward financial sustainability.

As McKinney said, no chance of any grand compromise happening before the election.

As of yet, I am undecided about who to vote for. On one hand, I am not in any way enamored with Obama's job as president. On the other hand, I am hesitant to reward the Republican party given their behavior the last 12 years or so. I, for one, am deeply concerned with the hard right turn the party has taken. The anti-science, arch social conservative, militaristic wing is about a far away from my beliefs as you can get. In fact, the only thing that I can identify with the Republican party is that government cannot solve most problems and in fact can make them worse. I also believe that the government has spent years making fiscal promises that are unsustainable and that tax reform, entitlement reform, and healthcare reform are mandatory and will come to a head in the near future. I think that the Republicans, notably Paul Ryan, have made some headway of trying to address some of these issues. That being said, I think that the ardent protection of the defense budget is laughable and just a pandering move that I find pathetic.

Right now, I don't see a whole lot of sacred cows on the altar from either side and that is troubling for our future. Couple that with the 24 hour "news entertainment" cycle that cannot advance the debate past accusations and name calling and I am not too optimistic no matter who is in the WH.

[FLA4NEB]

The only thing I see changing my mind and get me to vote for President Obama is if God himself came down from heaven and said that Obama was actually the Messiah.

[ChitownHusker]

The only thing I see changing my mind and get me to vote for President Obama is if God himself came down from heaven and said that Obama was actually the Messiah.

I'd rate that as 20% more likely than the "grand compromise" that would get me to change my vote.

[Squatchsker]

The only thing I see changing my mind and get me to vote for President Obama is if God himself came down from heaven and said that Obama was actually the Messiah.

Which one?