Exit poll: Third of GOP voters would mull third party over Trump vs. Clinton

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/273138-poll-over-a-third-of-gop-voters-would-consider-third-party-candidate-in ^

[UsernameObsolete]

Thirty-seven percent of Republican primary voters say they would consider a third-party candidate if faced with a general election matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, according to an NBC News exit poll on Tuesday.

As primary voters in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio finish their ballots, NBC News polled Republicans and reported that 71 percent said they will or probably will vote for front-runner Trump if he is the eventual nominee, compared to 27 percent who would not. Some 57 percent say they would be satisfied with a Trump-Clinton faceoff in November.

[rineaux]

Thank you again. Great to know.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

The voter choose every election. When was the last time a GOP candidate won the new nomination and did not have any least a plurality of the primary votes cast?

People who blame McCain or Romney on "the party" or the "GOP-E" are barking up the wrong tree. They should be blaming GOP primary voters.

[Yashcheritsiy]

Any poll which asks voters if they would mull can be safely dismissed...

I mulled some spice once. Does that count?

[Kartographer]

Anyone who thinks that everyone, but a very small precentage of hard core GOPe are just swooning over Trump can be dismissed. Thrump is an abrasive, boisterous, megalomaniac and even if one uses the logic that he is the best of a bad bunch some still just can’t bare to vote for another personality after 8 years of having the same type personality in charge. TGhrump may very well do the right thing, but there is no assurence of that. There is the certainty that what every Thrump does will certainly be good for Thrump. That just the way he is.

[Blue Jays]

NRx...Hillary as POTUS will result in her appointing up to FOUR justices to the SCOTUS.
It could easily result in the Second Amendment being removed.
Lastly, she will throw open the gates for MILLIONS of immigrants, for whom she will seek full voting rights.
Once that happens, there will NEVER be another Republican leading our country ever again in our lifetimes.
That is why it makes sense for all Republicans to go to the polls and vote for the Republican candidate.

[CA Conservative]

He cannot. Romney’s own rules prevent him, or anyone else, who does not win 8 majorities in the primaries from having their votes count on any ballot at the convention.

The Rules Committee meets before the convention. IF Rule 40 is an obstacle, they will change it again, just as they did last time.

[CA Conservative]

If (when) Trump hits 1237, he has final say on any new rules.

How do you figure that? Just because the delegates are obligated to vote for Trump on the first ballot doesn't mean they have to vote the way he wants on other issues, including rule changes or delegate challenges.

[wmfights]

You remind me of the message that establishment Republicans have been saying to conservatives for years: “You have to vote for us, because you have nowhere else to go.” They said we had to vote for McCain. They said we had to vote for Romney. Now the Trump supporters are saying that we have to vote for Trump. Same message, different year. Sorry, but I left the plantation years ago. Give me a conservative, especially a social conservative, and I will vote for them. Otherwise, leave me alone. I'm not interested. Voting for a non-conservative only encourages the Party to nominate another one in the future.

Thank you, that's well said.

I'm with you. I'll support conservatives in the House and Senate and hope our losses aren't to bad.

[SmokingJoe]

Never mind about third parties and what not, I simply will never vote for Trump under any circumstances. Period.

[higgmeister]

Exit poll: Third of GOP voters would mull third party over Trump vs. Clinton

The person that thought up this exit poll has no clue how hard it is to get valid signatures on petitions to include third party candidates on ballots. You cannot just sit at a table outside of the Walmart and solicit signatures that will validate.

You cannot hire it done and trust that poorly paid flunkies will do it right and not try to cheat. Ballot access rules are written to keep the status quo of a Democrat and Republican duopoly. Every board of Elections is staffed by Democrats and Republicans very willing to disqualify pipsqueak upstarts (how dare they think they could be elected)!

[Blue Jays]

My preference is to vote for someone more likely to preserve my vision of the SCOTUS, enure the Second Amendment remains intact, and not open our gates to millions of immigrants.
Hillary Clinton would likely get to name four SCOTUS judges, she will seek to have the Second Amendment repealed, and will fill the country with fresh gibsmedat Democrat voters.
No thanks. I am voting for the Republican nominee. It is far too important this time around...more than ever before.

[glock rocks]

Horseshit propaganda.

[lonestar67]

Trump and his supporters have treated his Republican rivals better than any prospective nominee in history. Why would that happen? /s

[Cobra64]

I wonder what the numbers are for a Cruz/Hillary matchup.

The numbers should be good. They're both lying lawyers with no ethics or morals.

[Ceebass]

///They said we had to vote for McCain. They said we had to vote for Romney///

Trump is no mcCain or romney. He is not a politically correct establishment stooge. He is not afraid of hillary like they were of 0bama. Maybe he gets a B on his conservative report card but he is right on illegal aliens which is the paramount issue of the day.

///Otherwise, leave me alone. I’m not interested.///

We might leave you alone. The question is will a hillary govt do the same?

[Read Write Repeat]

Maybe take a break from California for a bit. Sometimes the “all is lost” view sinks through the skin.

[gusty]

I, personally, have a very easy test to maintain party loyalty. That is nominate a candidate who is not a low life. It is a very low bar, but Trump does not pass the test. Thus I will not vote for him under any circumstances also. In order to not get wiped out in other down ballot contests, a Conservative Third Party candidate might be needed. Not to win the presidential race, but to get the anywhere from 20% - 40% of GOP voters who will be tempted to stay home in November into the voting booth. For example, in my district in NJ, the strong conservative Scott Garrett could easily lose his seat if Trump is top of the ticket.

[EternalVigilance]

http://www.tomhoefling.com/

[EternalVigilance]

So I think that ship has sailed.

Not for me it hasn't.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Right?! Oh how sick I am of the mushy middle indies who are led to believe they ‘count’. I consider anyone who hasn’t decided on a candidate at this point, to be unworthy of voting. They annoy the sh** out of me!