Just out of curiosity, who did you vote for last time?

[AWF]

I love seeing RP performing well above his '08 totals, and it would be interesting to see how much of that has come from people who didn't vote last time, vs voting for other republican candidates vs democratic candidates. Similarly, I sometimes wonder how people split in the general election as well.

There are no "right" or "wrong" answers. While useful for analysis, the past is the past. It's all about 2012 and we're all in it together!!

My recent past voting:

08 GOP primary: Paul
08 General: Barr

04 General: Badnarik

[ronpaulitician]

I can't vote, but here is who I supported:

2000 Gore
2004 Bush
2008 Paul in the GOP primary, lukewarm support for Obama in the general

[PeacePlan]

Ron Paul - wrote him in.

[rblgenius]

2000 - bush
2004 - bush
2008 - obama
2012 - paul

[Aigik]

08 was my first election I voted in since I had just become old enough to vote. I voted for Obama.

[Patrick Henry]

Buchanan
Buchanan
Peroutka
Baldwin

[rblgenius]

08 was my first election I voted in since I had just become old enough to vote. I voted for Obama.

same. I supported bush in 2004 though

[FrankRep]

2004 - George Bush ( :( )

2008 - Ron Paul in the GOP Primary
2008 - Chuck Baldwin in the General election.

[Gary4Liberty]

It is with great shame and embarrassment that I now admit that last election in my ignorance I voted for McCain/Palin. It was only to a futile effort to try and block Obama and his minions from descending on the white house. Looking back Im glad obama won because it acclerated problems that led to the rise of the tea party and increased support for Ron Paul and Liberty.

[olehounddog]

08 GOP primary: Paul
08 General: Barr

[growburn13]

2008 - Obama

[noxnoctum]

08 was my first and I voted for Obama... I bought the whole "end the attack on civil liberties, close Guantanamo, end the drug war, pull out of Iraq" spiel. Wish I'd had the sense to look up who was funding him but I didn't understand the "game" enough back then.

[Trigonx]

2004 - Kerry (lesser of two evils was the mindset there, and i just turned 18)
2008 primary - Ron Paul
2008 GE - Baldwin
2012 - NO ONE BUT PAUL!!!!

[belian78]

08 Primary was for Paul. I didnt vote in the general, as much as I wanted to vote for Baldwin I knew statistically there wasnt a way for him to win. We really need to break the 2 party system.

[pinkmandy]

Chuck Baldwin. I didn't agree w/him on everything but throughout the campaign he showed himself to be an ally of our movement and, imo, earned that vote.

[pebcak]

08 primary: Paul
08 GE: Baldwin

[abruzz0]

'08 primary: RP
'08 general: RP, write-in

[rb3b3]

im 36 years old, ive never voted in my entire life.... i have always felt that the politicians running for potus have all been liars, i could never stomach any of them and was able to see right through all of their bs...... i thought this would be just another year of corrupt politicians trying to sell america on why they are the best man for the job
and yadda yadda yadda...... after reasearching romney, then newt, i then got to a guy name ron paul, and i could not believe it!! something had to be wrong, he was lying
to america somehow, i just couldnt put my finger on it... then BOOM the newsletters came out and ron was a racist!!! i knew it!! so i dug a little deeper and low and behold he didnt write them,,,, so if not racist then what???? what does he flip flop on?? the answer was NOTHING!! ... so then i said ok ok i know what the deal is, lets see
what banks and brokerage firms on wall street contribute to his campaign, lets see how much these corrupt organization give him.....WOW his top 3 contributors are us army, us navy, us air force...... i then was the happiest man alive simply because it was the first time in my life i came across an honest politician!!!! after seeing his top 3, i got in my car, went to the post office, and registered to vote for the first time in my life... i signed up to be republican as well so i can vote for ron in the primaries as well.... so thats my story and how i got here.... I LOVE RON PAUL, and i soo want to see him KICK ASS TODAY IN SC!!!

[messana]

04 Bush
08 Baldwin

[Shane Harris]

I was raised Neocon. I supported Bush as a teenager in 2004. I was 18 in time to vote in the 2008 General. I payed zero attention to the Primaries. I voted Mccain-Palin in the General. One month later I learned about Ron Paul.

[rblgenius]

im 36 years old, ive never voted in my entire life.... i have always felt that the politicians running for potus have all been liars, i could never stomach any of them and was able to see right through all of their bs...... i thought this would be just another year of corrupt politicians trying to sell america on why they are the best man for the job
and yadda yadda yadda...... after reasearching romney, then newt, i then got to a guy name ron paul, and i could not believe it!! something had to be wrong, he was lying
to america somehow, i just couldnt put my finger on it... then BOOM the newsletters came out and ron was a racist!!! i knew it!! so i dug a little deeper and low and behold he didnt write them,,,, so if not racist then what???? what does he flip flop on?? the answer was NOTHING!! ... so then i said ok ok i know what the deal is, lets see
what banks and brokerage firms on wall street contribute to his campaign, lets see how much these corrupt organization give him.....WOW his top 3 contributors are us army, us navy, us air force...... i then was the happiest man alive simply because it was the first time in my life i came across an honest politician!!!! after seeing his top 3, i got in my car, went to the post office, and registered to vote for the first time in my life... i signed up to be republican as well so i can vote for ron in the primaries as well.... so thats my story and how i got here.... I LOVE RON PAUL, and i soo want to see him KICK ASS TODAY IN SC!!!

+rep. Many shared your sentiments before we found honesty and integrity in rp

[surf]

'88 Paul
'92 Marrou
'96 Browne
'00 Browne
'04 Bednarik
'08 Paul (write in)
'12 Paul

[UK4Paul]

im 36 years old, ive never voted in my entire life.... i have always felt that the politicians running for potus have all been liars, i could never stomach any of them and was able to see right through all of their bs...... i thought this would be just another year of corrupt politicians trying to sell america on why they are the best man for the job
and yadda yadda yadda...... after reasearching romney, then newt, i then got to a guy name ron paul, and i could not believe it!! something had to be wrong, he was lying
to america somehow, i just couldnt put my finger on it... then BOOM the newsletters came out and ron was a racist!!! i knew it!! so i dug a little deeper and low and behold he didnt write them,,,, so if not racist then what???? what does he flip flop on?? the answer was NOTHING!! ... so then i said ok ok i know what the deal is, lets see
what banks and brokerage firms on wall street contribute to his campaign, lets see how much these corrupt organization give him.....WOW his top 3 contributors are us army, us navy, us air force...... i then was the happiest man alive simply because it was the first time in my life i came across an honest politician!!!! after seeing his top 3, i got in my car, went to the post office, and registered to vote for the first time in my life... i signed up to be republican as well so i can vote for ron in the primaries as well.... so thats my story and how i got here.... I LOVE RON PAUL, and i soo want to see him KICK ASS TODAY IN SC!!!

Thank you for sharing your story.

[alucard13mmfmj]

i didnt vote in 2008. but if i did, it wouldve probably been for obama =|. i was democrat/independent at the time.

[Skywalker75]

In 1992 I was almost 6 years old. We had a mock election in our elementary school since we were a polling place and we had strange devices and people coming in on election day. I voted for George H.W. Bush because he reminded me of my grandfather.

In 1996 I was almost 10 years old and I wanted Bob Dole to win because I didn't want to hear Hillary Clinton's voice anymore.

In 2000 I was almost 14 years old and supported George W. Bush, even wrote an essay about it for my friends to read. Yeahhhhh.

In 2004 I was ALMOST 18 years old and thus couldn't vote, but I did support George W. Bush. Then, I was disappointed I couldn't cast a vote, but now I am thankful to have avoided that blight on my actual voting record.

In 2008 I didn't vote in the primary (at college out of state), but silently supported Ron Paul. I didn't talk to anyone about it, but I did put an old District 14 re-elect bumper sticker on my car. I voted for Barr in the general, cementing my decision that I'm a libertarian, but not a Libertarian.

I heard Dr. Paul speak at the Houston Mises Circle in January of 2011 and that sealed my vocal support of his candidacy.

[bobburn]

2008 primary: Ron Paul
2008 General: Bob Barr

[yaz]

08 primary: Paul
08 general: Barr
(was an election clerk as well)

For the general, Paul wasn't on the ballot :( and Baldwin was a little too crazy for me on his social positions. I'm not proud of voting for Bob Barr, but unfortunately I had little choice.

[PatriotOne]

08 was my first and I voted for Obama... I bought the whole "end the attack on civil liberties, close Guantanamo, end the drug war, pull out of Iraq" spiel. Wish I'd had the sense to look up who was funding him but I didn't understand the "game" enough back then.

Knowing the "game" is the key. Congrats on becoming a people instead of a sheeple :D.

[FrankRep]

For the general, Paul wasn't on the ballot :( and Baldwin was a little too crazy for me on his social positions. I'm not proud of voting for Bob Barr, but unfortunately I had little choice.

Ron Paul endorsed Chuck Baldwin for president. Just Sayin'

[Lord Xar]

Bush
Kerry
Ron Paul write in
*nobody but paul

RE: Kerry. That was a protest vote. I felt Bush transitioned into a deceicer and abandoned conservatism.

[seraphson]

04 Didn't Vote
08 Obama
12 Paul

I must admit my ignorance was extremely high in regards to politics from about the middle of 2011 and prior. In 2008 ask me what it was to be a progressive, libertarian, conservative or liberal. Ask me what gives money value and what is money. For all of these questions I would have the same answer; a blank stare or mumbling at best. My 2008 vote was completely and solely on the basis of "well, this guy likes war and that guy doesn't, let's go with the anti-war guy" and that was it. My my though, how much one can learn in six months with even a full time job and part time school stacked on top.

[PatriotOne]

08 - Paul

That's it.

[thoughtomator]

I vote Paul in the primary and skipped the general, seeing no good choice on my ballot.

[neverseen]

'00 general too young
'04 general bush i think
'08 primary: Didn't know they existed
'08 general: skipped it because I didn't want to vote for the lesser of two evils with mccain and obama
'08 general: 1 month after i saw a ron paul bumper sticker and asked who that was.
'12 primary: My FL ballot is sitting on the counter with PAUL on it. Just need to drop it off (not putting it in my mail box for sure!)
'12 general: I'll take a bullet to the head before i vote for anyone but paul.

Looking forward to running someday for office myself. I'm in my late 20's now and this election has inspired me. I'm going to keep working hard and will keep researching and reading. Will get very involved locally after the general (all my time is spent on paul stuff right now)

[pilby]

2000: rooted for Bush but didn't vote
2004: Bush
2008: wrote in Ron Paul

I really only started paying attention to politics during Bush's second term and was astounded that he was pushing through all kinds of crap that I thought Republicans were opposed to. I felt guilty for the part I played in enabling that.

So very early in 2007 I started really looking into candidates and discovered Ron Paul for the first time.

[Invi]

04 too young
08 didn't vote, meh support for Obama. Bought the anti-war pitch.
12 is Paul or Nothing. ;)

[Hook]

2000: Browne
2004: Badnarik
2008: Prim: Paul, Gen: Baldwin
2012: Prim: Paul, Gen: Paul, or Johnson if Paul doesn't win.

I generally vote Libertarian in the generals, but I couldn't vote for Barr last time.

[AhuwaleKaNaneHuna]

Paul for the primary
Wrote in Paul for the General

Will vote Paul again one way or the other.

[Maximus]

08 primary: Romney
08 general: Ron Paul write in (I found Paul after the primaries lol)

[cjm]

'88 Paul
'92 Marrou
'96 Browne
'00 Browne
'04 Bednarik
'08 Paul (write in)
'12 Paul

wow, triple-paul!!!

[John F Kennedy III]

1996: Clinton
2000: Gore
2004: Kerry
2008: McCain
2012: Paul

[zippy81]

Paul Primary, Baldwin general

[deputydon]

08 Primary - Paul
08 Election - Obama.

[Snowball]

1988: Bush Sr. (Republican)
1992: Perot (Independent)
1996: Dole (Republican)
2000: Buchanan (Reform)
2004: Peroutka (Constitution)
2008: Ron Paul in Primary, none in General

i haven't picked a winner in 24 years.

[ssjevot]

08 GOP primary: Paul
08 General: Barr

That was me exactly except Nader in '04 as well.

[Refresh the Tree]

'04: Bush
'08: McCain

Needless to say, I am a recovering Neo-Con. Freedom is popular!!

[pahs1994]

'00 general: i was too young, i think i wanted Bush
'04 general: Kerry (i was too dumb)
'08 primary: Paul
'08 general: Barr
'12 primary: Paul (in April)
'12 general: Will be Paul > if no Paul then the Libertarian nominee > (depending who it is). If Sean Hannitys man crush Marco "Teo-Con" Rubio is the GOP nominee's VP choice i WILL vote Obama just to be a dick

[PatriotOne]

1988: Bush Sr. (Republican)
1992: Perot (Independent)
1996: Dole (Republican)
2000: Buchanan (Reform)
2004: Peroutka (Constitution)
2008: Ron Paul in Primary, none in General

i haven't picked a winner in 24 years.

Maybe you should vote for Mitt this time :D.

[Grievance]

2000: Nader
2004: Kerry
2008: Barr

[Snowball]

Maybe you should vote for Mitt this time :D.

dude, it doesn't matter, I live in Rhode Island. Obama will take 60+%.

[DeadheadForPaul]

J


My recent past voting:

08 GOP primary: Paul
08 General: Barr

04 General: Badnarik

Same

[DeadheadForPaul]

'00 general too young
'04 general bush i think
'08 primary: Didn't know they existed
'08 general: skipped it because I didn't want to vote for the lesser of two evils with mccain and obama
'08 general: 1 month after i saw a ron paul bumper sticker and asked who that was.
'12 primary: My FL ballot is sitting on the counter with PAUL on it. Just need to drop it off (not putting it in my mail box for sure!)
'12 general: I'll take a bullet to the head before i vote for anyone but paul.

Looking forward to running someday for office myself. I'm in my late 20's now and this election has inspired me. I'm going to keep working hard and will keep researching and reading. Will get very involved locally after the general (all my time is spent on paul stuff right now)

If you are really serious about running, contact gunny or Thomas-in-ky. Both hold positions in government and are currently running campaigns. They can probably give you some tips. Also, volunteer in someone's local campaign so you can get some insight on your area

[AWF]

Thanks for all of the replies. I love seeing how people have evolved and how they got to this point.

What is interesting is that almost nobody voted in the 08 primaries for any candidates other than Paul (obviously, quite a few didn't vote at all). McCain? Romney? Huckabee? Thompson? Obama (Dem primary)? I suspect that our forum may not be representative of the overall population...otherwise, hard to see how RP is doing SOOO much better this time b/c the non-voters can't be this overwhelmingly in his favor. or can they?

[Kojack]

08 Primary - Paul
08 General - Barr (never imagined I'd vote for a former federal prosecutor, and one that primarily prosecuted drug offenders no less)
12 Primary - Paul (today - Go Ron!)

[tbone717]

'88: Kemp (Primary), Paul (General)
'92 Buchanan (Primary), Perot (General)
'96 Buchanan (Primary), Browne (General)
'00 N/A (Primary), Browne (General)
'04 N/A (Primary), Peroutka (General)
'08 Paul (Primary), Baldwin (General)

Note that in 2000 and 2004 Bush was the presumptive nominee by the time PA voted. I cannot recall anyone else being on the ballot, if there was someone still on it then I likely voted for them in protest of the nominee.

[giovannile07]

Was not old enough to vote in 2008, but June of 2011 I turned 18 and I am now registered to vote. :) Here's who I supported anyways...

2008 - John McCain (I never really knew what he stood for I just supported him because he was the one leading the charge on the Republican side, stupid move though...)
2012- Ron Paul (Can't vote until June 5th, but definitely for Ron Paul!)

[dagnybell]

'00 Bush
'04 Bednarik
'08 Paul (write in)
'12 Paul

[MikeLV]

2000- Bush (my first election)
2004- Bush (I was a big time Neo-Con)
2008- Caucused for Ron Paul, voted for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party
2012- Of course Ron Paul, if not the Libertarian or Constitution Party candidate.

[millercards]

Was a little interested in Ron Paul in 2008. I did not vote though. I didn't like politicians and didn't care to try to find the lesser of two evils.

Then Ron Paul woke me up.

Ron Paul cured my apathy.

2012: No One But Paul.

[tsetsefly]

o4 Bush, ugh... But I voted libertarian for everything else, I just didnt like badnarik... still regret the vote though
08 Paul, Barr in General
12 Paul and will write Paul in or vote for Libertarian party

[heavenlyboy34]

I love seeing RP performing well above his '08 totals, and it would be interesting to see how much of that has come from people who didn't vote last time, vs voting for other republican candidates vs democratic candidates. Similarly, I sometimes wonder how people split in the general election as well.

There are no "right" or "wrong" answers. While useful for analysis, the past is the past. It's all about 2012 and we're all in it together!!

My recent past voting:

08 GOP primary: Paul
08 General: Barr

04 General: Badnarik
2008: RP in the primary, Baldwin in the general (thanks to Ron's endorsement-I wouldn't have voted otherwise)

[Shankara]

2000 - Bush - Too young to vote but my stepdad had an absentee ballot and let me fill it out because he didn't care and I was interested in politics (meaning I watched the MSM and interned for Sen. Schumer that past Summer even though I was secretly a Republican :D).

2004 - Kerry - by that point I knew Kerry was still part of the 'machine,' but I hated Bush and the Patriot Act and the wars.

2008 Primary - Paul (was Independent, registered Republican to vote for him)
2008 General - Didn't vote

2012 - Paul

[PursuePeace]

[/

[cajuncocoa]

Ron Paul !! He was on the Louisiana ballot in 2008, the candidate of the Louisiana Taxpayers Party.

2004- John Kerry
2000- Harry Browne

[MikeLV]

That's funny, I forgot my to include my school mock election. In first grade (1988) I voted for Michael Doukakis (only because he had the same first name as me), in 5th grade I voted for George H.W. Bush, that who my parents were supporting and 1992 is when I started to get interested in politics. In 1996 my high school didn't hold a mock election, but I was pushing for Bob Dole.

[FreeTraveler]

'88 Paul
'92 Marrou
'96 Browne
'00 Browne
'04 Bednarik
'08 Paul (write in)
'12 Paul
Me too. :)

[flynn]

The conservative party.

[ronpaulfollower999]

2000- Too young, but my parents voted Gore (they actually voted in infamous Palm Beach County) so I obviously wanted him to win.

2004- Too young, but I wanted Kerry. End the wars and fix health care, right? :rolleyes:

2008- Still too young, but wanted Paul.

2012- My first ever vote will be for Ron Paul in 10 days! :D

[liberalnurse]

1992 and 1996 Clinton
2000 Gore
2004 Kerry
2008 Ron Paul, Primary Bob Barr, General

[millercards]

That's funny, I forgot my to include my school mock election. In first grade (1988) I voted for Michael Doukakis (only because he had the same first name as me), in 5th grade I voted for George H.W. Bush, that who my parents were supporting and 1992 is when I started to get interested in politics. In 1996 my high school didn't hold a mock election, but I was pushing for Bob Dole.

Bob Dole.... bob dole.... BOB DOLE.... Bob Dole

Bob Dole



Bob Dole




bob Dole



bob dole

zzzzzz

[Lafayette]

First time i had voted was in 08...

Voted for Paul in the primary
I stayed home for the general

[LoneWolf]

2000-Supported Bush
2004-I didn't support either
2008-Primary Paul General-Baldwin
2012-Paul General depends on if he gets nomination or not. If not then voting for Merlin Miller of the American Third Position Party.

[davidhperry]

1996: Dole
2000: GWB
2004: Didn't vote
2008: Paul in primary, Chuck Baldwin in the general

[Evangelical_Protestant]

Dole
Bush
Bush
McCain

I was full blooded establishment. Took me until Obama to realize that infact both parties always carry forward the same agenda every cycle and nothing changes. Fox News used to be the only News network I'd watch due to what I thought was honesty..LOL! Seriously, I repent. Now that we have other sources like facebook, youtube, reddit ect., its alot easier to dig for the truth and find things out. This is why 35 and under are breaking away from the establishment IMO, while the old folks who don't utilize such tools are still decieved. :(

If Paul doesn't win, we will still have Obama. Then after that some other Republican will win after that in an anger vote. Once he sucks as well, people will finally realize that both party establishments....well....suck. Problem is thats a decade away! We can either do this now and save a decade of pain, or wait 10+ years and get it done. Either way, the people 35 and under are taking a different direction. The establishment is dying, and this is fantastic!

[rpwi]

2000 - Gore (I knew right-away from the early debates that Bush would be attacking Iraq). Wished I had voted for Browne.
2004 - Kerry (might have been Cobb..can't remember lol...) IMO Badnarik was WAY too hawkish for a LP candidate.
2008
-Primary: Ron Paul
-General Election: Ralph Nadar (not that I like him that much...just want to have a third party have a strong showing)

[av4liberty]

GOP primary 08- Paul
general 08- Baldwin

It was very nice to vote for Dr. Paul for my first time voting.

[djruden]

2008 - Ralph Nader, Peace and Freedom party

[Carole]

Ron Paul

[LibertasPraesidium]

88 was 4 don't remember politics I was with my dad in germany while he was serving in the army
92 was 8 dont remember
96 was 13 wasn't into politics, knew I did not like sports, was a very devout christian
00 was 17 didn't vote, wasn't into politics just into surviving
04 was 21 didn't vote, of what I saw in the election and remember no one was worth it.
08 was 25 Between 21 and 25 I became an atheist and a libertarian voted for Ron Paul Caucus/General Election. was unhappy with baldwin, didn't like Barrs vote for the patriot act
12 will be 29, cannot wait to cast ballot for Paul in the Caucus and in the General Election.

[TRIGRHAPPY]

Primary - Ron Paul
General - Chuck Baldwin ( I mean, when RP himself asks me to vote for a guy, I at least give it my utmost consideration, lol)

[speciallyblend]

Chuck Baldwin

[toast]

Wasn't old enough to vote in any previous election, but family was always conventional Republican -- parents voted for both Bushes, Dole, and McCain. They voted for Romney in the 08 primary. Now my mother is a Paul supporter, my dad is mostly apathetic but kind of likes Gingrich.

[lilymc]

The first time I voted was for Perot in 92 as an independent. I also supported him in 96 (This was before I became pro-life, and mainly because even back then I was disgusted with the stranglehold of the Republicrats and Demolicans) I didn't like any of the presidential candidates in 2000 or 2004, so didn't vote those years. In 2008 I supported Ron Paul, and of course in 2012 I'm voting for Ron Paul, even if I have to write in his name.

[Drex]

Too young in 08. But supported Obama. My dad voted for Baldwin in '08 so most likely he will vote for Paul in '12 :)

[DanConway]

2004 general: Badnarik
2008 primary: Paul
2008 general: Barr (more for the Libertarian party than because of Barr; I know, it's shameful that I voted for a party and not a person)

[Karsten]

2004 Primary: Kerry
2004: Kerry
2008 CA Primary: Ron Paul
2008 General: Write in Ron Paul (He was an OFFICIAL write in candidate in Calfornia)

In 2004 I just turned 18, but I was already starting to become libertarian. So why Kerry? Well, the main issue in 2004 was the Iraq War, and the violation of civil liberties by the Bush administration. I thought it was important to vote for whoever was running against Bush to send an anti-neocon message. I was actually a Howard Dean supporter in the primaries because he seemed strong against the war, but the CA primary came around when Kerry was already the presumptive nominee, so I just voted for him. I voted for Kerry in the general, and, believe it or not, I would vote for him again if I went back in time to 2004, because the message if Bush lost would have been one thing: American reject the Iraq War and the Patriot Act. I was never for Kerry, just anti-Bush.

In 2006 I was fed up with the Democrats weak opposition to Bush and switched party registration to Libertarian and became involved with the local chapter here in Southern California. In late 2006 at the convention they were talking about Ron Paul. I searched him online and I was like damn I wish he would run for President someday! Three Months later I read online that he announced his exploratory committee.

[Jingles]

I'm 21 and was just on the cusp of being able to vote in 2008. My family has always been a Democrat family, but my grandparents were more of the old style "your grandparents democrat party" types and I was raised by them until I was like 12. My dad is militant about having welfare programs for whatever reason, he is a bit more like the democrats of today. I always collected coins with my grandfather when I was little and he never really could give me a straight answer on why we use paper instead of gold/silver and why prices just go up (i.e. Since it was my grandparents I always heard the "well we used to be able to get candy for like a penny" stuff and I always thought "Well, why can't we do that now its still the same candy".) I thought I would add this because I think that helped me later when I finally discovered Ron Paul (He finally gave me an answer to a question I've wanted my whole life regarding money).

I'm not exactly sure how I found my way to being a Republican. I think 9-11 had a lot to do with it and I always thought there was something wrong about welfare programs. All of my friends and there families were Republican and I always had extensive political conversations with my one friend's dad (He was actually my first political idol). I knew had some libertarian leanings regarding social issues, but I didn't know what that was and I didn't want to be considered a "liberal". I was an avid Fox viewer from when I was 15 until I discovered Ron Paul in 2008 a little bit after the general election. Some combination of realizing McCain wouldn't have been any different and hearing about Ron Paul. But thankfully I couldn't vote until I discovered and believed in the message of liberty because it would have gone something like this:

2000: Gore
2004: Bush
2008: McCain

[Zarn Solen]

2004: Bush
2008 Primary: Didn't bother because I expected McCain to win NJ and I supported him
2008 General: McCain

2009 Gubernatorial Primary and General: Christie
2010 NJ 3rd Congressional Primary and General: Runyan

All of these people have lost my support at some point.

[Jeffster]

This is a great topic, it's really interesting to see the voting histories of the members here. :)

Here's mine:

1996 - Primary: Alan Keyes General: Bob Dole
2000 - Primary: Uncommitted General: George W. Bush
2004 - Primary and General: George W. Bush
2008 - Primary: Mike Huckabee General: John McCain

[Karsten]

To be honest I'm kind of surprised with all the 2004 Bush votes on this forum. How did you vote for him, when the main focus of his campaign was how great it was to be at war?

[JJ2]

2004 General: Bush
2008 Primary: McCain
2008 General: McCain
2010 Senate: McCain

(Yes, I'm from Arizona. ;))

[JJ2]

To be honest I'm kind of surprised with all the 2004 Bush votes on this forum. How did you vote for him, when the main focus of his campaign was how great it was to be at war?

I thought it was great to be at war!

[smtwngrl]

1980-Reagan
1984-Reagan
1988-Bush, Sr.
1992-Bush, Sr.

1996-Buchanan (Primary), Dole (General)
2000-Keyes (Primary), Bush (General)

2000 stung, because I thought I was voting for the lesser of two evils in the General Election. I found that Bush was just as bad as Gore would have been. But the good thing was that I learned that lesson permanently. I will never make that mistake again.

2004-Badnarik
2008-Ron Paul (Primary), Barr (General)

My earlier votes were uneducated, and the later were more educated. But Ron Paul is the best candidate I've had the opportunity to vote for.

[The Freethinker]

2004: John Kerry
2008: Chuck Baldwin

[bronxboy10]

2008- Obama (1st presidential election I could vote in)

[marhlfld]

08 was my first election I voted in since I had just become old enough to vote. I voted for Obama.

You're forgiven young Grasshopper. We're very pleased you made the change to the truth and light! ((((hugs))))

[UNC08]

Bush in 04 (I'm sorry) and McCain in that primary

Paul in the primary last time and Barr in he general

[jmhudak17]

Couldn't vote but this is who I supported at the time
2000-Bush
2004-Bush
2008 GOP Primary-Giuliani and then Thompson
2008 General Election-McCain

[Karsten]

'88 Paul
'92 Marrou
'96 Browne
'00 Browne
'04 Bednarik
'08 Paul (write in)
'12 Paul
That's the most beautiful voting record on here.

[marhlfld]

2000 - Bush
2004 - Badnarik
2008 - Baldwin (per suggestion of RP, should've just wrote in RP)

[trey4sports]

'08 General - McCain

[iamse7en]

Raised a neocon, would have voted for any Republican to defeat the "evil" democrats. Was out of the country in 2004 and didn't even follow much of the hoopla. Supported Romney in 2008 primaries, gave him some money too, but didn't vote - too lazy to follow-up on absentee ballot. Didn't bother to vote in 2008. Learned me some Ron Paul shortly after 2008 Meltdown. Die-hard ever since.

Long story short. I have never voted before, but will vote, for the first time, for Ron Paul in the Minnesota Caucus.

[Standing Liberty]

1988 - Bush Sr.
1992 - Clinton
1996 - Browne
2000 - Browne
2004 - Kerry (Protest vote)
2008 - Paul in Primary and Chuck Baldwin in General
2012 - Will be Paul

[Brian4Liberty]

04 GOP Primary: Wrote in Ron Paul.
04 General: Badnarik

[Jeffster]

To be honest I'm kind of surprised with all the 2004 Bush votes on this forum. How did you vote for him, when the main focus of his campaign was how great it was to be at war?

I wouldn't say that was the focus of his campaign. But, anyway, I've never agreed with everything that any candidate stood for. I like George W. Bush personally, and the more people attacked him the more I liked him. He was the anti-Clinton, doing what he felt was right whether it was popular or not. I've always admired that quality, even in people I disagreed with mightily.

[Son of Detroit]

Too young to vote last time. Turned 18 this year :).

[smtwngrl]

It is with great shame and embarrassment that I now admit that last election in my ignorance I voted for McCain/Palin. It was only to a futile effort to try and block Obama and his minions from descending on the white house. Looking back Im glad obama won because it acclerated problems that led to the rise of the tea party and increased support for Ron Paul and Liberty.

Most of us have had to learn from our mistakes. :) Shame isn't necessary.

[Jingles]

04 GOP Primary: Wrote in Ron Paul.
04 General: Badnarik

You were writing in Ron Paul before it was cool!

[smithtg]

1996 clinton
2000 gore
2004 dubyah
2008 baldwin

[Brian4Liberty]

You were writing in Ron Paul before it was cool!

;)

[kahless]

1992 Perot
1996 Buchanan, Republican primary, Perot for President
2000 Buchanan
2004 Went in booth to vote for Peroutka/Baldwin but he was not listed. Came out of booth and asked for paper/pen for write-in but they would not provide it or allow me to leave and come back with it. Once signed in and in booth there was no going back. Frustrated, went back in and pulled the lever for Bush and totally regret that. Should have just not selected anything.
2008 Ron Paul in the primary primary, Barr for President. (Regret that to but did so for the LP)

[Philadelphia76]

1996: Bob Dole
2000: George W. Bush
2004: George W. Bush
2008 (PA primary): Ron Paul
2008 (PA general): Barack Obama*
2012: (SC primary): Ron Paul

*Would have voted Barr or Baldwin except for the fact that I was in a quasi-battleground state (PA) and wanted to stop McCain's NeoCon FP team...

[mosquitobite]

1996 Dole
2000 Bush
2004 Badnarik (This is when I tell people "I was tea party before it was *cool* to be tea party!")
2008 Paul in primary, Barr in general
2012 Paul in primary ... ???

[kathy88]

I have been a registered Libertarian since 1984. Voted for Libertarian candidate until 2008. (Including, of course, Paul in '88). Took one for the team, held my nose and switched to R in 2008.
2008 - RP primary, RP write in General.

[Brett85]

08 GOP Primary: Paul
08 General: McCain

[EBounding]

'04 - Bush
'08 (Primary) - Romney
'08 - McCain