Politics & Government

Democrat to Democrat: Don't Vote GOP

Charleston County party chair asks Democrats to stay home on Saturday.

The Charleston County Democratic Party is asking fellow Democrats to not vote Republican in Saturday's primary election.

"We are asking active Democrats to not participate in the GOP primary," wrote George Tempel, executive chair, in an email to its membership. "We don't want Republicans to interfere with our primaries...so let's practice what we preach."

Since President Barack Obama faces no serious challenge during the primary, Charleston Democrats will vote in election and precinct organization meetings on Saturday, January 28.

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Some Democrats have suggested voting for the least viable Republican candidate. In theory, that could prolong the Republican primary and cost the frontrunner more money, but Democrats say it's ultimately a bad idea.

Voting Republican destroys the parties voter file, which is used in elections to track down Democratic voters. It also eliminates your chance of serving in party leadership or serving as a national delegate, according to Tempel's e-mail.

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It also "shows greater strength to the Republicans and a lower voter turnout for Democrats at our own primary election and precinct organization meetings," Tempel wrote. "Let them pick their own candidates. Surely, you can see that they are doing a great job of bashing each other."

Republicans head to the polls on Saturday.


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