Eric Cantor: did nothing about jobs, now has to find a new one

[CapnAwesome]

I don't know that I really believe this explanation. I've heard it claimed by either party when a candidate they consider extreme is elected in the primary. I don't know, I think it would require a well organized campaign to do such and I've never seen any real evidence of a secret underground campaign to vote in less electable candidates. Also it doesn't really make sense, could you really imagine a dyed in the wool Democrat going out and voting for the more extreme Republican just because he might be more beatable? Seems like a stretch. What if the gamble doesn't pay off? Then you end up with someone you disagree with more in office.

Then you are naive. The crossover voting tactic has been around for decades. There are even some people who will register for a party they despise just to crossover vote in primaries to enhance their own candidate's chances. Frankly, it was the first thing I thought of when I heard about Cantor's "big surprise" defeat.

People have claimed it for years, I've never really seen any hard proof though. Such a thing would have to be organized and for it to be organized there would be some sort of paper trail. Also now you have a good chance of a more extreme candidate being elected. It might be true that it happens, but it's a pretty stupid tactic. Also if it were really a common tactic, I think we would all personally know someone who had done that. I know lots of primary voters obviously, but nobody who does that. It's always just a bunch of hearsay that's more designed to try to smear a candidate as unelectable.