The Candidate Match Game
Ben Domenech ·
December 20, 2011 at 4:30am
I am typically unimpressed with candidate match games, since they tend to be far too simplistic and only ask hot button issues. "Would you like to give poor Americans houses and hot meals and reality television, or would you like to make delicious soup from their bones?" And so on.
But this USA Today test is actually pretty well done I think. The ability to weight certain portions that matter, and diminish those that do not, is particularly worthwhile.
I'd encourage you all to take the test and share your results. In the interests of full disclosure, I'll go ahead and share how my graph came out.
I think I sense a problem for Willard in the general.
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Comments:
May '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
1st: Huntsman, 2nd: Bachmann, Gingrich, Romney (tie)
Nov '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
1st Ron Paul 76%
2nd Gingrich 46%
3rd Perry
And I agree, it is well done. I like that it includes Obama and a None of the Above, it makes it easier to share with friends and family.
Edited on December 20, 2011 at 5:11amMay '10
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Not even 50% for the "Most Like You" score of my #1 result, Ron Paul. Michelle Bachmann was next.
Funny enough, Gingrich and Romney are down by Obama in last place on my graph.
I often had to pick the least flawed of undesirable answers. But that reflects political reality, I suppose.
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Weird:
Ron Paul: 60
Rick Perry: 55
Jon Huntsman: 51
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Aaron Miller:
I often had to pick the least flawed of undesirable answers. But that reflects political reality, I suppose. · Dec 19 at 8:09pm
Yeah, I had trouble with that, too. But it was kind of fun in any case ...
Nov '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: Weird:
Ron Paul: 60
Rick Perry: 55
Jon Huntsman: 51 · Dec 19 at 8:10pm
Why weird?
Feb '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Took the quiz twice, on separate days, with Perry & Huntsman 1 and 2. I'm a Texan and I like Rick Perry, but I have grave doubts that he could defeat Obama. Improbably, I am coming around to Huntsman, who I wrote off many months ago as a RINO squish. Seems like that meme still dominates on Ricochet, with Mollie a notable dissenter.
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Fred Cole
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: Weird:
Ron Paul: 60
Rick Perry: 55
Jon Huntsman: 51 · Dec 19 at 8:10pm
Why weird? · Dec 19 at 8:12pm
Because I'm tired? No, because Perry is in there and because Huntsman is so high. I already knew I agreed with Paul on a lot. Also, I thought my score with Paul would be higher -- and with others. I did think this test was better than the vast majority I have seen of its type. For its simplicity, it seemed to designed to tease out both the substance and differences of various positions.
Mar '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
1st Ms Bachmann
2nd Newt
3rd Mr Santorum
That sounds about right.
Jul '10
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Gingrich 47, Paul 47, Perry 45, with none of the three higher than 4 of 11 on issues. And therein lies the problem. We have a lousy slate of candidates, and the only one actually pushing for following the Constitution and abolishing much of the federal government (Paul) voids himself with his military/foreign policy stance. If there were a candidate who answered every question about Social Security, Medicare, or any other program by asking why that was a federal responsibility in the first place, and who also was for a vigorous military and defense, I'd be backing that guy in a heartbeat.
May '10
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Hmmm....my result said, "Hold Paul Ryan hostage till he agrees to run..."
Imagine that.
Dec '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Whoa, That's was an eye-opener.
John Huntsman, at least he has a nice haircut..
I wanna rematch.
May '10
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Great.
Santorum 58%
Paul 56%
Perry 52%
Mittens ranks a hair above Obama based on my answers.
May '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
I tried it again, but this time I tried to think of what an independent/disinterested voter might think and value. (Disinterested in foreign policy, increase taxes on the rich, keep social security/medicare the way it is, etc.) The result Huntsman 72, Romney 51.3, Obama 49.
Aug '10
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Huntsman 5 of 11, 59.2%
Obama 4 of 11, 52.4%
Some dude named Santorum? 4 of 11, 50.1%
I picked energy policy, defense spending, and tax policy highest, gay marriage and climate change lowest.
I also weighted the entitlements a lower priority not out of lack of concern but out disappointed realism about what can be done this time around.
Feb '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
1) Perry - 5 of 11, 58.6%
2) Paul - 3 of 11, 51%
3) Bachmann - 2 of 11, 41.6%
4) Santorum
5) Gingrich
6) Obama
7) Hunstman
8) Romney
Pretty good quiz. I would happily vote for either of my top two; anything below that and you can categorize me as an "unenthusiastic voter" (if I find a good book I may not make it to the voting booth).
Edited on December 20, 2011 at 6:17amOct '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
(1) Huntsman, (2) Paul, and (3) Perry. Sounds familiar...
Sleeper Johnson supporters? We have a handshake you might like, and there are always leftover donuts.
Jan '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Huntsman (69%), Santorum (51%), Paul (49%).
I'm surprised Santorum ranks so high -- as I ranked experience super-important -- but the other two seem about right.
Jan '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Paul and Perry with a tie for first but under 50%. Huntsman a close third. Romney just edging out Obama, though‽
Feb '11
Re: The Candidate Match Game
Santorum - 74.5 %, 6 of 11
Perry - 67.5%, 5 of 11
Bachmann - 55.9%, 4 of 11
Paul - 3 of 11
Gingrich/Huntsman (tie) - 2 of 11 (same for each)
Romney - 1 of 11
Obama (far behind) - 0 of 11
Santorum has been completely off my radar. Don't know what to make of this. Maybe a favorite son vote if things are still up in the air when PA finally votes and if he's still in. In my disgust over Romney and Gingrich, I've already started giving Perry a second look. I like Bachmann's positions on several issues that are important to me, but the personality grates. In another thread I referred to Romney as 'Obama light.' These results tend to confirm that opinion. Not surprised at where Huntsman, Gingrich, and Paul ended up. Obama should have been off the bottom of the chart.