There are many reasons to vote for a particular candidate during an election.  You can support a candidate because you always vote straight Democrat or straight Republican and would never consider voting any other way.  You can vote for a candidate because your neighbor, family member, or best friend told you that they were the best candidate for the position. 

            Maybe you mark your ballot based on the endorsement of the police, fire, teachers, Teamsters, or any other organized labor group.  Perhaps you cast your vote based on the endorsement of any number of other groups or organizations. 

            Or, maybe, just maybe you vote for the candidate that you feel will best represent you.  Regardless of who endorses who, you will do your own assessment of the candidates by listening to all sides, pro and con.  Whenever possible you will listen to or read about the candidates before voting.

            Talking to others about an upcoming election is good.  Talking to the candidates is good too.  Listening to somebody "stump" for a candidate is not as good as hearing it from the candidate.  So, candidates should make themselves as accessible as possible during the campaign season.  Voters prefer to hear from you, the horse's mouth, and not the horse's other end.

            Tell the voters what you've done.  Cite your accomplishments and share with them your vision for the position you are running for and how you plan to accomplish those plans.  Know that what you stand for, what you've done, and what you can do is what they want to know.

            Candidates who are serious about the position they are running for have an obligation to present themselves to the voters.  If you rely solely on political parties, groups, or organizations to be your salespersons, then perhaps you should reconsider your decision to run.  Endorsements are a two-way street.  They can be a turn-on or a turn-off.

            Campaign money may come from them but your vote is yours and yours alone.

            Take everything you know about a candidate into account.  Talk to others, study the candidates individually and collectively if they're running as a team.  Don't automatically cast out a candidate because they are supported by a group you don't like.  Perhaps they are supported by two other groups that you emphatically support.  What happens then?  Does your hate for one override your support for the others?  For goodness sake, you're voting for the candidate not judging a popularity contest between groups.

            You won't know unless you are willing to take your blinders off and learn all you can before you cast your ballot.