A "Stampede Voter" is one that waits to see where everyone else is headed and then goes that way. It is the lazy way to pick a candidate, just a step away from not getting involved at all.

Every voter needs to examine each of the candidates to see where they stand on the issues, and then decide which one best represents her or his own views. Now is the time to do this, when we still have numerous choices; when November rolls around, your choices will be severely limited.

Unfortunately, too many voters are stampede voters. I mean, why should people in South Carolina care what Iowa or New Hampshire voters think? Why should the results in Florida change the minds of voters in New Jersey?

The candidates aren't changing their positions on the issues, so do the research now while you still have time to affect the outcome. Choose your candidate on your terms, don't get stampeded.