Why Run for a pollitcal office when you Know You can't win ! (McCain, Ron Paul)

[JBrown]

I've never run for a political office and have no desire to, but I've often wondered what some of these folks are thinking when they throw their hat into the ring. McCain for example for all practical purposes caved today. Did this guy REALLY think he had a shot.?? My question is not about any specific person..I just use McCain as an example. I don't wanna talk specific cases..
These folks have got more ego than any 10 "mormal" people combined, and regardless of what you think of their stand on various issues they are not dummies (well usually not). My guess is it's a chance to influence peolpe with other peoples money...ie campaign finace funds but I'll admitt I really know nothing about the legalities of all that.

Is it all about follow the money and how does that work? Just how accountable do these clowns have to be with the "funds" or is it all about the secondary effects of living large for awhile on other peoples money?? Any campaign managers/attorney types here that can educate us??

[ColoWeb]

To bring attention to issue. To get their name out there.

[JoeP]

McCain was a serious contender on the GOP side for a while.

[M TYPE X]

McCain contributes very little, other than defending the war.
Ron Paul brings a lot of ideas and perspective to the table.

The Democrats are so devoid of good policy thinking that Dennis the Menace (Kucinich) serves a vital role as a modern day William Jennings Bryan.

[emjbulls]

Another reason could be to differentiate themselves from their party's politics and let their constituents know where they really stand and help defend their record while they've been in office. .

[Lisa_from_Debary]

I think sometimes a candidate runs in order to pull enough votes away from another candidate. Such as anyone running as an independent in this upcoming election just might pull enough votes away from the Democrat that we could actually end up with another Republican in office.

[Hawkeye48]

Candidates sometimes stay in to influence the final outcome of the primary as a spoiler. Or perhaps the candidate feels even though he can't win the actual presidential election he can eventually bring enough electoral votes to the table to earn a spot as VP on the ticket.

[RedNC]

McCain has never been a serious Republican candidate. No self-respecting republican would ever consider voting for him. He is the darling of the drive-by media. Liberals love this guy, conservatives don’t.
He sealed his fate when he teamed up with Kennedy on the amnesty bill.

[magellan]

Ralph Nader is a much better example IMO.

[Dwatted Wabbit]

I think that unfortunately ego/narcissism and the will to power drives more candidates than the desire to serve with honor. Perhaps because most of them wouldn't know what honor was if it bit them in their ample arses.
McCain is all about McCain. He and Crossdresser Rudy the Radio Guy and Huckleberry Hound should all have D after their names.
I'll take Mike Gravel, he's the one D who does not speak with forked tongue. I like about 2% of Kucinich's ideas, they actually make sense. The other 98% are pure Loonie Tunes or socialism plus plus.
Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter. I believe they're the only ones of either party who've even mentioned the constitution. Dr. Paul seems to actually understand what it means.
We've come a long way in 200 years.