How Do You Choose a Presidential Candidate?

If you choose based on basic positions you might want to look at Slate's Whack-A-Pol. Everytime you choose a position like "Supported $87 Billion for Post-war Iraq" it removes the candidates who you don't agree with. Be careful if you want a candidate remaining.

How about where they rank on the libertarian-authoritarian and left-right political compass? This is from a British site that doesn't find major differences between the Dems except for Sharpton and Kucinach.

Why don't you take the test to see where you stand?

My position has been pretty stable as a libertarian-leftist. I seem to be pretty close to the Dalai Lama or the British Greens.

Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -5.62
Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.79

On the American World's Shortest Political Test I am left-liberal.
Your Personal Self-Government Score is 100%.
Your Economic Self-Government Score is 40%.

Left-Liberals prefer self-government in personal matters and central decision-making on economics. They want government to serve the disadvantaged in the name of fairness. Leftists tolerate social diversity, but work for economic equality. The description is by a libertarian.