The first time I heard the phrase 'stealing the line' was when Fudoli used the write-in tactic to win line he was not endorsed for by the Conservative Party, and to my knowledge did not actively campaign for.
Prior to his win, the Democrats controlled the Conservative line for years. I could not understand why liberals were controlling a line with conservative values. Changes took place in the party hierarchy and conservative values were reinstated. Some of the old guard oppose the ideological change and challenge the party endorsed candidates, not only with a bonafide candidate but with interlopers supporting the challenging candidate to take away votes from the party-endorsed candidate.
As stated in other posts, I favor fusion politics and voting. As a ‘blank’ I can find a minor party line to vote for a candidate I believe qualified for office.
I abhor voting on either Democrat or Republican election ballot lines.
I believe when the respective party committees endorse a candidate there should be no challenges. The committees interview, vet and endorse the candidates they believed follow party ideology and values. This year, some candidates did not apply for an interview, got the needed petitions and never actively campaigned – stalkers. Some managed to challenge the endorsed candidate and through chicanery won. These candidates represented a party line whose values often differ from the party ideology and also take away a line for someone like me to vote on – taking away my freedom of expression.
As a blank who can’t vote in a primary, I knew little of the process, but enough to know that this year’s primary was far more disgustingly immoral / dishonest than the norm. As such, Breezy and his cohorts were in pig heaven. They loved every minute of the intrigue.
Despite the primary BS, I was still able to find my candidates of choice on minor party lines. Three of the five local candidates won, and one is pending.