Can we start over? Should we add to the ballot for presidential candidates a choice for “none of the above?”

The Associated Press reported this week on a nationwide poll it conducted recently that finds at least half of Americans say they would be disappointed or even angry if either front-runners Donald Trump for the Republicans or Hillary Clinton for the Democrats, get their party’s nomination.

Sixty-three percent of those polled say they wouldn’t consider voting for Trump and the AP says half say they’d not vote for Clinton.

Close to 20 percent of those surveyed say they’d probably or definitely vote for a third-party candidate if Trump and Clinton are their party’s nominees.

Among Democrats, 23 percent of those surveyed said they’d feel neutral if Clinton is their party’s nominee, 19 percent said they’d feel disappointed and 5 percent said they’d be angry. That’s 47 percent, nearly half, for whom neutral is the warmest emotion over Cinton as the nominee.

Trump does even worse among Republicans surveyed by the AP, with 20 percent neutral over him as his party’s nominee, 25 percent disappointed and 16 percent angry. That’s 61 percent, close to two-thirds, for whom neutral is the warmest feeling towards Trump as his party’s nominee.

The AP survey also found less than half of Americans say Sanders, Cruz or Kasich come close to representing their opinions on the issues.

Only Sanders, according to the AP poll, generates significantly more positive than negative rankings from those surveyed, with 48 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of him, with 39 percent saying unfavorable. The AP reports he was the only remaining candidate “described by a majority of Americans” as at least somewhat likable, civil, honest and compassionate.

That’s a heck of compliment, to lead the pack of nominees for president for being somewhat likable, somewhat honest and somewhat compassionate.

Consider the well-known moniker for Abraham Lincoln as “Honest Abe.” It just wouldn’t have the same ring or the same weight to it if he were known as “Somewhat Honest Abe.”

The AP survey found nearly 70 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Trump, nearly 60 percent have an unfavorable view of Cruz and 55 percent have an unfavorable view of Clinton.

People apparently don’t know what to think about John Kasich, as 34 percent express a favorable view, 31 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 34 percent say they don’t know enough about him to have an opinion.

What sort of election campaign slogans are we likely to see once the Democrats and Republicans finally select their nominees, “Vote for our candidate — He/she stinks less than the other guy?”

That call for a “none of the above” may get more serious consideration.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHER