They may not vote their actual self-interest or their true preference based on platforms and positions, rather they (we) often vote based on an idealized but fictional projection of the candidates

If you stopped there, I would agree with you.

It still sounds like a "stupid voter" theory to me to say that voters think, live and believe one thing but then have an attack of forgetfulness when they go to pull the lever.

The problem with mass psychoanalytic theories are that anyone who disagrees is told that it's all in their subconscious. Whups, can't measure the subconscious. Ergo, the analyzer says he's right and the analyzees just don't know it. Those being analyzed don't get to have an opinion.

People lie on polls and tests because they are secretly afraid someone is keeping track, or they simply don't want to look bad or different. That's no surprise -- people lie about drugs, sex, religion and anything else sensitive. Why not politics?