Gosh, in one thread I get bashed by an imperfect definition of bigotry, in this one by an imperfect definition of rhetoric! Desperate stuff.

I have nothing against tactics, and I agree with your sentence at the end of your tale. I am opposed to briefing against people who are accused of "splitting the vote" by standing. It is a tactic, all right, but in my book it's an underhand one.

A long time ago I contested our staff room election for the teacher governor of the school. I stood against the long-standing incumbent who had become rather self-serving. A rather right-wing fellow, quite a popular chap, also threw his hat into the ring. The said incumbent sidled up to me and advised me (somewhat threateningly) to withdraw, as I was splitting the "left" vote. I refused. Well, she lost the election. And I won!