"and ask themselves if they really want to throw their votes away on a candidate who obviously doesn't stand a chance. "

I guess I should not have voted for Dukakis?   Sorry, even though he did not have a chance, I could not pull the handle for "he who shall not be named".

It is not handing over the election to someone else, nor is it an empty gesture. Vote what your head and heart tell you, but don't tell anyone that they are wasting their vote. Talk like that keeps people away from the voting booth. Those are the ones who throw away their votes, and cost candidates elections.