Politics – Democratic strategists think the fight for the presidential nomination between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has dragged on too long. Too bad. The Obama-Clinton face-off is the most exciting, interesting and informative race for a party's presidential nomination in more than two decades.
Con't
The 2008 schedule was structured to crown a nominee on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, when more than 20 primaries were held. That meant the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination would be over in one month (as the Republican race indeed was). At that stage, Democratic voters had seen Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton among a crowd of candidates in TV debates. But only a small fraction had seen the candidates in person. No one had seen them together, just the two of them, discussing their strengths and weaknesses.
Something that the Democrats don't think about is with this dogfight between Obama and Clinton that the focus has been on Democrats to the exclusion of McCain. That has caused his numbers to slowly drop. That will change when they decide on a candidate. Today will tell a tale of what will happen in the future.
I think all primarys should be held on the same day. I also think all elections should be held on the weekend. I would hold primarys on the first weekend in April. The general election would be the first weekend in November. The candidates could cruise around the country all they want in advance of the primary and the general and get their "message" out.
There are some major problems with holding the primarys on one day
First, in order to be compeititve, the candidate would have to be well funded - be a millionaire or be backed heavily by special interests
Second, the candidates would concentrate on the states with the most voters or the large population centers
People in the smaller states and rural areas would not really matter
The candidates would concentrate on TV ads to get their messages out and that would be very expensive. Lesser known candidates with little money would never be able to compete
The longer primary season allows for more intense scrutiny
How long has it taken to really know what Obama's views are?? Frankly, I don't think we even really know enough about him and his policies positions now
abntv
I agree with you regarding the elections both the primary and general.
Back in the 80's I was in San Juan, Costa Rica during a Presidential election. Everyone was having a great time campaigning sometimes both candidates backers would be in the same car or truck waving flags and cheering their candidate on. The voting took place on Sunday and there was a huge turnout. It was such a pleasant and polite election, a different election experience from here in the USA.
I can understand the DNC's trepidation at having this process drag on for so long but I have to say it has been nothing but informative about how the Democratic candidates view, themselves, America and the world.
I really, in a joyfully perverse sort of way, wish the Republican candidates had been forced to do the same thing.
Anyhow, this whole show is very good for the voters if not the candidates.
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FTA:
So what matters, in addition to the position of the candidates on policy issues, are their personal traits รข;; character, judgment, temperament and basic honesty.
Voters don't learn much about these characteristics in a truncated primary season. It takes a longer campaign, one in which the surviving candidates respond to victory and defeat, and to moments of strain or surprise or embarrassment. Candidates may not relish a primary marathon, but voters benefit enormously from it.