For those who don't "have a candidate" -- is it more a positive or a negative?

[Sparkly]

I'm an admirer and supporter of General Clark, and got involved and excited about his campaign last time. I was happy to support Kerry in the general election, too.

But this time, I've got no favorite. On the one hand, I miss the optimism, excitement, passion of believing so strongly in a candidate and having a clear favorite that way. On the other hand, there's so much emotional investment and it feels like a relief to be on the outside looking in at the inevitable infighting.

Which is stronger to you: the negative -- missing "having a candidate" (separate from missing having that candidate running now, which is something else again!); or the positive -- relief to be uninvolved in the battle?

[applegrove]

1. Karl? Is that you on the DU?

[Sparkly]

2. Huh?

:shrug:

[applegrove]

5. I was kidding. I wondered if Karl Rove was on the DU asking deep questions. LOL!

[Adelante]

3. Positive

Relaxing. I do take some part, but without the huge investment. I think the battles were joined far too early for me to take them that seriously. It could change around October, if I pick a candidate, or maybe I'll keep resting and just vote for somebody or other when the time comes.

[IA_Seth]

4. I voted negative..

I really miss feeling like I had a candidate that was my own. I like the field we have, but I am not energized the way I was in 2004, and don't have anyone that, at this point, I want spend my days off supporting.

I will support whoever gets the nom, but unless something changes I am kind of ho-hum about deciding who that ends up being.

[welshTerrier2]

6. "to be on the outside looking in"

i don't have a current presidential candidate. and I suppose you could say I am "on the outside looking in."

what I find very interesting, though, was your statement about missing the optimism, excitement and passion. the real fight, in my view, is not over candidates, or at least not solely over candidates, but over issues and values and vision as well.

if you don't have a candidate, why should that in any way lessen your passion for what you believe in? the truth is, because my views are well outside the party's mainstream, I never am likely to see a presidential candidate I would be passionate about. I hope I'm wrong about that.

and one other point: the focus of your post seemed to be on "presidential" candidates; I see no reason to limit your energies to such a narrow focus. aren't there Congressional candidates you care about? or how about even local candidates or local issues? there's plenty of work to be done in many different arenas; i see no reason to feel like an outsider looking in ...

[Sparkly]

8. I was speaking specifically about the "primary wars," nothing else. nt

[Greyskye]

7. negative

I really wish that there was a declared candidate that I could get excited about. I have positive feelings over portions of the positions of almost every Democratic candidate. But I also have extreme qualms over some aspect(s) of each one of those candidates.

I would get behind the candidacies of either Gore or Clark in a heartbeat if either of them threw their hat into the ring. If that doesn't happen, I'll support whoever wins the Democratic primary - albeit with misgivings deep in my heart. :(

[AlCzervik]

9. undecided right now but leaning. Last time i was for Dean from the moment he

announced i knew he was my candidate and when "the scream" non story was blown up by the media and i knew he was done i was really depressed, like the same sadness i felt the day Gore said he was done with the recount. This time no one candidate has gotten me the way Dean did but by the time January gets here i'll know.

[Cameron27]

10. Mostly positive,

a little negative, for all the reasons that everyone else said lol.

[Crunchy Frog]

11. I feel exactly the way you do, Sparkly.

It's really nice not to have the same level of investment that I had last time around. It's nice being able to look at all the bashing and not take it personally.

I wish Clark were running, but there's certainly a silver lining to his not running, and there not being any other candidate I feel passionate about.

[auburngrad82]

12. Positive. I think any of our candidates are better than what the GOP has

I'll be happy to support and vote for whomever gets the nomination.

[cleveramerican]

13. I enjoy watching the campaign unfold

I always decide finally when waiting in line at the polls. which drives some crazy I know.
Keeping my options open feels freeing to me right now.