Can Someone Please Explain To Me What All This Skipping Primaries Stuff Is All About?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

It's a good thing the general population isn't watching or else we would like asses and deservedly so...All this "I want to be first" nonsense has created a crisis... What purpose does it serve to ignore two large states like Florida and Michigan?

[glowing]

1. Florida is a deciding state... It is highly unknown as to what the

the machines will be rigged for... I personally think they are trying to take our voice away. I'm still voting... At least a general knowledge of what the voters want is better than nothing... unfortunatly... we always have some kind of scandal.. hanging chads, computer box fraud vote, and now this primary shit. I'm so pissed at the Florida Politicians that I could absolutley spit.

[riona]

4. I'm voting too

Last time the candidate was already chosen. This time our votes might not count. Tune in next election - what will FL do next?

[Romulox]

2. The candidates that are trailing in Iowa and NH are pandering to the locals...

John Edwards and Barack Obama are desperate to win in Iowa and NH, such that they are willing to gamble with Michigan and Florida's EC votes in the General Election. The idea is "why think about tomorrow when you may not survive today." Not surprisingly, Obama and Edwards, two candidates who have rarely been to Michigan and who have put forward plans that are either harmful to US manufacturing and labor (Obama) or simply remained silent on industrial policy altogether (Edwards) have little hope of winning a primary in Michigan. So in the short term, it does not harm them to pull out of the Michigan primary.

However...

Ironically, the "principled" stand of these men could hurt the Democratic Party's chances in the general election if they should pull an upset in Iowa. Snubbed Michigan voters may well stay at home, or even vote Repub. Florida's EC votes are even more up for grabs.

[rucky]

3. Power struggle between state & party. Voters lose. n/t