I Told You A Long, Drawn-Out Primary Was A Bad Idea

[THUNDER HANDS]

Regardless of who would win, a long-drawn out primary isn't going to be a contest of ideas, or a contrast of policy proposals -- it's going to be a backyard brawl with ugly words exchanged and dirty, dirty campaigning.

One argument says that it'll make our nominee tougher and more hardened for the general election.
Another argument says that it'll leave them so bruised from fighting eachother they'll be easy pickings for the GOP opponent.

Regardless of whichever argument proves correct, the effect on the supporters of whichever candidate loses is going to be the biggest problem. Neither Hillary nor Obama can afford to not have eachother's supporters in their corner come the general election.

If this race gets as ugly as I think it will - and I think it's going to be viscious - then you could see a severely fractured party come November.

I called it a few months ago. But I'll state it again now. Yeah, it seems all well and good to have a long primary and stuff - if that process called for a debate of ideas and strategies.

I don't think that's what we're going to be getting, however.

Kerry had a cakewalk through his primary - and he came out of it really well until something completely out of the blue - the swiftboat guys - knocked his campaign off target.

Now, tell me what effect a long, drawn-out primary between Dean and Kerry, or Edwards and Kerry, would have done to help him in that situation?

Kerry was able to unite the party fairly early, and got more votes than any Democrat, and any challenger, in history. He gave Bush the narrowest margin of victory ever for a president facing re-election, and did it during a war.

Just something to think about. Don't say I didn't warn you.

--

ps - just for the record, I'd feel the exact same way if Hillary or Edwards had the nomination in hand. It's not an Obama thing at all. Just a concern I have for whoever our nominee will be.

Feel free to insult and ridicule now. :)

[aquart]

1. Yep. Six months. All inclusive.

Mandatory jail time if you jump the gun.

[MADem]

2. The GOP are going through the same process. They'll be beaten and hardened too.

Dean imploded in Iowa, so that just ain't the same. Kerry pretty much had it from there on out.

I keep saying this is all over by SUPER TUESDAY, myself...

Who knows, though?

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. personally, I think you're right

it will be over by Super Tuesday.

Providing, of course, Hillary and Obama don't end up getting the same number of states, or delegates, or something close to eachother. One has to completely dominate the other in order for it to be over.

[Kucinich4America]

6. Dean didn't "implode", he was assassinated.

And I disagree with the OP, though I see his argument. I still think this needs to go all the way to Denver.

Look at it this way.... What would the 'Pukes have left to throw at the nominee, if it had all been done internally before the convention? :evilgrin:

[MADem]

8. Well, certainly. They were gunning for him, make no mistake with that scream thing.

But he imploded organizationally with those orange hat kids who didn't show up or who pissed off the locals.

He learned a lot from IA that he might have used in other contests, but I think he was counting on it since Kerry was bound to win NH, being from MA (most voters share the BOSTON TV market in NH).

That scream certainly iced the cake, of course, but it was uphill when his IA crew didn't perform well.

[DJ13]

3. Long Drawn-Out Primary A Bad Idea

Good points all around.

It worries me that there are some who want Edwards to continue splitting the majority of voters that obviously dont want Hillary as the nominee and see him continue all the way to the convention, creating a brokered convention.

That would create the appearance of a Democrat Party in disarray, not one of the kind of solidarity we need to beat the GOP in November.

[ieoeja]

4. At least I expect the GOP primary to be the same.

I like a toon posted yesterday with a hooded Klansman holding a sign that read, "will endorse your opponent for cash".

Another character seeing the Klansman said, "this is going to be a long, stupid year".


Which just about sums it up!


And all those people complaining about their primaries being too late in the year to count will find themselves the ones deciding the final winner long after the rest of us have already voted. I don't see anyone winning almost all the Feb 5th primaries by a large percentage. And since the delegates are dolled by those percentages, it means nothing will have been decided through Feb 5th.

[THUNDER HANDS]

9. no, the GOP primary will be different

it'll get bad, but not as bad as ours.

For a variety of reasons, not the least of which has to do with Reagan's 11th commandment.

[MrCoffee]

7. doesn't matter who you support, everyone loses in a long primary season

you're spot on. k&r

[kimmylavin]

10. And another thing.

With this "election cycle" lasting over a year, and the primaries happening 10 months before the elections, we've got a WHOLE BUNCH of elected officials not doing their damn jobs.

[Adelante]

11. Start the damned thing in September

Save them and us all a whole lot of money and aggravation. The public isn't ready until after Labor Day anyway.

[robcon]

12. It's not long/drawn out. Jan3-Feb5

First caucus in Iowa on January 3. Super Tuesday February 5. What's long and drawn out about that?

The campaigning started whenever the candidates wanted to, but the primary season will be very short.