I don't remember any campaign starting as early as this one.

[PlanetBev]

Is it just my imagination? We're (and the media) talking about November 2004 like it's tomorrow. We can't drive ourselves crazy about reports of an upswing in the economy just in time for the election, because the election is still a year away. A year is an eternity in politics. Also, we're going to have to offer something better than just hoping the economy will stink in '04 because the economy is like a yo yo, it will always go up and down.

[mobiggsly]

1. i was thinking that too

Is the first primary way before when it has been in the past or am I imagining that. When did Bush anounce he was running for president in 2000? You are right that the economy not being at full strength isn't going to beat Bush. Dems need a solid plan for the economy and job market.

[Selwynn]

2. If you haven't announced by October the year before you're late.

I think maybe you're just paying more attention this time around...

[jobycom]

3. One of my friends was contacted by Kerry before the 2002 elections

She said she'd never been contacted that early before. There hasn't been a letup for most Democratic campaigners since the 2000 theft.

That being true, there is usually campaigning around this time before an election, but it generally isn't as visible until the turn of the year, maybe because there aren't usually this many candidates making noise. And there's the red convertible syndrome-- you're more involved now so you are noticing it more. Most people outside of the activists and junkies couldn't name two of the Democratic candidates, and a few couldn't even name Bush.

[kskiska]

4. Now it's a permanent campaign

Hard to believe, but way back when, once someone won the office of president, his partisan affiliations were pretty much forgotten and he was thought to represent all the people – until the next campaign four years later. It's not like that anymore, since the right-wingers came out with Reagan. It's mean and vicious all the time.

[mot78]

5. Elections ARE earlier and ARE more expensive now

I heard Kerry and Edwards were getting people lined up before 9/11. Probably Dean and Lieberman too.

[realFedUp]

6. State by state primary election dates

http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president_state_primary_dates.php

Date State

January 13th, 2004 District of Columbia Presidential Primary (Closed)

January 19th, 2004 Iowa Presidential Caucuses

January 27th, 2004 New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election* (Closed)

February 3rd, 2004 Arizona Presidential Preference Primary (Closed)
Delaware Democratic Presidential Primary (Closed)
Missouri Presidential Primary (Open)
New Mexico Democratic Caucus
North Dakota Caucuses
Oklahoma Presidential Primary (Closed)
South Carolina Democratic Presidential Preference Primary
South Carolina Primary Election



February 7th, 2004 Michigan Democratic Presidential Caucus
Washington Democratic Caucus



February 8th, 2004 Maine Democratic Presidential Caucus



February 10th, 2004 District of Columbia Democratic Caucus*
Tennessee Presidential Primary (Open)
Virginia Democratic Presidential Primary (Open)
Virginia Republican Presidential Primary* (Open)



February 17th, 2004 Wisconsin Presidential Primary (Open)



February 24th, 2004 Idaho Democratic Caucus



March 2nd, 2004 California Presidential Primary (Modified Closed)
Connecticut Presidential Primary (Closed)
Georgia Presidential Preference Primary (Open)
Hawaii Democratic Caucus
Maryland Presidential Primary (Closed)
Massachusetts Presidential Primary
Minnesota Democratic Caucus
New York Presidential Primary* (Closed)
Ohio Presidential Primary (Open)
Rhode Island Presidential Primary
Texas Presidential Primary (Open)
Vermont Presidential Primary (Open)
Washington Presidential Primary


March 9th, 2004 Florida Presidential Primary (Closed)
Louisiana Presidential Preference Election (Open)
Mississippi Presidential Primary (Open)


March 16th, 2004 Illinois Presidential Primary (Open)

continued

[elperromagico]

8. Arkansas primary isn't until May 18th

*sigh*
Pick a good candidate for me, ladies and gents.

[elperromagico]

7. They certainly do start earlier

Eisenhower didn't declare his candidacy for President until about a month before the 1952 Republican convention. That was standard operating procedure at the time. Carter started his campaign in '75, and I believe he was one of the first to start a campaign so early.

I think most of it has to do with money; you need a great deal of time to raise a great deal of money.