Did The Democratic Primaries - Help or Hurt Chances For A Nov. Win?

[global1]

Seems to me that we did damage to ourselves by parading around the country the Dem candidates for so long in the run up to Kerry finally getting the nod. These candidates took swipes at each other thru the process - until one rose to the top. But - did this process confuse the voters? Did it show that their wasn't agreement in the party?

Why can't the Dems - pick the candidate(s) in a back room. Run fewer candidates. Use that process for some trial balloons on policies and get the process over with fast and clean.

Is Dean goining to help on this account? Should he? or are we satisfied with the primary process?

[SCDem]

1. I see it two ways

I see your point and might agree that the primaries did not help us for a November win.

However, I think the primaries did help us take a look and realize that we need to be more active and inclusive as a party. I think the primaries helped in getting many interested in day to day politics who were previously not part of the process. Did we lose in November yes. But are we a stronger party because of the primaries? I say yes.

Just my opinion though

[Vincardog]

2. The Primary process was the shake down for the Republican crooked

Voting machines. They worked by taking Dean out. You can change the primaries any way you want but unless and until you get control of the MSM and the vote counting process We are FKED.

[Upfront]

3. You Are Right

Should have said so before now.

[karynnj]

4. Tame Primaries

The main thing everyone was saying for the most part during the primaries is that in the debates there was more criticism of Bush than the other Democrats. I'm definitely not saying there was no negative campaigning, but compared to other years it was mild.

The one thing that might have hurt was that they were so bunched up that Kerry really had it sewn up in early March. If they were stretched out you would have had more victory speeches giving Kerry more visibility.

[Catchawave]

5. I think they hurt our party spirit....

..speaking for myself, I was so passionate about John Edwards, that when he dropped out, it took several months to work up support for Kerry, and probably only in an ABB way.

We must find another way to do this in '08 !

[flyarm]

6. there were too many candidates..and it went on too long..

the primary season went so long people got too embedded with the candidate they bonded with ..then it took too long for the 'GROUPS' to get together and coagulate to one party again..i saw it here in fla..we had people who were so entrenched with their "candidate" that they had a difficult time getting behind "our " candidate...as a delegate i saw dirty tricks to get to the convention and i saw a couple delegates not even come to the floor of the convention..they went to clark parties in boston instead of coming to the floor and being part of the "party"
some ran for delegate for kerry as a fall back incase their cadidate didnt make it through the primaries...i remember the first night one of our delegate stood at the first get together at a university..i was thrilled to be there..and all two of our delegates did was run down john kerry and say why he shouldnt be the candidate..well i for one did not want to hear it as kerry was always my candidate..but the sour apples was definitely alive and well
i had to just walk away and stay away from the negativeness..but i dont say it was their fault..i think it was the fault of the whole process and too many candidates..too many choices maybe i dont know..i like choices..but cant we decide before the primaries on a few great people instead of 9??

and i really think we have to hold back a piece of ourselves and say ..i must support who we the people pick and get right behind that person...there was a serious delayed reaction to those who did not support kerry...

i know through the porcess i said i would not pick a candidate..i chose to run for kerry delegate as i felt in jan he had the best chance to win..but i would not commit to any one candidate as i knew we needed to remove bush and that was #1 priority to me. so i knew i had to be ready to fight with the leader of our party to the white house..i with held a little of myself..so i would be ready for the fight...
i saw so many here..get so absorbed by one candidate they could not easily accept anyone else..
i think that somewhat hurt our party..
it took many until after the convention for many to get reactive...and some never got over kerry being the candidate..

we had a rally here the day after kerry announced edwards..and i was working security( i was in charge of 5 groups of volunteers working security)..and it wasn't * people we were warned about and were on the look out for ..it was another democratic candidates group we were warned was going to try to disrupt the rally...

it was dems we were told to be on the look out for for disruption..i felt that was so sad...not for me but for my party and for my nation!

just my 5 cents worth here...

fly