The compressed Primary Schedule - March 2nd should determine Candidate

[cthrumatrix]

In looking at the "compressed schedule" as put forth by Terry Mcaulife (Dem Chair). It really forces the dems to pick an early winner.

Only those with $$ resources can campaign in the next several markets (multiple $millions) for commercials and participating "effectively".

Look at what's coming up (delegate count):
------------------------------------------

Feb. 3, 2004 (270+ delegates)
-----------------------------
Arizona (64 delegates), Delaware (23), Missouri (42), New Mexico (37), Oklahoma (47), South Carolina (55), North Dakota (22)



March 2, 2004 (1400 + delegates)
-------------------------------
California (440), Connecticut (61), Georgia (102), Hawaii (29), Maryland (98), Massachusetts (121), Minnesota (86), New York (284), Ohio (159), Rhode Island (32), Vermont (22),
Washington (95)

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/sr_primary_keyprimaries.html


IMHO....becuase of this "fact" the media is in the driver seat in picking the candidate based on two very small states (Iowa/NH).

[lazarus]

1. So Terry was behind this crap?

Yeah, let's make the decision early. Because, after all, we've all experienced in our lives that quick, snap decisions are usually the best.

:eyes:

[cthrumatrix]

2. yep...it was his call....they knew what they were doing

before California wasn't until may/June

[displacedtexan]

4. It's a $ thing.

To beat *, the national party has to be able to raise enough $ for one candidate, not 2 or 3.
With repukes trying to kill us on soft $, we have to be leaner and meaner this year.

[Skip Intro]

3. wow, kinda puts IA and NH in perspective

And people are talking about who'll drop out after NH????

[cthrumatrix]

5. You might as well just had a "one 50 state election" on March 2nd

that way each candidate has a chance....new york , california, florida will not even have any input.

[Blue_Roses]

12. I agree

rather than drag this thing out over several months...it's too nerve-racking

[cthrumatrix]

14. I would say it's more "fair"..... but that is not what "McCaulife wants"

[cthrumatrix]

6. This "change" has an impact on which candidate has a chance

in 2000 Gore won Iowa..Bradley won NH...5 weeks between next primary.

[lovedems]

7. I always feel left out of the primary living in Illinois.

By the time I get to vote, the candidate has already been chosen. We don't have our primary until March 16th and Illinois is a big state for electoral votes I never understood why we have such a late primary. I hate it that by the time our primary rolls around, the winner has all but been announced.

[cthrumatrix]

8. Same feeling in Florid and Texas (March 9th) .... this is democracy?

March 9, 2004
--------------
Florida (201), Louisiana (71), Mississippi (41), Texas (232)

[SheilaT]

9. For what it's worth,

the Kansas caucus date was set for March 13 precisely because the state Democratic party figured the nominee would be known by then, and we'd have something of a love-fest affirming that guy. The whole point by then will simply be to start selecting the delegates to the national convention.

[cthrumatrix]

10. are you happy with that?....many of us will never get to choose

[SheilaT]

11. I'm a little bothered by it.

Perhaps a better system would be to have a 50 state primary in about April or May. It would force all the candidates to campaign in many states. Unfortunately, Iowa and New Hampshire are never going to give up their first in the nation thing, but maybe they could have their little day in the sun, and then have a 48 state primary.

I'm looking forward to the Kansas caucus as I'd like to become a delegate to the national convention, although my chance of doing so is virtually zero since most of the available slots are being reserved for special categories, of which middle aged white women aren't one.

If my candidate isn't at least still in the running by then, I may or may not participate. It would depend on who is on top at that point and how I feel about that guy.

[cthrumatrix]

13. They say this helps with issues ??? I never saw them covered

it only helps with manipulation of two states required to inlfuence the country.

The country doesn't get to vote or here issues...Iowa and NH here some speeches and the media will not cover issues for 90% of Americans.

[cthrumatrix]

15. kick for am crowd