9 Candidates too many for voters

[ringmastery]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=1&u=/chitrib_ts/20031223/ts_chicagotrib/9hopefulsprovingtoomanyforvoters

9 hopefuls proving too many for voters
Tue Dec 23, 9:39 AM ET Add Top Stories - Chicago Tribune to My Yahoo!

By Lisa Anderson Tribune national correspondent

NEW YORK -- Nine may be the perfect number for baseball teams, Supreme Court justices, the name of a long-running Broadway musical and the planets in our solar system, but it has proved to be a devilishly difficult numeral when applied to the field of Democratic presidential candidates.

In a nation with a famously short attention span, nine candidates appear to be about nine too many for most Americans to remember at this point. A CBS News poll released last month found that half of all registered voters couldn't name even one of the Democratic candidates--nor could 45 percent of those planning to vote in the Democratic primaries.

This may be a clue as to why "Undecided," "Don't Know" or "Other" have been at, or near, the top of many recent surveys asking Democrats their choice for the party's presidential nominee.

[WindRavenX]

1. When talking to people, this is true

Many times I have been approached by people who comment on my John Kerry button. They tell me they know OF but know nothing else about Kerry or any of the other canidates. This is a huge problem for non-informed (or just informal) voters- they can't keep track of all the damn people that are running.
When I went canvassing in NH, people are just flat out overwhelmed by how many guys are running for president.
The solution is to focus on a few- and not overwhelm people.

[arcane1]

2. good, I get to rant about this again!

so it's "daunting" to choose between 9 Democrats. How fucking daunting was it to choose between TEN Repubes in 1999?

They were:

1)Bush
2)McCain
3)Dole
4)Buchanan
5)Forbes
6)Alexander
7)Quayle
8)Smith
9)Kasich
10)Bauer

can you goddamn COUNT, you ignorant media whores?????

here is a link to the original "story", on the right side is a place to give the Tribune a piece of your mind

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0312230206dec23,1,2646429.story

call these bastards out!!!

[Dimsdale]

3. Lisa appears to be emulating...

several of the contributors to op/ed pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer. They pick up on obvious repuke talking points. Dean is blinded by his Bush-hating, Dems are in disarray, too many candidates, Bush has resolve, Dean has anger...blah, blah, fucking blah...
Half of all registered voters? A poll of how many can definitely speak for all registered voters? Yeah, right.
Hey, this is Candidate Gore Treatment Part II. Dems and especially Dean, if he remains the front runner, will be hit with this shit ad infinitum during '04.

[kainah]

4. Yes, we can't risk 9 candidates!

After all, that might lead to DEBATE! I've said it before & I'll say it again & again & again: this large debate is GOOD for the Democrats. People may not be distinguishing between the candidates, but they are hearing a variety to voices and ideas and that is causing them to think about the issues. As soon as we're down to 2 candidates, debate will end & it will become partisan sniping, which is what the media is more comfortable covering.

5. Ten

articles in the bill of rights too many for most voters....

50 states too many to remember....

[TexasSissy]

6. True. While I respect all the candidates, the vanity runners need to drop

While I respect all the candidates, it's time for the vanity runners to drop out, if they truly care about the country and beating Bush. The nomination race needs to get focused on three or four, at a maximum.

Maybe after the IA and NH primaries?