When should Democratic candidates drop out?

[tsipple]

Poll question: When should Democratic candidates drop out?

With the compressed Democratic nomination schedule, it will be interesting to see when candidates drop out. So what standard should be applied? When should losing candidates drop out?

I realize that the answer may vary depending on the candidate -- Bob Graham dropped out already, for example -- so read the choices below carefully and vote accordingly.

[Justice]

1. Probably Depends on Who You Support

As someone who follows the race closely, it is interesting to me to have all of the views from the 9 contenders. However, after spending time over the holiday with family and friends, I can see many people aren't paying attention - some say they will focus after the new year, some "independents" say they will wait to see who faces bush and then decide, some say they are too busy, they are working and don't feel affected by the economy.

Those that watch the debates felt that with 9 - they didn't hear enough from anyone and thus felt they couldn't decide. These are people in New Hampshire - so they are getting more information than most.

As a Clark supporter, I believe the primary race would be more substantive if the field of 9 was reduced to 4 or 5 - Dean, Clark, Kerry, Gephardt and if 5, then Edwards (although Lieberman polls higher in some instances, I would just like him to go because he has just been nasty lately). I suspect that any Kerry, Gephardt or Edwards supporter would say the same.

However, I appreciate that 9 is working for Dean, so understand if his supporters would like everyone to remain until March.

[Bill McBlueState]

3. why is 9 working for Dean?

I must be missing something... :shrug:

[Fovea]

6. More work for Rove

A broad field means a divided effort.
Also, a broader attack on the Cheney/Rove ticket
is provided by 9 candidates.

By the time we get to one candidate, regardless of who it is,
the effect of 9 different points of attack will be telling.

[NashVegas]

22. Aye

I am digging it big time when 9 candidates are onstage dissing W. with no intervention and spin from the whores.

[AntiCoup2K4]

2. Bottom line is we need a solid ticket by March.

I know who I want to be the nominee, and obviously he's leading at the moment. But none of that is "official" before a single primary vote has been cast. Realistically, some candidates might well call it quits after Feb 3 if they aren't making any progress. But it's March 2, "Super Tuesday" that will more or less solidify the picture.

By the end of March, we need a united front that is only going after the Bush Criminal Empire and the Karl Rove corporate media hit squad. The cannibalistic atmosphere we have seen around DU the last few weeks isn't gonna work at that point. And I wouldn't be surprised if even more GOP operatives (Hi Chad! :hi: ) try to infiltrate after that, just to stir shit up.

[janx]

8. Was the Chadster a GOP operative? He sounded like one,

but I didn't hear anything about it. Do you have information about this?

[Crunchy Frog]

4. Other

They might as well all just drop out now, since the nomination is already decided, and the primaries are nothing but a formality.:eyes:

[jsw_81]

5. Dropping out

Kucinich, Sharpton, and Moseley Braun should have all dropped out about six months ago. They have zero chance of being nominated.

If Gephardt loses Iowa he's toast, Kerry will almost certainly quit when he loses New Hampshire, and Edwards will be out if he loses South Carolina.

[Padraig18]

7. The living and the dead will be easy to distinguish on February 4th.

It'll be very obvious who is 'in good condition', who is 'alive, but on life support' and who is 'dead' by then, IMO...

[Demeter]

9. the sooner the better

if a candidate isn't polling 10% or better by Jan 1, should pick someone who is and throw support their way. If you can't get the attention of people who are paying attention, you are toast.

If you are getting new people in, who never paid attention before, you are doing your job.

If you are collecting disaffected from other parties, you are also doing your job.

Any other scenario, and you are doing Karl Rove's job.

Then the top two who are doing the recruiting and turning should get together and run as a team, and pick out a Cabinet seat for the third.

"Somewhere, over the rainbow..."

[Hep]

10. Whenever they feel like it.

Each one of them has the right to stay in until they deem fit to drop out. There's not much more to it for me.

[Bombtrack]

11. NC and AK don't have primaries before spring, VT, CT, and MA are in March

so other than MO and Gephardt, which is on Feb 3, none of the candidates homestates have early primaries

[mermaid]

19. Ummmmm

AK is Alaska.

Did you mean AR????

AR is Arkansas...Clark's home state.

[Bombtrack]

25. yeah that's what I meant, too late to edit

thanks

[xultar]

12. Other: All but Dean should drop out now cuz Dean already won. n/t

[corporatewhore]

13. gore lost his home state

and won

[mndemocrat_29]

14. I think that four of the candidates

Kucinich, Moseley Braun, Sharpton, and Lieberman should all four drop out immediately. Then their could be a real debate between the remaining five (I can see the argument for keeping Lieberman in, since he does do well in some polls. I could also see the argument of Edwards dropping out as well, since he does poorly in many polls. Therefore between 4 or 6 candidates for the debate would be acceptable, though I think five (Edwards, Dean, Clark, Kerry, and Gephardt) would be best).

[cyclezealot]

17. Kucinich drops out, I'll have no reason to watch the debate.

I see very little difference between the rest. None inspire me.Kucinich is in it for certain issues, which must be raised until the very end...If Kucinich just gets 9% of the delegetes,that is enough to play a role in issues towards the platform..Once Kucinich is out, I am just along for the ride. No real motivation to work or be all that interested; because the issues that will make life better for so many Americans will be ignored.

[mermaid]

21. Really Now??

I guess you haven't heard Dean in support of universal health care?

[ThirdWheelLegend]

26. ? I though Dean was for Universal health insurance

?

TWL

[Bucky]

23. Why should Braun drop out when she's beating Kerry & Edwards?

Oh yeah. She's a woman.

I don't think anyone should be advised to drop out this early. It's not hurting the party at all. This rush to judgment is entirely about what's wrong with our culture today. Impatience made it easier for Bush to sell his stupid pointless war and impatience is making too many Democrats bat-assed crazy for a final settlement of this nomination months before the people have had a chance to think, speak, and vote.

If you're going to recommend anybody drop, the criterion most posters in this thread seem to be using is "do I like them or not?" That's hardly objective or small-d democratic. Logic says those who are polling worst should go: Kerry, Edwards, Sharpton, and Kucinich in the latest poll.

Of course who's up and who's down fluctuates from poll to poll (nice pun, Bucky!) since, you know, nobody's freakin' voted yet! The only two who turn up consistantly in the bottom four are Kucinich and Edwards. Lieberman almost consistantly lands in the top three. But again, it's silly to suggest anyone drop out now. After the 4th we'll see folks falling away. Probably none before then. They're all pretty much planning on not doing well in Iowa and New Hampshire.

[mandyky]

15. Other - Nothing won by March's Super Tues.

If a candidate can not win, place or show by the March Super Tuesday, they are doing more harm than good by staying in.

BTW win place or show = 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in at least half of those.

[shivaji]

16. Making another prediction...only 3 will be left after March

super tuesday.
1. Dean
2. Clark
3. Kerry or Gephardt, not sure yet who.

Unfortunately, those not in the lead by then will stay in the race and duke it out. So instrad of concentrating all our resources after the pResident, the squabble continues.

[mermaid]

18. How About

the other eight drop out NOW...and give it to DEAN!!!

[Myra]

20. Oh good lord. Is Ted Koppel on DU now???

Pressuring our candidates to drop out?

Ewww.

[arewethereyet]

24. when the money runs out

what other reason is there ?