Can we start narrowing down the field a bit now? NOT A FLAME

[ludwigb]

With the latest financial figures and the primaries just weeks away, who is still in the game? Over at Dailykos they have been giving odds. I'm not going to go there, but I think it's pretty clear that Gephardt and Clark are now Dean's most realistic challengers, with about equal chances. Gephardt will likely get a publicity boost for finishing 1-2 in Iowa which will give him an opening, while Clark is now the soundest challenger financially and the best positioned to pick up the Lieberman/Edwards money and support.

After Gephardt and Clark there is Kerry, who might suprise in Iowa and finish strong in New Hampshire. And then Edwards and Lieberman, although I think they are pretty close to finished at this point.

[tedoll78]

1. If yesterday's CNN/Gallup Poll is of any indication..

Dean can win pretty easily in a head-to-head match against any one of them. I'm not sure if I believe this (!), but I'm also wondering about the implications of such a scenario. Attacks clearly aren't doing him in. A stumble on his part could, but his support is very solid..

[eileen from OH]

2. I'm a Dean supporter

but I'm really hoping that Edwards can stay in for awhile because, of all of them, he frames/phrases the economic issues best and I want him to get to say it for as long as possible.

eileen from OH

[OhioStateProgressive]

3. Kucinich will have raised a total of 8.5 million with the matching funds

no need for him to quit

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Gephardt will be broke after Iowa

And much of the airtime in the later primary states will already have been purchased by Dean, Clark, and Kerry.

[TeacherCreature]

5. I hope Carol M-B stays in

I am not really sure what the desire to narrow the field is all about. It doesn't bother me that there is a large field of candidates. It give the media less chance to write the official mediawhore storyline.

[revcarol]

6. NMC is the motto of some.

Not My Candidate.
I love what ALL contribute to the debate.Well, almost all. It's not as if we have any candidates who are not better than Bush.

[iowapeacechief]

7. The "front loaded" calendar...

...of caucuses and primaries will narrow the field fast. Why go faster?

[salin]

9. welcome to DU iowapeacechief

:hi: and - I agree.

[salin]

8. Let the early primaries run - some of the thinning out will occur

naturally - without trying to convince some people that one low digit candidate is still close but another with same polling should get out - that is where subjectivity comes in.

I am a democrat who believes in the democratic process including the primary process - suggesting thinning the field before a vote has been cost runs against my blood.

[hellhathnofury]

10. As a Dean supporter I'd like all the candidates to remain in the race.