How do you feel about Wisconsin's role (or lack of) in the primary process?

[Poiuyt]

On one hand, it bother's me that we will have no say in who the candidates for the presidential election will be. That will be decided well before we vote. On the other hand, it's nice not having to deal with all the negative advertising and disruptions with the candidates stepping all over each other.

[undeterred]

1. Can you imagine what that would be like

with our current party chair? :scared:

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. I'm used to it.

In Texas we had even LESS voice. And it's bluer here. So I'll take it.

[Jimbo S]

3. and redistricted to the point of marginalization.

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. Yup.

And I practically got heatstroke in 100+ degrees at the Austin capitol in 2004 protesting it. An amazing day, but so futile....

[dragonlady]

4. Check out the Michigan forum for a real primary mess

If I understand it correctly, their elected leaders went along with moving their primary up to January, which was forbidden by the DNC (I think the DNC was right about this, trying to slow down the primary process). All candidates except Gravel pledged not to participate in states that didn't cooperate, and Edwards, Obama, Richardson, and Biden took their names off the ballot. Clinton, Kucinich, Dodd (who dropped out), and Gravel did not. Kucinich filed paperwork to take his name off but missed the deadline, and he is still actively campaigning there. The law is that write-in candidates will not be counted. The only other option is to vote for "uncommitted" and hope the uncommitted delegates will vote for someone you like, if they are seated at the convention at all. Our primary is late, but at least we have our choice of all the candidates. The Michiganders are really pissed.

[ewagner]

5. We were once a "swing state"

and because of that we got a lot of attention...wanted and unwanted attention....we had dignitaries come to small, rural communities like ours and we had the opportunity to see our candidates up close and personal if we were willing to travel a relatively short distance...(35 miles for me to see John Edwards...43 miles to see Wes Clark...125 miles to see Kerry)

I'm pissed that:

a) We're not relevant in the process anymore; and,
b) We won't get to see any of the candidates up close and personal again..

dammit!

on edit: oooopss....I forgot to mention that I got to talk personally and candidly with Senator Bob Graham right here in my little berg....I'm still a big fan of his!!!!

[LiberalFighter]

6. What do you mean once a swing state?

Wisconsin has been in play for a number of elections.

[ewagner]

7. True ...but

as I understand it, Ohio is going to be the big player in 08...or so the punditry says....I'll try to find the link...\

(honestly, I've been to so many forums I can't remember whaer I saw the link that predicted it would come down to 60,000 voters in one Ohio congressional district....)

[LiberalFighter]

8. They still have to spend time in states that could go either way.

If they do the math and money wrong they lose.