Technically, doesn't an extended Democratic Primary actually help the Democratic Party....

[ShaneGR]

Ok, Howard Dean preached about this. He wanted Democratic money to go into all 50 states. He wanted the party built from the ground up. So lets say this does go to the convention and all 50 states plus US territories get to vote and it actually means something. Thats a hell of a party building exercise, and isn't that EXACTLY what Howard Dean wanted to happen from day one. 50 state strategy.

[LiberalAndProud]

1. I think so.

We are in the minority on this board though.

[earthlover]

2. Theoretically, you are right. Unfortunately there is another factor at play....

Hillary's campaign tactics are to try to trash Obama. Not build up hillary. Not even say Obama is not as good. But to trash Obama as not fit to be president period, not even better than McCain. Since she is doing this, any benefit from the primaries is negated and more so by her kitchen sink.

How about a deal....no complaints about the rest of the primaries, no urging Hillary to quit....in return Hillary acts like a true Democrat for once and agrees to scrap her kitchen sink trash talk....

If she were running a positive campaign, or even a campaign within the normal limits of negativity, she would not be getting so many calls for her to hang it up.

However, she has not done so. So this talk about all 50 states counting sounds like desperation and whining....

[ShaneGR]

9. Honestly, if my state hadnt already voted, I would currently vote for Obama, BUT

This business with Obama supporters jumping all over Hillary, Bill, Chelsea, and anyone associated with her campaign has also crossed the line. Enough already out of both of you, do you really think Obama is going to have it all "taken away" by the Clintons? Not gonna happen. It's funny, 99% of the hatred is based on what their supporters are saying, not what the candidates themselves are saying.

EDIT: I voted in Florida for Edwards, and if there was a revote tomorrow I'd vote Obama.

[Two Americas]

15. goes both ways

As a neutral observer, I can't see that.

Attacking the opposition for allegedly attacking - well that is an attack right there, and around and around we go in the same circles with charge being met by counter charge.

Much of the attacking of Clinton and her supporters relies upon - by overt admission of many Obama supporters - a view that she and they are evil incarnate and represent everything that is wrong with the party. Who wouldn't fight back against that? To say - as many do - that if Clinton supporters would just accept that she is evil incarnate and accept and support the nomination of her opponent, all would be well. Any objections to that are then characterized as "attacks" and as "dirty tricks" and God knows what.

It is easy to say that if the Clinton supporters would just go away there would be no fighting. But they could say that about the Obama supporters, as well.

Of course if we all agreed there would be no arguing. That goes without saying. "Give in, and admit you are wrong and evil, and we will stop fighting with you" is no olive branch. Blaming one side for all of the mess is just a clever and somewhat disingenuous way to contribute to exactly what you are supposedly complaining about.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. The problem isn't that 50 states are voting, the problem is Hillary is a loose cannon.

If Hillary dropped out of the race taday, all the states would still vote.

Hillary and Bill kissing John McCain's ass wasn't good for the Dems.

[cali]

4. No. An extended and contentious primary season ending in a brokered

convention damages the eventual nominee. Why do you think all the dem leaders- and I mean all- don't want a brokered convention?

[joshcryer]

7. It won't be brokered unless an amazing turn of events happens with SDs.

SDs who, at the brokered convention, would still be making the same decisions.

[cali]

5. No. An extended and contentious primary season ending in a brokered

convention damages the eventual nominee. Why do you think all the dem leaders- and I mean all- don't want a brokered convention?

[joshcryer]

6. Why do you think Dean isn't letting the SDs decide it already?

[NC_Nurse]

8. It would seem so to me.

The field director of our office here in NC seems to think so. The only people I know who
don't think so are the people here.

[roseBudd]

10. Couple problems, the vast amounts of money that is being spent will not be

available for the GE. McCain got to quit spending for primaries and has started advertising.

[ShaneGR]

13. Not true.... that assumes that the well is dry for GE money

Obama is raising more than a million dollars a day on the internet, each month is a wave of new money, a lot of it coming from the state he's about to campaign in.

[roseBudd]

17. It is still money i would prefer to see spent on the GE

[featherman]

11. I think it's fine and has been a very good warmup for the GE

There can be no doubt that our eventual nominee, Barack Obama, has sharpened his skills and ability to deal with whatever comes up.
I say let 'em buck. The meme about this being a benefit to McCain is hogwash. A week or a month is a lifetime in politics. The benefit he may appear to achieve in head to head polls at this point vanishes once we have our nominee. Every indicator is still in the DEM's corner for this election. Let's not lose track of something so basic.

[ShaneGR]

18. I agree, I do not see a scenario where McCain can win....

With the continued economic downturn and the coming summer in Iraq, any candidate aligned with Bush on ANYTHING is going to get their asses handed to them in the GE.

[Yael]

12. Yes and No

Good to be vetting our own candidates where the debate is still being framed on Dem terms (and yes, I am being generous with Mrs. Clinton by saying that).

Bad in that McCain is getting a 6 or so month pass from negative press -- which can only help his positive ratings while we tear each other apart.

Good in that everything we are airing now will be useless and 'yesterdays news' in the general.

Bad in that donors are getting tapped out and we will need donations to both the candidate AND the DNC in the fall.

I am in PA and am ready for this to be over. If I wake up tomorrow and hear that she dropped out and my vote "doesn't count", I am all for it and ready to take on the republican machine ASAP rather than have to defend Senator Obama against all comers against HRC and her smear campaign.

:hi:

[ShaneGR]

14. Counter-point

Why is it assumed that its bad for Obama and Clinton to say "bad things" about each other. All of that will come out in the GE anyways, so why not get all the dirt out in the open early while theres still 150% coverage of each response. Kerry got swiftboated because he took like a week to say anything. These campaigns are firing back and forth everyday. They get their point across quickly, and its framed as democrats even if it seems ugly just because they're "fighting."

[Yael]

16. I thought I just listed those points as positives?

Sorry if I mislead.