Longer primary campaign may help Democrats

[davidinalameda]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/28/elec04.prez.campaign.primaries.reut/index.html

The conventional wisdom stated that the Democrats needed a short, sharp primary campaign with a quick winner emerging to take on President Bush in November's election.

Now, after no decisive result from the first two contests and the possibility of the race going on well into March, some political pundits believe a longer struggle may benefit the party and the eventual nominee.

"As long as the debate within the party stays relatively civil, it's probably good for the Democrats if the campaign goes on for a while," said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at Catholic University.