Can we, like, not do this again?

[Liberal Veteran]

This has been an exhausting primary season.

I am cautiously optimistic at this point, but next time let's either get behind someone early or get it all over in about 1 month.

[MadMaddie]

1. No kidding.....it has been crazy.

[MichiganVote]

2. Good idea. Let's start with the state of Michigan.

[dorktv]

3. Absolutely not. I want every state to matter.

[AllentownJake]

4. Nope I say we do this everytime

We registered Millions of new voters and got 3 months of uninterrupted coverage of Democratic ideals in the media. There was some stupid shit but overall we got 3 months of debate over our issues on TV more than the GOP got with theirs and had more people paying attention to our guys than theirs.

You hear any speculation on McCain's VP choice? You don't because nobody cares.

[babylonsister]

6. Good points, but gramps and his screw-ups were also ignored/not

talked about. Maybe that will now change. It had better!

[AllentownJake]

10. Gramps

Thinks he can win PA, NJ, and CA.

I'm looking very forward to the fundraising race and to Gramps spending money in 3 of the most expensive media markets and states to campaign in the country where Obama already has fully functioning offices opened and working.

He never closed offices in swing states after he left. Gramps has no clue what he's about to face.

[babylonsister]

11. Did you see this?

:D

Obama Leads in Laying Campaign Groundwork
Big Spending Edge Presents McCain With Uphill Fight
By B Y CHRISTOPHER COOPER
June 7, 2008; Page A4


As the race begins between Barack Obama and John McCain, the Democrat is far ahead in laying the groundwork for a national campaign.

Federal records from February through April show Sen. Obama has outstripped Sen. McCain in spending for a campaign's most-important functions -- a staff of field directors to round up volunteers and get out the vote, a chain of local offices to call strategy and dispense paraphernalia, and a robust advertising and direct-mail schedule.

Sen. McCain, by contrast, has done little advertising, has a much leaner ground army, and is fielding only a handful of campaign offices ahead of the general election.

The mismatch in spending for the building blocks of a national campaign comes in part because Sen. Obama has had to pour resources into an intensive nominating battle far longer than Sen. McCain, who effectively sealed the Republican title four months before Sen. Obama sealed his party's nod this week. But the extended primary battle could benefit the Illinois freshman senator in November, because he has a ready staff in several key states and has built his name-recognition. The disparity also exists because Sen. Obama has been a far more-effective fund-raiser than Sen. McCain.

more...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=108x132371

[AllentownJake]

13. Don't need to see it

I live in the 3rd largest population area in PA and we've been having Obama events and organizing since April 22 out of our Obama office in Main Street Bethlehem.

[babylonsister]

15. OK. I thought it might be enlightening and informative for some. nt

[AllentownJake]

16. Wasn't a slight

I actually enjoyed it however, other than the paid staffers the Obama campaign never left PA.

[mcctatas]

5. We won't have to if John McCain gets elected....

[dchill]

7. Relax - next time is almost 8 years away.

(Fingers crossed.)

[CarbonDate]

8. What are you talking about? This was great!

:P

Kidding. But I think victory is much more gratifying when it's hard-fought. Nobody can say Barack Obama was given a free ride through the primaries. And had Clinton won, the same could be said of her. Everybody expected Clinton to coast to victory, but instead the victor had to earn it. We have both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama to thank for that.

[TooRaLoo]

12. Excellent points.

We had two great competitors fight their hearts out, and it was maddening, but still captivating.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. There were great gains and most of it I liked...

We could improve I think by making issues central over personalities, rejecting the media made narratives, oh- keeping more than two in the race for longer so it does not look like a dual.
The order of State Primaries should be made for the advantage of the whole. CA followed the rules, but if they had voted when they usually do, the Primary season would not have seemed so out of balance and fewer would have expected it to be over on Super Tuesday. Screw Super Tuesday. 50 States. 50 Primaries.
Oh. And one rule book for both candidates.

[RichardRay]

14. How about if we do it exactly the same way

but remember where we are now instead of where we were 6 weeks ago? (or 12 weeks, or 16 weeks, or...)