I think the dog-catcher gets more votes in LA

[windansea]

So John Kerry has won a convincing victory in New Hampshire, enough to cement his front-runner status and place him only a primary victory or two from claiming the Democratic nomination for president. Kerry accomplished that feat on the strength of about 85,000 votes cast by Granite State Democrats -- far fewer than the 122,000 votes my local state senator received in her last reelection campaign. Howard Dean won a solid second place, with fewer votes than my assemblyman – one of 80 in the California Legislature – got last time. And then there were John Edwards and Wesley Clark, fighting it out for third place with about 26,000 votes each, about as many as it took to finish third in the most recent race for the Sacramento city school board. Poor Joe Lieberman. The senator from Connecticut pulled down about 18,000 votes, leaving him mired in fifth place. If 8,000 or so more New Hampshirites (New Hampshirians?) had felt the “Joe-mentum” and gone with Lieberman, he’d be the surprise third-place finisher and the darling, for the moment, of the national media. Ok, I know we have said this before, but just for the record, it’s nuts. I’ve got nothing against retail politics, and it’s great to put the candidates through their paces up close and personal in a tiny northeastern state that looks nothing like the rest of America. But does it have to be winner take all (momentum-wise, if not in the delagate count)? Can’t we just say, hmm, that’s interesting, people in one small frigid corner of America seem to like the senator from next door and the governor from the state on the other side of them more than they do a couple of fellows from the South. I wonder how the South feels? Or the West, for that matter. Gee, maybe we should see what the voters in the nation’s biggest state think about all of these candidates? Nope. Let the winnowing continue. Next stops: South Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona, Delaware, New Mexico and North Dakota. Go for the underdogs, guys. Keep hope alive!

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/insider/

[WilliamPitt]

1. I find it interesting

how many people here have been attacking the process, and in some cases the voters themselves, in Iowa and New Hampshire. This, for instance, is trying to deemphasize New Hampshire in the broader scheme.

Read Robert Shogan's book "Bad News: Where The Press Goes Wrong In The Making Of The President." Shogan was a journalist for 30 years, and document the effect of the press upon every election since 1960. Over and over and over again, New Hampshire became - for real reasons or manufactured ones - the reef upon which many political ships were smashed.

The New Hampshire primary, Dixville Notch, 'first in the nation,' all that is an institution now. It's a big deal because it's a big deal, because history and traditions do matter.

Personally, I like the style of politics in Iowa and New Hampshire. From here on out, the campaigns will consist of TV commercial barrages and large-scale rallies. That's the only way to play it in multi-state contests. In IA and NH, however, they make the bastards go door to door for months, and it's cold.

They talk in restaurants, bars, pool halls, art galleries, coffee shops, and in people's homes. Say what you want about rural white people, but the ones in IA and NH, when the wind is right, can smell a political bullshit artist from a mile away.

(on edit: the 'bullshit artist' comment is not aimed at any specific candidate; I am speaking in generalities after watching NH unfold for just about all of my conscious life. neighbors, ya know)

THAT is hard, and whoever wins such a contest earned it. Retail politics is the beam, the rail upon which politics is supposed to run. That it does not, that the manner in which IA and HN play out now seems quaint, is one of the core problems we face.

[windansea]

2. I agree with the personal campaigning aspects

but the multiplier effect of the media/frontrunner driven contest leaves many states and regions feel left out of the process

[WilliamPitt]

3. I hear you

They front-loaded the primaries this year. But it has been a long, long, long time since things came down to a brokered convention. The most recent time, I think, was 1972; if you read Hunter Thompson's report, it sounds like the McGovern guys had to out-general some other campaigns on the floor to secure the nod.

32 years ago. Things ain't like what they used to be.

[windansea]

5. nobody wants a brokered convention

just more equity in our primary system :(

[bobbieinok]

4. they HAVE to meet with people

That's what I really miss about the IA caucus system.

Politicians HAVE to meet the people.

IF voters care, they have MANY opportunities to go hear candidates in person.

OK after that is pretty boring.

THIS year (I guess because of the number of candidates and the drive of some) we've actually had candidates visit OK. Some - Clark for one - several times. Right after NH, Clark and Edwards were in Tulsa the same day and Lieberman the next.

[joshcryer]

6. Earned it?

What about the stories about people voting for a particular candidate, specifically because of "electablity" and other stupid crap like that? I think you inflate the importance of IA and NH...

[windansea]

7. kick n/t

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

9. Why is "electablity" stupid crap?

Seems pretty foolish to invest a lot of time and trouble in a candidate if he has no chance of getting elected. Might as well just skip the election and appoint Bush for another 4 years then. Stupid crap like electability is a priority with me as well.

I want Bush OUT of that White House. NOW!

[windansea]

8. yeah for the media driven prom king

bleahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...!!