The Obama Phenomenon and the 2008 Presidential Campaign

[Túrin Turambar]

Starting the primary in small states also gives lesser-known candidates a chance to get some attention. It also lets voters in later states get some idea of a candidate's vaibility, as well as letting candidates see what sort of chances they have before they go and spend a gazillion dollars in all fifty states.

[nerdanel]

My issue with starting the primary in smaller states is that those smaller states then have an effect disproportionate to their population on the ultimate outcome, which seems unfair to me (see also the Electoral College and the Senate.) I think that the commentary after Iowa is a prime example of this - Hillary's campaign was briefly presumed in great peril because, why? A small bunch of midwestern Dems/Independents (total population of the state is 2.9 million) had their say, so that's that? I find it infuriating that a high percentage of the candidate pool drops out, under our primary system, before a majority of Americans have had a chance to weigh in.

Put differently, I think that the voices of the registered voters in California (total population 36.5 million) should collectively count - how can I put this - 36 times as much as New Hampshire's 1.2 million total population (assuming that voter registration tracks the total population.) Unfortunately, because New Hampshire gets to "talk" first, Californian voters (among many others) never get to have any opinion that matters on a majority of the playing field.

And I, so far, do not buy the argument that the current system enables less well-funded candidates. After all, it's not quite February 5, and the viable candidates with fewer resources are still no longer on the ballot.

[Túrin Turambar]

Nel, I've replied to you in the primary delegate math thread. That way we can return to our regularly-scheduled Hillary-bashing here.

[ToshoftheWuffingas]

So it's down to Barak or Hillary. The question I asked a long while ago before any candidates had declared themselves is still the same. Which candidate is more likely to get an erstwhile Republican voter to switch to voting Democrat? This is the crucial question in my mind. One could refine it by adding who would get people out who would not otherwise vote. And also by asking who the Republican hierarchy fears the most.
I respect both candidates but I think I know the answer.

[Faramond]

So Ann Coulter has endorsed Hillary Clinton over John McCain.

This is by far my favorite moment of the 2008 campaign.

[Primula Baggins]

Sweeeeeeeet.

[nerdanel]

So Ann Coulter has endorsed Hillary Clinton over John McCain.

Clearly even Ann Coulter belongs to the powerful Sisterhood of Women.

[Primula Baggins]

<raises dainty fist>

[River]

So Ann Coulter has endorsed Hillary Clinton over John McCain.

This is by far my favorite moment of the 2008 campaign.

Sorry about the mess but my head just imploded. I'll get some sponges and clean it up...

[Cerin]

It must be a joke.

Meanwhile, MoveOn has endorsed Obama.

[Primula Baggins]

That's significant, but not surprising.

[Dave_LF]

Yes, the ultra-right pundits are absolutely frothing over the prospect of a McCain candidacy. I tried to listen to a Rush rant yesterday sheerly for entertainment value, but couldn't take more than a couple minutes of it. I can't say I understand why they loathe him so much.

[Primula Baggins]

Shirriff note from Prim: The discussion of the Iraq War has been moved to the following topic:

http://www.thehalloffire.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1444

[Túrin Turambar]

Mitt Romney seems to have won Maine, and by a decent margin too. Not a major contest, but it's the last before Super Tuesday.

[yovargas]

Is Ron Paul's performance better than expected? He beat Giuliani in most contests, apparently.

[Túrin Turambar]

Is Ron Paul's performance better than expected? He beat Giuliani in most contests, apparently.

He's done better than I expected. He came in second in Nevada, and it looks like he'll finish a close third in Maine. He also won a county in each of Iowa and Nevada.

[Túrin Turambar]

Our first Super Tuesday result – Huckabee wins the WV Caucus 52-47 vs. Mitt Romney.

[nerdanel]

Just wanted to solicit any thoughts on Barack vs. Hillary on universal health care. I found this opinion piece (also published by the Times, which has declared its bias, of course) interesting.

[axordil]

Krugman has made little secret of his support for Clinton pretty much across the board. I respect him on many matters, but I think his arguments here are based on a lot of supposition and uncited sources. Phrases like "new estimates say" are not up to his usual standards. Whose estimates? Done how?

I'm not saying his argument is without merit. I'm saying it's slipshod and thus impossible to judge on merit.

[Teremia]

It was rather thrilling voting in Paris today! Lots of people turned out for the vote, and the place was really abuzz.

I felt a tiny bit of

(dare I say it)

hope.