If we want a Hillary alternative, don't lower polling candidates need to drop out ASAP?

The January Caucus and Primary dates are as follows (per Wiki):

January 3, 2008 Iowa caucus
January 15, 2008 Michigan primary
January 19, 2008 Nevada caucus
New Hampshire primary - sometime in January, but no date confirmed yet (anybody help here?)
January 26, 2008 South Carolina primary
January 29, 2008 Florida primary

We have 21 more states with either a Caucus or a Primary on Super Tuesday (Feb 5, 2008).

The way it looks from here, unless we see some major endorsements and combining of forces soon, Hillary Clinton could have the whole nomination package locked up by February 6th. That is about 15 weeks away folks!

Reluctantly, I am not going to waste any more energy hoping that Al Gore or Dennis Kucinich will be president; all my wishful thinking is not going to change either Al's desire to run or DK's chance to win. Now is the time to shift strategies.

For the many of us that prefer another Dem in the field as an alternative to Hillary, it seems a combination of endorsements, dropping out, and new allegiances need to be formed from ALL candidates in the lower M$M poll tier within the next couple of months. Obviously they would line up behind either Edwards or Obama. Edwards is the clear DU favorite for that possibility per this non-scientific DU poll (posted this a.m.):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2141265&mesg_id=2141265

QUESTION: Does anybody see all this reshuffling with a sense of urgency and does it need to happen BEFORE the New Year to have a realistic chance to prevent Hillary from being our nominee?
:shrug:



on edit: redo subject question to be more direct

By this process I have eliminated everyone except for Jimmy Carter.

prevent Hillary from the nomination. Nothing is worse than the republicans running for president.

I do see a sense of urgency to prevent Hillary from being our nominee; in this voters mind she is rethug-lite. We probably disagree on that.

I do agree though sallyseven, that even Hillary is a preferred alternative to the declared rethugs who are part of Shrub's lock-stepping minions.

I really, REALLY hope that either Edwards or Obama emerge as a favorite and viable alternative to Hillary. It seems to combine forces and get a slew of endorsements as the only way to derail the Hillary machine. I feel it with a sense of urgency - but I have not heard a peep from the other Dems on dropping out or a shifting strategy.

Though after a nominee is all but certain, I'll accept the choice of the party and vote DEM no matter what in the General. Though while we still have a chance, I dearly hope there is a way to redefine what the M$M defines as the front-runner.

everyone except Obama should drop out.

see any reason why the lower ranked candidates would want to leave before Iowa or new Hampshire. Curious things have happened in tha past.

Even curioser, I can't say that none of them would lend their support to Hillary if they did quit.