I know the early campaign is annoying, but it's a reality. How's it going?

Does anyone doubt that if other candidates don't get some traction NOW, they may not even make it to the point where most of the public realizes the race is already begun? I've read folks who think there is time later for the campaign to begin, but I think the race is already on . . . and possibly getting late early.

I watched as Vilsack bowed out and I thought, how did we come to this situation where the only conversation in the media is about two, sometimes three of the announced candidates based on money and name-recognition? The most annoying thing is that the assumption is that WE have already chosen because of some ridiculously early polls.

Either we are setting ourselves up for the ground to come out from under these 'front runners' without anywhere for them to land, or, we're angling for a coronation of personality and convenience. There's NO way potential voters know enough about the positions and intentions of the announced candidates to justify a coronation, and there are already signs that the poll leaders could implode because of infighting and media-fueled resentments.

Is your candidate a 'frontrunner' in the polls, or is your candidate lagging? What do you plan to do to promote and elevate your candidate? How are you feeling, so far, about your efforts on behalf of your candidate and your plans/prospects for the near future?

The longer the campaign is, the higher the negatives go for every Democratic candidate in it.

it's like how Christmas comes earlier every year.

in Feb.

It really getting beyond our control now. I wonder how long before 'they' say it's 'too late' for another to announce?

remember how they say a President really only has 18 months to do anthing before thinking about the next election. This earlier stuff may make it even less.

It may be that a 'frontrunner' can manage the time by riding the wave on top to the general. They may measure up to the challenge. Kind of an unbalanced head-start, though. Some of that is the system, some of it due to the prowess of the individual and their campaign.

On the other hand, anyone who expected a level field may be disappointed.

how's it going?

TOODANG EARLY leads all Democratic and Republic candidates by 34 points

It's the prospect of it continuing 'without us' that worries me most. We've already lost control over the calender. The costs of running a campaign are so high that many observers say it will take all of the time between now and the election to raise that kind of cash.

I don't think we can afford to wait to participate, as some will, until the point where we feel the campaign should rightly begin. The campaign is now, whether I like it or not. I definitely do not.

Plus he appeared on Face The Nation and did well answering questions.

The primary order could change, but right now the Iowa-Nevada-New Hampshire-South Carolina lineup works well for Edwards.

IMHO we are going to see a lot of Dem candidates drop out because of fundraising problems, maybe before Iowa happens. And I think Gore and Clark are going to have to opt in soon if they are going to run at all, since lots of funding sources are being tied down by the leading candidates. (THat seems to be at the root of the clash between HRC and Obama).

Edwards gets very positive response everywhere he speaks, and I think his campaign likes his position right now.

or if they've already jumped.

How's Edward's fundraising?