Have we had such a polarized primary in recent years?

[Colobo]

The animosity between Clinton and Obama, and between their supporters, seems to be growing and growing, and after tonight's debate, it promises to get worse and worse.

Have we been in such a bad position in a primary in recent years? If so, how did that go?

[TheDonkey]

1. We are losing the elections w/ out the republicans help

It's gotten pretty bad.

[Monty__]

2. There is a third option you know

and he did very well in the debate tonight. But to answer your question, the 1992 primary season was not as "rough" but it was contested. The last real hotly contested primary I can think of was when Ted Kennedy wanted to run against the incumbent Carter in '80.

[Colobo]

3. Edwards is my second choice, and I want him to do well.

In fact, if he comes back in SC, I'll be extremely happy. I just want Clinton out of the presidency.

[Monty__]

4. I hear you

and Obama is my second choice now but what I really want are Republicans out of the White House.

[question everything]

5. I think that Dean and Gephardt went after each other

but I have to admit, I did not start showing interest in the 2004 primaries until a week before Iowa. And it was pretty much over by the time I attended my caucus.

Edwards won ours, and the one next door (we were at a high school) but on my way home, listening to the radio, I heard that he quit.

[robbedvoter]

6. It was in 2004 - but MSM crowned Kerry before the primaries, and it went

according to plan. So, it eventually stopped, although I see hurt feelings and resentments from them reappearing now.

[allinktup]

7. We've never had such a polarizing candidate

If she has us so divided right now... What do you think she is going to do in the general elections, when 50%+ of the country says they will NEVER vote for her?

[peoli]

8. I agree.

[Monty__]

9. While that might be true

Obama has sunk to her level lately.

[sandnsea]

14. She has left every state in total disruption

Iowa and the uproar over students voting. Then NH where they gave people misinformation and Democrats are divided up there. Then NV where she's got the unions fighting and Latinos and AA fighting. She's got southern Democrats firmly racially divided. They keep stirring up this McClurkin thing when they know she has real homophobes serving on her campaign. It's ridiculous.

[Skwmom]

18. Hillary - the Ultimate Divider. The only group she will unite is the Republican

Party. Has anyone asked even if by some very, very, very, very long shot she could win how could Gridlock Hillary govern?

[lurky]

10. We've had drama and fireworks,

but it was usually over pretty quickly: a strong frontrunner emerged after a few states, and everybody moved on. This is turning into bloody trench warfare, though. Let's hope we have some clarity after Super Tuesday, 'cause this is taking its toll on everyone.

[ruggerson]

11. This is probably the most intense since '80 or '68

but this is magnified because of the communications revolution.

'80 was pretty bad. Teddy's crowd loathed Carter's crowd and vice versa.

'68, however, was worse. There was bitterness and hatred directed at Johnson and Humphrey and bitterness and hatred between McCarthy's camp and Kennedy's camp.

And then there was the convention.

[lurky]

12. Yeah, it's hard to top '68 as a disaster of a nomination.

How could it not be after the incumbent dropped out, the frontrunner was assassinated, the nation was engulfed in riots, and the nominee was picked in a smoke-filled-room.

It was before my time, and I hope we don't see anything like that in our lifetimes.

[Occam Bandage]

13. This is what "Clinton is polarizing and will split the party" meant.

Just wait until we get to the general election. And if she manages to squeak out a win over McCain, the four-to-eight years that follow will make the last seven look like a tea party.

[bluedawg12]

15. I think the candidates are civil, but

their surrogates stir the drech, the media thrives on war metaphores for the campaign because they need conflict and tension to sell the stories.

I think because all three are such a great representation of archtypes we admire and want to succeed, becuase they seem so young and idealsitic and so passionate and seem selfless that is disonant to our ears that these three good people have to slug it out.

I just hope we don't cross a line where we form a circular firing squad.

[Monty__]

16. Candidates being civil...

Obama and Clinton were walking on a thin line tonight if they were actually being civil

[bluedawg12]

17. Uh- civil BEFORE the debate- last night

was a street a Irish brawl with Wolfe Blitzer gasping for air and breathelessly trying to control the fracas.