Would we get a better nominee if IA and NH didn't get the first crack at the candidates?

[FatDave]

Maybe we should let Vermont and California have the first primaries next time.

[jgraz]

1. Vermont and California?? Never happen.

But it would be... awesome. :D

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. Would have been even more awesome in 2004

We would have been in year 5 of the Dean administration now :evilfrown:

[FatDave]

5. It's an extreme example, sure.

A best case scenario. But still, seems like IA and NH often saddle us with lackluster nominees. It's a little unfair, too. Too much influence is given to a couple small states.

[anonymous171]

22. Small states are still part of the union. nt

[slackmaster]

3. Hillary Clinton win the California primary last year

Are you really sure that's what you want?

BTW, are you really a person of size?

[XemaSab]

4. I'm from California and I have been to Iowa and New Hampshire for the primaries

People there take their responsibilities more seriously than Californians do.

Most of the people I talked to had been to see many candidates speak in person before making a decision.

Winning those states is all about beating the pavement and riding around in buses going to small towns.

Winning an election in California is all about having a massive war chest to buy ads in the Bay Area and LA.

This time in 2007 or 2003 which candidates had the money? And where would that have gotten us today?

[FatDave]

8. True, but I think you're going to find a more conservative Democrat in small town IA and NH. (nt)

[XemaSab]

14. You're also more likely to find blue collar democrats

n/t

[anonymous171]

21. Yep. The soul of the party. nt

[WilliamPitt]

6. (facepalm)

[FatDave]

9. Care to elaborate?

I know you've got no aversion to verbosity. :P

[FarCenter]

7. How about PA and IL?

[stray cat]

10. The problem is everyone else in the US has a vote equal to your own!

[FatDave]

12. You don't think IA nad NH have extra influence? n/t

[liberal N proud]

11. Ohio and Florida

:rofl:


No matter who gets first pick, someone will be pissed off that a certain candidate didn't make it past February.

:rofl:

[rwheeler31]

13. yes Maine and New Mexico

[saltpoint]

15. There was much early discussion on how impossible it would be for a black

candidate to ever win in mostly-white Iowa.

But mark my words, one day that will happen.

[FatDave]

16. And silly me caucused for the white guy. (n/t)

[saltpoint]

18. Well we had a damned strong field of nominees while the Pukes had

Nothing Deluxe.

They had what, 12 or so fools and thieves lined up for the Iowa caucus, and not one of them made a lick of sense.

Actually they appear to be in about the same position for 2012!

[anonymous171]

19. Some day the whites in Iowa will swallow their racism and vote for a black guy

[saltpoint]

20. A lot of the web pundits said, nah, that will never happen.

[anonymous171]

17. California has terrible taste in politicians. It's the Florida of the West coast.

[XemaSab]

23. Seriously

Arnold?

Yeah, right. x(