THEY'RE OFF AND STUMPING!
January 2007
If you get the feeling that the race for the Whitehouse seems to be starting earlier and earlier every four years, you not alone.
With approximately 633 days until the 2008 Presidential election, several political hopefuls have already announced their intentions to seek the nomination of their party. Just over the weekend, Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Illinois Barack Obama (D-IL) threw their collective hats into the ring.
Some political observers were surprised by Obama’s early announcement. Senator Clinton’s announcement surprised no one. According to a viewer poll conducted by NY 1 News, 86% of those polled said they were not surprised by Clinton’s announcement, while only 14 % were. I wonder where those 14% have been spending their time lately.
Others who have announced their candidacy or who are forming “exploratory” committees include: Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM), former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA), former senator John Edwards (D-NC), and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KA), just to name a few. In fact nearly a dozen Presidential hopefuls have announced their intentions with more to certainly follow. I wonder if a candidate ever formed an exploratory committee and then decided not to run. I don’t think so.
So are these early announcements a good thing for our political system? The answer to that question clearly depends of who you ask. Most political strategists say this is not a good thing for the candidates. However they are quick to add that these early announcements are a very good thing indeed for the voting public.
The reasons are fairly straight forward. The candidates who announce early, have to build state by state campaign organizations, they have to start raising money earlier and raise enough to sustain them through a longer campaign season. Candidates will have to cement their positions on the big issues early on. They will be forced to meet and debate each other in the national spotlight earlier than ever before. Already states like New Hampshire and South Carolina are already scheduling full scale debates for this spring.
All of the aforementioned will force candidates to work harder, faster and smarter than before. It seems clear that this early format is a big win for the voting public. We will be treated to earlier debates, we will have the opportunity to get to know the candidates and their positions well in advance of the first caucus. We will observe how well the candidates do in assembling their campaign teams, which may be a good indicator of their leadership and decision making abilities.
The only negative I see, is that with such an early start, voters may get sick of the entire process well ahead of November 2008. The United States, you know that cradle of Democracy, has one of worst records of voter turnout on the planet. You’ll recall the last year that even war torn Iraq, with all its problems, had a higher percentage of eligible voters casting their ballots than this country has had in a long time.
So why is all of this happening and happening now? Is it a new trend in American politics? Are voters demanding to take a longer view of the candidates? Are we becoming less apathetic toward politics? Or is the answer none of the above?
I would have to go with none of the above, which always served me well on those tough multiple choice tests and here’s why. The 2008 Presidential election marks the first time in more than five decades that either an incumbent President or Vice President will not be running. Suffice it to say that this levels the playing field between the two major parties in that neither will have the “home field” advantage going into the election. The stakes therefore are very high on both sides of the political aisle.
Who is the biggest winner of this elongated campaign season? The news media of course, because for the next 633 days they will be able to fill their papers, magazines and airwaves with something to talk about. Having said that however the big question remains, you be listening? So sit back America, grab some popcorn, and let the games begin!
Lee Degenstein has covered the financial markets for print and broadcast media for more than 15 years. Mr. Degenstein was also the news director and morning anchor at two major radio stations in New Jersey. He has been a reporter/contributor to United Press International, The Associated Press, The Mutual Broadcasting System and New York 1 News. A winner of the Associated Press award for 'best business story' he lives and works in New York City. Mr. Degenstein can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net
© Copyright 2007, Lee Degenstein
All rights reserved
www.leereports.blogspot.com
If you get the feeling that the race for the Whitehouse seems to be starting earlier and earlier every four years, you not alone.
With approximately 633 days until the 2008 Presidential election, several political hopefuls have already announced their intentions to seek the nomination of their party. Just over the weekend, Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Illinois Barack Obama (D-IL) threw their collective hats into the ring.
Some political observers were surprised by Obama’s early announcement. Senator Clinton’s announcement surprised no one. According to a viewer poll conducted by NY 1 News, 86% of those polled said they were not surprised by Clinton’s announcement, while only 14 % were. I wonder where those 14% have been spending their time lately.
Others who have announced their candidacy or who are forming “exploratory” committees include: Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM), former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA), former senator John Edwards (D-NC), and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KA), just to name a few. In fact nearly a dozen Presidential hopefuls have announced their intentions with more to certainly follow. I wonder if a candidate ever formed an exploratory committee and then decided not to run. I don’t think so.
So are these early announcements a good thing for our political system? The answer to that question clearly depends of who you ask. Most political strategists say this is not a good thing for the candidates. However they are quick to add that these early announcements are a very good thing indeed for the voting public.
The reasons are fairly straight forward. The candidates who announce early, have to build state by state campaign organizations, they have to start raising money earlier and raise enough to sustain them through a longer campaign season. Candidates will have to cement their positions on the big issues early on. They will be forced to meet and debate each other in the national spotlight earlier than ever before. Already states like New Hampshire and South Carolina are already scheduling full scale debates for this spring.
All of the aforementioned will force candidates to work harder, faster and smarter than before. It seems clear that this early format is a big win for the voting public. We will be treated to earlier debates, we will have the opportunity to get to know the candidates and their positions well in advance of the first caucus. We will observe how well the candidates do in assembling their campaign teams, which may be a good indicator of their leadership and decision making abilities.
The only negative I see, is that with such an early start, voters may get sick of the entire process well ahead of November 2008. The United States, you know that cradle of Democracy, has one of worst records of voter turnout on the planet. You’ll recall the last year that even war torn Iraq, with all its problems, had a higher percentage of eligible voters casting their ballots than this country has had in a long time.
So why is all of this happening and happening now? Is it a new trend in American politics? Are voters demanding to take a longer view of the candidates? Are we becoming less apathetic toward politics? Or is the answer none of the above?
I would have to go with none of the above, which always served me well on those tough multiple choice tests and here’s why. The 2008 Presidential election marks the first time in more than five decades that either an incumbent President or Vice President will not be running. Suffice it to say that this levels the playing field between the two major parties in that neither will have the “home field” advantage going into the election. The stakes therefore are very high on both sides of the political aisle.
Who is the biggest winner of this elongated campaign season? The news media of course, because for the next 633 days they will be able to fill their papers, magazines and airwaves with something to talk about. Having said that however the big question remains, you be listening? So sit back America, grab some popcorn, and let the games begin!
Lee Degenstein has covered the financial markets for print and broadcast media for more than 15 years. Mr. Degenstein was also the news director and morning anchor at two major radio stations in New Jersey. He has been a reporter/contributor to United Press International, The Associated Press, The Mutual Broadcasting System and New York 1 News. A winner of the Associated Press award for 'best business story' he lives and works in New York City. Mr. Degenstein can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net
© Copyright 2007, Lee Degenstein
All rights reserved
www.leereports.blogspot.com
posted by Lee Degenstein | 7:21 AM
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