The Interminable Campaign Draws to a Close
While candidates in the past election years have announced their White House bids in the months immediately after the preceding mid-term elections, no campaign has seen the flurry of electoral activity so far in advance of the general election.
The first Democratic candidates debate took place over eighteen months ago on April 26, 2007 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. (I don’t know why I remember the first such exchange being in Nevada).
The first cauci and primary were held a year before Inauguration Day, with the fields whittled down before the Tsuanmi Tuesday series of primaries and cauci. The candidates who, one year ago, appeared likely to be their parties’ standard bearers are not standing today. A Republican who trailed in all polls and whose candidacy was written off at this time last year has become his party’s nominee.
In the course of this campaign, my opinion of that man, John McCain, has changed from one of doubt to respect.
For all this campaign’s length, I don’t see it as becoming a defining election like those of 1896, 1932, 1968 or 1980 which reshaped the political landscape.
Never before have we experienced a crisis of the magnitude of the mortgage meltdown in the middle of a presidential campaign. That more than anything may come to define this election. When the candidates first debated, we all thought the Iraq War would be one of the most important issues of campaign. Now, thanks to the success of the surge, it hardly registers among voters.
All that said, I don’t think this campaign has served our nation well. It drew our attention away from the business of government, with the candidates (save John McCain on Iraq) posturing for political advantage rather than looking out for the national interest. We shouldn’t spend this much time electing a president.
Ths interminable campaign has proven more divisive than perhaps any other prior contest. The task now for the winner will be to unite the nation. And given the bitter feelings on both sides, that’s going to take some doing.
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The reason you were thinking NV is that there was an event that rolled out most of the Dem canidates though Obama didn’t show up, which results in this flury of talking about if this would hurt his chances. Well, looks like everyone was wrong…again.
The campaign really has become a different race than where we started, the Iraq War has become like maybe the fourth issue of the election. We would probably have gotten different canidates if the economy was always issue number one, probably Romney might have pulled out.
Well the unexpected end of this campaign, I have been moved to right and be voting Republican this year. Its been a long journey….
Comment by Darkeyedresolve — November 4, 2008 @ 9:01 am - November 4, 2008
After voting this morning, I was cut off on the Beltway by an a-hole with an Obama-Biden bumper-sticker, and let in at gridlocked traffic light by a sweetheart with a McCain-Palin sticker.
That pretty much sums it up for me.
Comment by V the K — November 4, 2008 @ 9:26 am - November 4, 2008
California No on 8 Activists Stoop to Mormon-Bashing.
Comment by V the K — November 4, 2008 @ 10:19 am - November 4, 2008
Democrats defy judge’s order: Expel Republican poll-watchers in Philadelphia. Surely, they can’t be trying to commit some form of electoral chicanery?
Comment by V the K — November 4, 2008 @ 10:48 am - November 4, 2008
#2: That’s two perfect metaphors before breakfast. The redistribution of wealth and charitable giving.
Comment by Sean A — November 4, 2008 @ 10:57 am - November 4, 2008
Darkeyed, just as you moved to the right, I gained a great deal of respect for the lady you supported in the primaries. I admired Hillary’s tenacity and resolve in the face of a hostile news media and mean-spirited partisans of her own party, calling her names I wouldn’t think of using against her in those moments when I disliked her the most.
Comment by GayPatriotWest — November 4, 2008 @ 11:20 am - November 4, 2008
Hooray!!!
This campaign went on way way way way way too long. I would support a law where the campaigns were limited to a years and a half, tops.
Now for the sad news. The campaign for 2012 starts tomorrow.
Comment by sonicfrog — November 4, 2008 @ 11:28 am - November 4, 2008
The campaign for 2012 starts tomorrow.
Go Sarah!
Comment by V the K — November 4, 2008 @ 11:36 am - November 4, 2008
Republican congressional candidate burned in arson fire. I guess burning effigies of Republicans just wasn’t enough.
Comment by V the K — November 4, 2008 @ 11:45 am - November 4, 2008