[retired_iwonabit]

Brilliant of you to start this thread I've been pushing Jason to do so for a while, but he's refused every time.

Originally posted by Daaaaave:
he's also not that much older than reaganwhen he took office and reagan's the gop's patron saint.

"I will not, for political gain or otherwise, make my opponent's experience an issue of this campaign"

Originally posted by Oggy73:
I don't think even Guiliani will be able to distance himself sufficiently from the Bush presidency.

IIRC, Giuliani practically gave Bush a verbal blow job at the Republican convention in 2004.

Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
It's also the first election since 1928 that an incumbent president or vice president is not running, which means it's more wide-open than normal.

:o That's quite an interesting statistic. Didn't Truman back out of running for a second term, though - but I guess his VP still ran?

[retired_the gizmo]

and as stated in another thread, obama clowning on australia's pm howard makes him look like a serious player who won't take ****

[retired_iwonabit]

Originally posted by Daaaaave:
and as stated in another thread, obama clowning on australia's pm howard makes him look like a serious player who won't take ****

I hadn't heard of that, but I just googled it. If only our PM would commit a similar folly as Howard!

[retired_frogchickie]

can anyone be arsed to explain the 'primaries' process? must admit I don't have a clue how they actually arrive at the candidates.

[retired_the gizmo]

Originally posted by BoroPhil:
can anyone be arsed to explain the 'primaries' process? must admit I don't have a clue how they actually arrive at the candidates.

each state has a vote. different states have different rules for how the votes are transferred into support for the candidates, either % of total vote or winner take all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_primary

iowa and new hampshire are historically the first two states to hold their primary and these are watched very closely. in 2004, dick gephardt was supposed to do well in iowa because of his midwest background and strong union ties, likewise wesley clark skipped iowa and spent all of his time campaigning in new hampshire. both of them did poorly in those states and their candidacies were essentially over before february of 2004.

on the other hand, john edwards set up a formidable grassroots organization in iowa, and finished second in the voting. he went from running 5th or 6th in national polls to 3rd overnight.

[retired_frogchickie]

cheers

[retired_the gizmo]

the 2008 primary calendar as it stands right now.

January 14, 2008 - Iowa
January 19, 2008 - Nevada
January 22, 2008 - New Hampshire
January 29, 2008 - South Carolina
February 5, 2008 - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma,Utah
February 9, 2008 - Nebraska
February 10, 2008 - Maine
February 12, 2008 - District of Columbia, Tennessee, Virginia
February 19, 2008 - Wisconsin
February 26, 2008 - Hawaii, Idaho
March 2008 (date to be determined) - American Samoa, Democrats Abroad, Guam, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Virgin Islands, Wyoming
March 4, 2008 - Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
March 7, 2008 - Colorado
March 8, 2008 - Kansas
March 11, 2008 - Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi
March 18, 2008 - Illinois, Oregon
April 2008 (date to be determined) - Alaska
April 1, 2008 - Pennsylvania
May 6, 2008 - Indiana
May 13, 2008 - West Virginia
May 20, 2008 - Kentucky
May 27, 2008 - Washington
June 3, 2008 - Montana, South Dakota, California


some states (notably california) are trying to get their primary moved up.

march 4 is what's known as "super tuesday" since it's the day with the largest number of delegates to be voted.

[retired_kimmymarlo]

California voted to move it up into February yesterday I think.

[retired_google]

I think Illinois is trying to move theirs to Feb. 5 as well.

[retired_jabda]

March 2008 (date to be determined) - American Samoa, Democrats Abroad, Guam, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Virgin Islands, Wyoming

'Mon

Would AS, Guam, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico ever become states, instead of territories or whatever they are now?