If someone can make a clear case to competitors, elected officials, local party leaders etc that they are the strongest candidate, then there is nothing wrong with those people (their minds made up) trying to convince other potential candidates (who they feel aren't as up to the task) from stepping out of the race.

The bottom line is that running for Congress against a Republican in a competitive district in a major media market is going to cost close to or over $1 million to do it right.  That's just the general election.  If someone is going to commit their resources and their time to raising additional money, they certainly have a right to try to convince potential rivals that it's ultimately a waste of their time and the eventual nominee's money to engage in a primary fight.

This is not the Maryland 8 we're talking about, where simply winning the Democratic primary will get you a Congressional seat for life (or until you give it up), this is a lean Republican district that will take millions of dollars to defeat another candidate.  If a candidate can present a compelling case to party leaders and his or her opponents that they'll be the eventual nominee anyway and in stronger position to win the general if they don't have primary opposition, more power to them.

If you don't like it, then you need to contact their potential rivals and let them know, or barring that draft your own candidate or run yourself.  Democrats need to remember that primary politics (espcially in down ballot races) is not what's keeping us from getting a governing majority -- it's not winning general elections.  Voters do not care if a candidate strong armed their way into a "bossed" primary, unless the candidate is a shitty candidate, and in that case, they wouldn't be able to get a free ride to the nomination anyway.

Personally, I don't like the way a small group of 400 DNC members (who in turn are elected by small groups of highly comitted activists) managed to pick someone who they like but the majority of Democratic voters (when he was on the ballot) repudiated to be DNC chair.  But, that's politics too.  In the grand scheme of things, what is worse, the disconnect between Democratic activists and Democratic primary voters on a whole and general election voters, or a "bossed" primary?

Ironic?

Tim

Also, there are already two announced Democratic candidates, Patrick Murphy and Paul Lang, who I doubt are going to drop out. Murphy seems like he will be especially hard to dissuade.

I agree that a good contested primary where Dems attack Republicans, not each other, can be beneficial for name recognition and sharpen debating skills.

"holding back until she can ensure a primary-free run."

So she is not going to run against two primary opponents who are political novices and who would pail in comparison to her money advantage and clout.  Sounds like she is one to roll over if everything doesn't go her way and like she is not the type of person we want running against Fitzpatrick in what is likely to be the most high-profile house race in '06.

It also sounds like she is not willing work very hard unless she has everything handed to her on a silver platter even though she has no political experience whatsoever and could use the sharpening of her skills in a primary before a very tough general.

I don't know much about Lang, but from what I hear Murphy is running around the district going to upwards of 20-30 events a week, shaking hands, making phone calls, making speeches, and doing the necessary, but hard work that Robin Weissman, from her statements, seems unwilling to do.

The difference between having a primary and not having a primary can be as much as 3-4 months extra of that agony. I'd try and get folks to quit too, especially those folks who are either vanity candidates or just-wanna-talk-about-the-issues, don't-expect-to-win folks, who abound in every CD.

Oh, and by the way to the poster above who estimated a race in this district to cost $1 million. You're dreaming. Count on $3-4 million if it's close.

No Democrat has yet emerged to challenge Sherwood which provides all the "netroots activists" here a chance to recruit a candidate of your choice.