Pandering to Iowans. In the words of Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, founder and chief editor of dailykos, candidates who removed their names from the Michigan ballot were pandering to Iowa and New Hampshire:
Clinton was the only top-tier candidate to refuse the ultimate Iowa and New Hampshire pander by removing her name from the Michigan ballot. That makes her essentially the de facto winner since Edwards and Obama, caving to the cry babies in Iowa and New Hampshire, took their name off Michigan's ballot. Sure, the DNC has stripped Michigan of its delegates, but that won't last through the convention. The last thing Democrats can afford is to alienate swing states like Michigan and Florida by refusing to seat their delegates.So while Obama and Edwards kneecap their chances of winning, Clinton is single-mindedly focused on the goal.
Part of running for office is getting your name on the ballot. In fact, it's step 1.
The economies of Iowa and New Hampshire receive a big cash injection every four years (heck, John Edwards never closed his Iowa shop after 2004) and it's understandable they relish the Democratic and Republican primary schedules.
Office space rentals. Car rentals. Campaign staffer housing. Print shops. Catering costs. Restaurant business. Hotel rooms rented by local, national and international media. Cash, cash, cash these states receive from this position in the schedule. If I lived in New Hampshire, I wouldn't want Michigan to vote before us.
If candidates wish to curry favor with Iowa and New Hampshire party bosses by allowing them to keep their first-in-the-nation caucus and primary rotation schedule, and risk the ire of Michigan voters, fine. Remove yourself from Michigan's ballot. It's a risk you are willing to take, and running for office is a marathon of risks.
But now we see with Obama it was no risk. In fact, he got more delegates out of Michigan than he would have if he kept his name on the ballot. His campaign and supporters argue it was "unfair" that he chose to pander to Iowa and New Hampshire by removing his name from the Michigan ballot. So they took four of Hillary's delegates and gave them to Obama.
Unbelievable. This will come back to bite him in November. It may or may not cost him enough to lose the G.E., we will wait and see. But if you want to curry favor with Hillary's voters, don't swipe Hillary's delegates when you're already ahead by a comfortable margin.
|
|
|
Permalink :: 89 Comments :: Post a Comment
|
In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.
If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.