According to a Gallup poll released today, Democrats are about even on whether the continuing campaign is hurting the party, effectively debunking the MSM meme that the voters are tired of the primary and want it to be over.
All in all, Democrats are divided on the impact of the continuing and protracted campaign for the Democratic nomination.
As one would expect, a majority of Obama supporters (55%) believe continuing the campaign is hurting the party while a majority of Clinton supporters (59%) believe it is not. (Biases, anyone?)
From where I sit, there are upsides and downsides to the length of this campaign. Overall, though, I think the party benefits. I think proudvadem hit the nail on the head with this comment:
BOTH Democrats are attracting new voters, raising more $$ than ever and whether the media wants them to or not- they are BOTH addressing issues such as healthcare, Iraq, and the economy.
As long as the Democratic message is being heard (no thanks to the MSM, by the way, who wants to harp on the non-issues), we come out ahead.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
The fact that the campaign is continuing isn’t hurting the party, no. The nature of the campaigning, however? It’s heading in the direction of damage, for me. Two recent campaign thrusts really struck me as doing unnecessary harm. First was that ridiculous claim from the Obama folks that Clinton had voted to confiscate guns. Seriously, guys? You want to pitch that old canard back on the table? Way to reinforce the GOP lies. The second was Clinton’s invoking OBL in that ad.
Both campaigns apparently need reminding that you don’t win by emulating or supporting the party you’re trying to beat. They’ve got plenty to beat on each other about without aping the GOP.
I think that Sen. Obama (unless Sen Clinton makes like the 2004 Red Sox) will benefit from two aspects this elongated primary process. First, he will be well organized in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, et. al. Second, he is much better off answering questions about bigoted ranting preachers and unrepentant terrorists now rather than facing them initially in the general election.
Thanks for the “shout-out” Vivan 🙂
I have started to limit my TV pundit watching because I’m tired of all the blowhards screaming chicken little if HRC wins/HRC doesn’t win/BHO wins/BHO doesn’t win and how that will be good/bad/devastating for the Democrats/voters/ect.
It’s time to look at the positive and this is an opportunity for membership recruitment/candidate recruitment, ect. My former Dem committee had a swell of new Democrats after the ’92 election and I hope that this will be the same case again.
It’s also time for “old” Democrats to get back involved, I think I need to rejoin my local committee and put my money where my mouth is.
Operation Chaos II
Corruption of the Democratic Primary process is now en vogue, as proven by Conservatives, and encouraged by Rush Limbaugh, who believe that a protracted Democratic Primary season will ultimately serve Republicans well. The reasoning offered to support this strategy, as we have been given, is that a “Bloodied Up” Obama & Clinton will be the result of revealed faults and short-comings.
Operation Chaos participants have proudly claimed, as accounted on Talk Radio and Internet Blogs, have taken to registering as Democrats in established Open Primaries (state provisions that empower the electorate to vote without respect of party in the candidate election process – primaries) and supporting Sen Clinton with the hope that neither Sen Clinton nor Sen Obama will emerge as the victor until the Democratic National Convention in August. The anticipated, and hopeful, result of this effort is that both Democratic Candidates will sufficiently flog the other and subsequently prove themselves unelectable.
Conservatives, as we have been told, are guided by a concept of morality and values that extend throughout all endeavors, political aspirations, social and personal responsibility. Democrats & Liberals, as we have been told, are guided purely by a desire for power, at the expense of morality & values. The former, as it appears, no longer applies. The justification for Operation Chaos, as we have been able to determine, has been the same Moral Relativism despised by Conservatives, that being… “They do it too.”…Accepted.
That said, Democrats are left with but a few options, as we have been able to determine. Any argument or dialog that denounces the strategy of Operation Chaos will likely result in Democrats being further defined as “Weak” and “Whining”, an option obviously explored far too often. Democrats have spoken of Operation Chaos in low tones, on Talk Radio and Internet Blogs, denouncing its effect, rather real or perceived. What matters most is not its effectiveness, as touted by Conservatives, but how to leverage the net result, Media coverage.
In their quest to maintain a stage for the Democratic Presidential candidates to “bloody” the other, Conservatives have given the Media a greater call to explore the nuances of the Democratic campaign, thus, broader coverage. Democrats can realistically benefit from Operation Chaos by continuing a soft-ball approach to differentiation during the next several weeks, conduct themselves civilly, and shape the dialog, as Sen McCain takes a back seat….. Operation Chaos II
Operation Chaos II may be the Saving Grace that both Sen Clinton & Obama need to further articulate their positions on issues that have been tracked as being the most important to all Americans. Consider it Political Crisis Management, Operation Chaos II may very well be the best approach to campaigning for Democrats nationally.
More: What I Learned This Week | Operation Chaos II