Frontrunners set the pace for a long race!

<sup>The Washington post listed their opinion of the 2008 election frontrunners:
Democrats: Clinton, Edwards, and Obama
Republicans: Giuliani and McCain

Clinton, Obama, and Romney all raised over $20 million in the first quarter of 2007, whereas Edwards, Giuliani, and McCain raised over $12 million.
--Is this an accurate reading into American public opinion of these candidates? well, yes and no. Obviously the donors represent a significant allegiance to each of the candidates, however, the outcome of this election large depends on the nostalgia of the people. Candidate information, press releases, video and commentary have become infinitely more accessible than any election ever! With the internet, youtube, google--basically anyone has a significant source of information at their fingertips.

According to a poll featured on ABC News from early 2007, 65% of respondents stated that they are following the 2008 election closely (which is high, for being a year before the election). This brings me to point out that you must really take statistics for what they are worth. I mean, how much more likely are you to call into the newstation and tell them that you are following the election, opposed to calling and saying you are not following the election and you are a lazy unpatriotic american? Clearly, voluntary response surveys are not an early indicator that Americans are actually going to get actively involved in the election proceedings. Those of us who care have a responsibility to neutrally educate and motivate the country from within.

So the basic timeline is thus:
April 2008: the Constitutional Party will hold their National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri
May 2008: the Libertarian Party will hold their National Convention in Denver, Colorado
July 2008: The Green Party will hold their National Convention in Chicago, Illinois
August 25-28, 2008: The Democrats will hold their National Convention in Denver, Colorado
September 1-4, 2008: the Republicans will hold their National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota
**NOVEMBER 4, 2008: All states will elect their members of the Electoral College

And then--January 20, 2009 we will Inaugurate our new commander in chief.

For the remainder of my blog, I think I would like to closely examine each of the candidates (at least one from each party and the frontrunners) weigh their pros and cons, and let my readers in on a few of my personal leanings! I'll post my observations of Steve Kubby from California and the rest of the Libertarians this week!</sup>