[rineaux]

Hate to see Julie get the nod. Like you, not ready to throw in the towel. Wonder when Fred will throw his hat in the ring, after all the debates? Kind of unfair to the rest of the bunch.

Agree with you on McCain. He poured his heart out for W in 00 and 04. Speaking/writing of W, other than Hillary (just a gut feeling) wonder who he is secretly pulling for.

[The Pack Knight]

Wonder when Fred will throw his hat in the ring, after all the debates? Kind of unfair to the rest of the bunch.

The current word is early September, which is a more traditional start-date for a Presidential campaign anyway. As for the debates, here's a schedule...

* May 3, 2007 - Simi Valley, California
* May 15, 2007 - Columbia, South Carolina
* June 5, 2007 - Manchester, New Hampshire
* June 30, 2007 - Des Moines, Iowa
* August 5, 2007 - Des Moines, Iowa
* August 20, 2007 - Reno, Nevada
* September 17, 2007 - Saint Petersburg, Florida
* September 27, 2007 - Hanover, New Hampshire
* October 14, 2007 - Manchester, New Hampshire
* October 21, 2007 - Orlando, Florida
* November 6, 2007 - Ames, Iowa
* January 5, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
* January 30, 2008 - Los Angeles, California

Highlighted dates are after early September. They represent more than half of the debates.

I guess you can say the early debates are like the NFL preseason, like the Hall of Fame game tonight. You don't play your starting quarterback much during the preseason.

[mnehring]

Wonder when Fred will throw his hat in the ring, after all the debates? Kind of unfair to the rest of the bunch.

Why does Fred have to be fair to the rest of the candidates? This isn't a kindergarten game of Red Rover, this is a campaign. It may not be 'fair' that Thompson is getting more airtime than the others and it may not be fair that he is surging ahead of everyone in the polls without spending a dime.... but it is a strategic move.. seems to me it is smart..

You don't get 'participation trophies' in a campaign, it is win or lose.