Minor Candidates at the Back of the Pack in the Democratic Primaries Are Irritants.

[MineralMan]

They serve little purpose in selecting the nominee, but the irritation they can cause is more than a little annoying.

They're sort of like whatever was in my eye when I woke up this morning. I tried rubbing my eye to rid my self of whatever it was. No joy. I went into the bathroom and looked at my eye in the 4X magnifying mirror, but couldn't detect whatever it was. Every time I blinked, there it was, causing my eye to water and hurt.

It was annoying, to say the least, but I still read the Sunday paper. My theory and 73 years of experience is that most things in one's eye get removed by tears and normal eye movements, over time. I tried to avoid rubbing the eye, since that trick never works, and can cause further irritation. Finally, I took my morning shower and, at the end, lowered the temperature to lukewarm and deliberately held my eye open in the shower stream. That stung a bit, but whatever was in my eye got washed out and all was well.

In these early days of the primary campaign, we have over 20 Democratic candidate in the race. Most of them have 1% or less rankings in the current polls. That's unlikely to change for the majority of those low-ranking candidates. And yet, they persist in running. Why? Well, the answer varies by candidates. Most of them know they will not become the nominee, but are trying to make a name for themselves, are looking for a position on the winner's cabinet, or are simply feeding their own egos.

They are irritants. Every time you blink, an irritant in your eye reminds you that it's an irritant. Eventually, it will probably leave your eye, or get washed out. Occasionally, something in your eye requires a trip to the urgent care clinic, where someone else washes it out of your eye with sterile saline solution. Such a trip is best avoided, if possible.

For primary races, it's all a waiting game. The only way to remove irritating candidates is to hold some primary elections, which do a great job of washing them out and removing them. Sadly we're several months away from the first primaries. In the meantime, we'll all just have to keep blinking, maybe rubbing at the irritation, or simply being irritated and annoyed until the irritant is gone.

[dalton99a]

1. You can't remove them, but if it helps, look at them as temporary lawn ornaments

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Jimmy Carter was once considered a "minor candidate"...

So was Bill Clinton.

[calguy]

3. After Iowa and New Hampshire......

Most of the back of the pack candidates will drop out simply because they won't have the money or support to continue. After Super Tuesday we'll probably be down to four or five serious contenders. Right now it's all about cheap publicity for many of these folks on the lower tiers.

[MineralMan]

4. Yes. I look forward to Super Tuesday for that reason.

Also for the reason that my state is finally having its primary on that date. It will be wonderful to get to vote early in the primary race, rather than later. California, too, has opted for a Super Tuesday primary, which will have an enormous impact, given its high delegate count.

Hasten the day!

[Metalmom]

5. I understand your point

But I'm a bit uncomfortable with calling them irritants. Each of the candidates have brought a little something to the Democratic party. And in their campaign they'll each bring a topic of discussion to the race.

I also think for the most part it will show who the Democrats are as a party by who they reject and who they accept. So far I think we're doing pretty damn good with accepting women, minorities and LGBT as front runners

[MineralMan]

6. I'd like to welcome you to DU.

I hope you'll continue to contribute to discussions here.

[Metalmom]

8. Thanks

[zaj]

9. Yes agreed... It's the wrong mindset

Embrace the size of the field as a reflection of the energy for winning.

[Trumpocalypse]

7. At this point, most are now running for VP

Which would be a valuable position if Biden is the nominee.

[MineralMan]

10. I'm sure some are. Others, however,

are running for other, varying reasons. Some are trying to boost their credibility as politicians. Others have some positions they want to get out there in public. Some just want to be listed as "Ran for President in 2020" in their Wikipedia article. Others, I suppose, have other reasons.

Right now, there are several who are pulling 1-2% in the polling. Cumulatively those votes add up, and might spell the difference in who the front-runner is. Again, though, most will get washed out of the public eye on March 3. In the meantime, there they are on the candidate list.

[shanny]

11. oh horrors: a bunch of people are running for the nomination

and only one will win it.