Lieberman, Edwards, Kerry, Gephardt, Clark PULL OUT of DC Primary

[Closer]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Five Democrats have withdrawn from the District of Columbia's non-binding presidential primary, the D.C. Board of Elections said Friday.
Joe Lieberman, John Edwards, John Kerry, Dick Gephardt and Wesley Clark each delivered letters on Thursday stating their intention to withdraw from the Jan. 13 contest, Board of Elections spokesman Bill O'Field said.

The Democratic National Committee does not recognize the primary because delegates will not be selected. The district will hold caucuses Feb. 14 to choose its delegates.

"It's a gutless move," said D.C. Councilman Jack Evans, the author of the legislation moving up the district's primary. "I hope none of them ever wins anything."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-11-07-dems-dc-primary_x.htm


What's next guys? Why not just drop out of the whole thing? :eyes:

[qanda]

1. Why are they doing this?

eom

[poskonig]

8. When Dean incinerates them, they have an excuse.

"Um, uh, we really didn't compete in DC, that's why we lost."

DC is one of the first primary votes, if not the first, and other campaigns don't want the Dean juggernaut to control the spin.

[blm]

2. DNC rules state they can't run there.

.

[Hep]

4. Really?

That sounds nuts, but I don't really understand the importance anyway. Can you show me a link?

[Hep]

5. Actually you're wrong.

They are allowed to run there, but DNC rules state that no one can have a primary before Iowa or New Hampshire, so they made the rimary non binding. It's just a beauty contest.

But not worth dropping out of, IMO.

[OneBlueSky]

3. what does this say to the Democratic voters in DC?

that they're not important enough to bother with? . . . really a dumb move, imo . . .

[La_Serpiente]

6. That's like a big

slap in the face to African Americans. They are the majority in the district.

[wtmusic]

10. Good point

and Dean will be there and will score with AA's.

[tsipple]

7. Some Reasons Why Those Five Pulled Out

1. Terry McAuliffe told them to, because...

2. Iowa and New Hampshire are angry that Washington, D.C. is trying to siphon off some influence. However, the District's primary is non-binding. Delegates are actually selected at caucuses held well after Iowa and New Hampshire. It's just a "beauty contest."

3. The five candidates named aren't going to win the beauty contest. Dean and Sharpton could, and the others (Braun and Kucinich) could get some votes.

4. The District is overwhelmingly African-American. Sharpton and Dean (in that order) currently lead in support among African-Americans.

5. The five candidates are racist.

OK, that last one I don't believe, but hopefully you all get the (absurd) point. (It's apparently OK to pull out of the one place in the country with a majority of African-Americans, but it's not OK to talk about how the GOP is using the confederate flag as a wedge issue. Hmmm...)

[Closer]

9. Dayum!

(It's apparently OK to pull out of the one place in the country with a majority of African-Americans, but it's not OK to talk about how the GOP is using the confederate flag as a wedge issue. Hmmm...) you GO tSipple!!! :yourock:

[carrowsboy]

11. Bingo

Looks like Dean has some ammo for the next debate! hehehehe