Pre-Primary Assessment

Having watched most of the Democratic and Republican debates which have been held thus far, and with less than 2 months until the first votes are cast in the Iowa Caucuses, here is my current assessment of the candidates:

- Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel, Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo.

Gentleman, it would be most helpful if the 4 of you left the race now. You have no possible chance of being the nominee of your respective parties, therefore, it only seems reasonable that you move on so your supporters can get behind a viable candidate, who will then get more airtime in the remaining debates.

- Fred Thompson

Why are you in this race? Your candidacy to date has been unexciting and uninspired. You get credit for discussing Social Security but, otherwise, you are indistinguishable from the other Republicans running and, sorry to say, the trophy wife isn't playing well with average voters.

- Ron Paul

I see your campaign fizzling out the same way Howard Dean's did 4 years ago. Many of your supporters are ardent, but young, and those young folks just don't hit the polls in numbers that will change the scenario.

- John McCain

Your time has passed. You have two major marks against you. The first and most important is selling out to folks you previously and rightly criticized 8 years ago to gain favor. Whether it's Dubya or the late Jerry Falwell, you sold your soul to people who previously took you down and had a part in the most vile whisper campaigns, all to fulfill your dream of the Presidency. Doesn't jive with straight talk and won't work at age 72, when too many perceive you as past the age of electability to the White House.

- Mike Huckabee

One of the great questions of the 2008 campaign is why the "values" voters, and those who influence them, have not gotten behind you in huge numbers. You are the only true social conservative running. You're likable, have a wonderful sense of humor and get strong marks from this voter for your support of average workers, physical education in school and, most importantly, your commitment to the Arts in education.

Your greatest negative, aside from social positions where this voter parts company, appears to be complete lack of foreign policy experience. Considering the grand mess our next President will be tackling, I think it would be a major mistake to consider a candidate who will require on the job training.

- Rudy Guiliani

You have no foreign policy experience either, but somehow believe that your handling of 9/11 makes you exempt from those questions. Your personal life, both family and friends, will ultimately be your undoing in this campaign.

- Mitt Romney

If you had actually stuck to your true beliefs, instead of flip flopping on most all of the social issues of the day, I believe you would have had your strongest shot at the Presidency. You have no foreign policy experience either but your lifetime of other experiences make you better equipped than a Guiliani or Huckabee to lead the country. I won't list all of your positives but you've clearly demonstrated that on sticky issues, you will commit to nothing but what polls indicate you need to say to win.

- Chris Dodd

You've got ample experience and many legislative notches under your belt but there's something lacking in the inspiration department.

- Bill Richardson

No candidate running this cycle has more relevant experience, yet the speeches seem clunky and debate answers ramble. I'm not even sure your real goal isn't the vice presidency.

- Joe Biden

Though Richardson may have the most overall experience, I truly believe that if we want to get out of Iraq, you are best equipped to accomplish that mission. And you are also right in that we really cannot begin to tackle the many other issues we'd like to address until the Iraq situation is resolved and some major diplomacy gets underway in the Middle East.

Woefully underfunded compared to the big guns, your goal is to place 3rd in the Iowa Caucus. Less than that, you're out. At least 3rd and I might even have a chance to vote for you when Florida votes later in January.

- John Edwards

Of the Democratic candidates, you have been the least clear as to how you'll end the war in Iraq and I don't feel your short time in the Senate translates into the requisite experience or connections necessary to get this done effectively.

More personally, my overwhelming feeling is you'll be distracted and ultimately consumed by Elizabeth's health issues. As grossly unfair as this, and life is, our collective problems are too massive to add this to the list.

- Barack Obama

So much potential and you've demonstrated ability to forge consensus but the foreign policy chops are questionable. Little can get underway domestically until Iraq, et al, are resolved.

You've got a great political future. I'm just not convinced the year is 2008.

- Hillary Clinton

As much as I'd like to vote for the first female President, and could well end up doing so, you're not inspiring me. I believe with your years in the White House as well as time on the Senate Armed Services committee and numerous trips to Iraq, you have necessary experience. That Bill would be around is a big bonus to this voter as few have demonstrated better diplomatic skills to deal with leaders around the world.

You go through the motions of feeling the country's collective pain. Somehow, you've got to make the connection real.