It’s almost eight o’clock where I live and the two final primaries are about to be over. I’ve heard varying comments in the media all day: Hillary is going to concede; Obama can’t beat McCain, the VP is up for grabs. Who knows what will really happen in the next few hours?
As for me, I’m glad the primary season had wound down. Yes, I’ll be watching tonight for the final hurrah, whoever gets to shout it. But I’m relieved that there are no more states to campaign in at this level, because it shouldn’t take us so long to elect the final two candidates. Of course, the presidential nominees will start all over.
I remember that candidate Richard Nixon said he would visit every single state. He did, and some pundits believe that approach cost him the election; because there’s a pragmatism to spending time in the states with the most votes.
Regardless, it’s on to the national conventions, which seem to me to be call-in events at this point. If the nominees have already been chosen, then the only thing left is to broker the Vice Presidential slot on the ticket. Other than that, it’s an exercise in saluting the flag for those who are already standing.
I suspect Minneapolis, the site of the Republican National Convention, and Denver, the site of the Democratic National Convention, feel differently as their hotels fill, their restaurants reap giant tabs, and the general economy flourishes for a few days. I also understand that my one voice isn’t going to change a system that’s been in effect for years. Nevertheless, I’m entitled to voice my opinion.
And it is this: Our system for electing the highest public official in the land needs to have time restraints and money restraints. Otherwise, someone will start running for the office of president the day after the next one is sworn in. And we’ll endure even longer campaigns. In this case, it will never be over.
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