I am very unhappy about Gore's decision to endorse Dean. Dean was already the frontrunner and the effect of this move is simply to reinforce the idea that the nomination is wrapped up. Who needs primaries anyway? Why would Gore think that it is a good idea to shut down the primary process before it even happens? Why does Gore think that his political judgement is more reliable than voters in Iowa, NH, South Carolina and Arizona?
Endorsements can be an important part of the process in that they help winnow down the field and they help voters figure out the positions of each of the candidates. But not all endorsements are created equal. The big union endorsements and, now, Gore have the effect of shutting down the process rather than helping voters.
I deeply resent Gore and the unions for not even giving the process a chance. What we voters are left with is a fait accompli election. Dean wins the money primary gets all the official endorsements and then wins the nomination by acclamation without facing a candidate with equal resources. Bush does not face a primary challenge at all. Then in the general election we get 1988 all over again.
If the Democratic big wigs care about this process at all they better come out of hibernation and start coordinating on an alternative to Dean. I hope that will be Clark but it needs to be someone so that voters are given a real choice in the primaries.