I have found this primary season utterly depressing. I truly envy those of you who have hitched your wagon to a candidate and are out there fighting to get that person elected.
Four years ago, I was where you are now. I was a Deaniac, and we were really busy and excited around this time last election cycle. In fact, we were just celebrating the Al Gore endorsement in Dec 03. Life had purpose, and change was in the air. Iowa would change all that, but the primary months leading up to the caucus were life changing for me.
After Dean lost, I vowed to stay active and involved in politics. I did for a while, but when this primary season started almost a year ago, I just didn't find that enthusiasm with the declared candidates. I wanted to, and in fact, I had an early idea of who I might vote for (Richardson). I've paid attention to the campaign developments; I've changed my mind about 20 times this year,and I'm nowhere closer to fiuguring out who to vote for in the CA primary. I've seriously considered not voting because I. Just. Don't. Know.
more below
Why does Hillary have to be such a hawk?
Why does Obama cozy up to anti-gay preachers?
Has Edwards really had a change of heart?
Why didn't Al Gore run?
Why is Richardson such a wet sock?
Why is Biden getting zero traction despite his foreign policy creds?
Why is one of the best candidates better suited for the Senate?
Why can't I take a little from each of these candidates to make a Super Candidate:
-Hillary's political chops
-Obama's vision
-Richardson's resume
-Edwards' populist rhetoric
-Biden's foreign policy "street cred"
-Dodd's b*lls
Instead, with each (+) in the candidate's favor, there are more negatives.
Voting for the war, voting for more war, failure to stand up to Mr. 28%, crappy campaigning, pandering, etc.
This is the mind of an Undecided, not an apathetic citizen who can't even name the candidates and will vote on name recognition alone, but an interested voter who knows each candidate's record and cannot make up my mind.
I have no idea what to do. Even my stand-by (the ole' gutcheck) isn't working. I can't imagine what will happen if and when I enter the voting booth. I thought for sure I would have figured it out by now, but I'm no closer to a decision, and I don't know what it's going to take to push me one way or another.
For those of you who are door knocking or doing other campaign outreach, I'm wondering what you're seeing out there in terms of Undecideds like me who are paying attention but have not made a choice. What are they waiting for? What am I waiting for? I don't know. What decided it for you?