RE: How can we change the way campaigns are run?

[Nancy Thomas <thomasn@cdnet.cod.edu>]

Susan,

I agree with you on the time spent campaigning. It has gotten out of hand. Since primaries (Super Tuesday, et al) are virtually over in March and the Conventions aren't until the summer (July or August), candidates bombard us with meaningless "sound bites." I think the primary part of the election should be looked at again. It is way too early to decide on who the candidates are. We are tired of them all by the time the November election day arrives. There is no excitement left. Candidates use the last few months to find dirt on their opponent. The media is only too happy to report this dirt because it's controversial and they can hype the "news" in promos for their various talking head shows. If the whole campaign season was shortened and the broadcast stations gave equal amount of free time to the presidential candidates who have been nominated by their conventions, the need for large amounts of soft and hard money would be moot. There should be more televised debates by all candidates, local and state, in prime time. Citizens should be able to ask the questions, not just those thought up by media people, who often have biases or "soft ball" the issues. England has a short campaign season and I don't think it has harmed the election process. I think any reform of campaign financing needs to look first at the time spent campaigning. Incumbents are not doing their elected job. There should be limits on this use of "personal time" and transportation costs that are being subsidized by the taxpayer.