Move of caucus is harmful

Published Thursday, August 30, 2007

We were sorry to hear this week that the Minnesota DFL Party has joined the state Republicans — and many other parties throughout the nation — in a move toward a very early election year caucus. It is a trend that promises to do nothing to improve politics in the United States and, in our view, can only make the already ugly presidential election season even uglier.

In deciding to hold its caucus on Feb. 5 (a month earlier than anytime in the past 15 years), the DFL made what is undoubtedly a good tactical decision. With seemingly every state’s political organizations moving to very early primaries and caucuses, those that are left behind will be doomed to irrelevancy. So the DFL’s decision, like that of their Republican counterparts some time ago, will no doubt increase participation in the process of choosing presidential candidates for this November’s election.

But in joining the stampede toward earlier primaries, the DFL only helps a trend that is not good for voters or for the political process. Both parties will have effectively — although not officially — chosen their presidential candidates by early spring. That means the two top dogs will have half a year to snipe at and attack each other. The ugliness of the 2004 campaign is not only likely to be repeated, but become even worse, given the long stretch of time between primaries and general election.

The DFL can’t be faulted for doing what it needs to in order to remain relevant. But it’s unfortunate that the move was necessary at all.

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