PassionateCentrist

The 2008 presidential election is off. Iowa Gov. Vilsack has announced he'll run for president. The Wall Street Journal estimates candidates need to raise $100 million by the end of 2007 to be considered a serious candidate. Will we see the same thing happen in 2008 that happened in 2000, when George Bush won the money-raising game by such a wide margin almost all of his opponents dropped out of the race? Will a small group of people on the left or right get behind a candidate early, donate money and make the primaries less meaningful? Or will a Howard Dean, internet-type funding begin a new trend and era? Food for thought as the long campaign begins.