Dear Senators Clinton and Obama,

Surely, you must know that this long, drawn-out primary campaign is doing nothing but hurting the Democratic Party and diminishing our chances in the November general election. Not only are the personal attacks childish and pointless, but they are providing the Republican Party with ammunition to use against the ultimate nominee. (It is true that they would likely use the same ammunition regardless of the content of this primary contest, but they will now have the implicit backing of the losing Democratic candidate.)

Supporters on both sides want the other side to back down and drop out of the race, and that would be the easiest way to close this primary season. It does appear, at this point, that Senator Obama does have an advantage in pledged delegates and the popular vote. However, there are still races to go and the people in the remaining states deserve to have their voices heard. So, barring one candidate dropping out of the race, it becomes important to finish this race with a different tone and with different tactics. There must be a way to elevate the contest so that it helps the eventual nominee, rather than hurt him or her.

I am not the first to suggest that the rest of this race should be about substantive issues, rather than silly attacks about whose supporters said what. First, it is important to recognize that in terms of these issues, both candidates’ views are similar. There are substantial differences, but overall, these differences are trivial when compared to John McCain’s ideas. What it boils down to, is that this campaign is about which candidate is liked and trusted more. And personal attacks on the other do nothing to settle that question. What needs to happen is an honest and frank policy discussion that highlights the substantive differences and similarities between the two candidates and how best to beat the Republicans in November. Let the voters decide based on that.

Senator Obama’s speech last week was monumental and should serve as a model for the rest of the campaign. If both candidates continued the race with the same honest and nuanced tone, it would not only put an end to the childish personal attacks, but would prepare the winner for the general election campaign and help to reunite the party behind the Democratic nominee.

Or the campaign can continue the way it is going now. We will go to Denver and have a brokered convention on our hands. Almost exactly half of the party will be disenfranchised. And the nominee, legitimate or otherwise, will have less than three months to pull it together and try to beat McCain in November.

I like my idea better.

Sincerely,
Toby.