Posted by
Nantatchie_Rat on Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:43:38 PM
When does an election become a coronation?
When does an election become a coronation? After an elected official has been in office for a long time, and has enjoyed widespread and loyal support they begin to have tremendous influence with their constituency. Upon their retirement it is not uncommon for them to endorse someone to take their place. Then, that person will gain the fundraising and campaign apparatus that the outgoing person has established. This gives them an immediate and sometimes decisive advantage over their opponents.
If the incumbent has done a good job and been trustworthy throughout his or her term, then it can be safe to assume that they will only endorse someone who will be faithful to the office they are running for and the people they will serve. If, on the other hand, the incumbent has been up to no good and been plagued by scandals and controversy then they too will pick someone like their self to succeed them.
The voter should never vote for a candidate simply because the incumbent who they voted for endorsed them. The voter still has to make up his own mind. It is important to remember that the candidate is not a clone of the incumbent. It is also important to remember that money and a large campaign staff and numerous volunteers will not prevent one from doing their own research and deciding for themselves who the best candidate should be.
It is often said that money wins elections. This is not necessarily true. Yes, it does cost a lot to get one’s message and positions on the issues out. But, even those with limited recourses can still reach the voters. But the voters should also do their part to seek out the candidates positions. By doing so, they can negate the effect of big money campaigns