Shouldn't the DFL have the state convention in March instead of June,

[Eric J in MN]

...so we can unite around a US Senate candidate sooner?

[dflprincess]

1. Unless we start electing the state convention delegates at the caucuses

there just isn't time to do that. And, electing state delegates at the caucus would just add to the confusion as we would wind up with subcaucuses.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Why not a schedule of....

Feb 5 - first caucuses
late Feb - precinct caucuses
late March - statewide caucus

[dflprincess]

3. How easy a tight schedule is to work with can depend on how many volunteers you have to help pull

it all together.

Two years ago my SD had two weeks between the caucuses and the SD convention. Some of the convention details were done in well advance, but other things like credentials and resolutions, the things that can't be done until after the caucus were all done in a rush. We have 5 weeks between the two this year and it's a much easier pace. If there'd just been two weeks this year I don't know how everything would have gotton done. And, while we have a lot of new people who signed up as delegates to the convention, I'm mainly seeing the same old faces doing the work.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Maybe we need a new process, in which people vote...

...for both the presidential candidate and the US Senate candidate on February 5, and that determines both.

[ISUGRADIA]

5. Not a February Primary

September is too late and opens the process up to recount issues but February is way to early to have the candidate set in stone for 9 months

[Eric J in MN]

6. Norm Coleman was set in stone as the Republican nominee for six years.

I'd like for us to know the DFL nominee for US Senate from Feb 5 through early November.

[dflprincess]

7. The campaigns are already too long

and someone who looks good in February may look like a big mistake by June.

[ISUGRADIA]

8. Exactly right

It's not a bad thing to have time to reflect on the candidates.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Al Franken will have run for two years by November.

It takes two years to select a US Senator. But Democrats have uncertainty for most of the way to November, and the Republicans don't.

[dflprincess]

10. Because the Republicans have the incumbant

And, an earlier endorsement would favor the candidate with the most money - and the candidate with the most money is not necessarily the best choice. I agree that a September primary is too late, June would make much more sense.