Where are all the Dems?

I'm getting very discouraged by the number of Democrats who are "bowing out". First Chris Dodd, then Joe Biden(was my first choice!) and now Bill Richardson. I'm disappointed in the country and disappointed in the former candidates. What does it say about our democratic process if the little guys just get shoved off to the side once it gets serious? I'm 19, so this is the first election that I've really put any thought into and I've been following it for the past year or so. Is this how all of our elections go? Do the little people always get trampled over? I know their campaigns have been running out of money so obviously it would be difficult for them to continue. But who is to blame? Us for not acknowledging the less known candidates? The system? The candidates? Is anyone else as disappointed as I am? On a different note- what's up with John Kerry endorsing Obama? What about John Edwards? Joe- I thought I made it clear that I DO NOT know how all elections go. This is the first one I've followed and taken any interest in. Do you really think 15 year olds and younger pay much attention to elections? That's how old I was for the last one. I asked because obviously I did not know.

Public Comments

1. I am a little, but at least it won't be dividing the vote within the party. I am not sure if Kerry's support is a good thing or not!
2. Edwards and Kerry had a lot of turmoil in their campaign...Edwards criticized Kerry for not being tough enough.
3. Crawling through all that flack suggests to me that a good candidate can only be white. Careful. Obama may not have good name recognition but he's a good man. Listen to him again if you would please.
4. You DO realize that this is how every election in the last 50 years been right? You start of with a large field, and 1 or 2 really shine and raise all the money. The rest stay around long enough to see themselves on TV, and then drop out. Long before the conventions on each side, it will be down to 1 candidate on the GOP side, and 2 on the dems. Its pretty standard.
5. The fix is in...This whole system has got to be changed...........
6. HA HA!!! Wait until you have to vote and then you find out that your vote doesn't really matter b/c your state will always be a red state. Makes you wonder why you waited an hour in line just to vote. Ex. Me in 2000 election voting for Gore while living in Texas only to have Gore win the Popular Vote, but lose the Electoral College. I guess every vote doesn't count.
7. I am of course sorry the little people got shoved aside, but I'm also partially glad because that means there's less opposition for Obama (I'm supporting him and would vote for him but I'm only in seventh grade). I don't believe it's much of a problem for them not to run this year--they can try again next time there's an election, and hey, who knows, one of them might get elected!