re: #194 HappyWarrior

I really think it made Obama a better candidate. To use a sports analogy, it’s like when you have a competitive division, you’re better prepared for the grind of the playoffs than if you just coast.

In 2000, Bradley was basically a token opponent for Gore, and that turned out badly. I think the only time you don’t want a competitive primary is when an incumbent is running for reelection - that tends to spell doom in the general (see Carter 1980 and Bush 1992 as the most recent examples).