With the 2002 elections barely behind us, and the 108th Congress just sworn in, the 2004 Presidential election has already begun. Absent some pretty extreme unforeseen circumstances, the Republicans already have their nominee – President George W. Bush. For the Democrats, the picture is a little…no a lot more cloudy. Just the field has to send shivers down the spine of many state and local Democrats across the country. Here is what it looks like so far.

Early out – as in not running, was former Vice President and 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore. No one, including the former Vice President thought he could win. But then, as with Walter Mondale and Bob Dole, this minor impediment has never seemed to be the controlling factor in decisions to run for President. In this case, it was. In some ways, Gore’s announcement was reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s “you are not going to have [me] to kick around any more” comments. For Democrats, it was a temporary sigh of relief until they looked at the rest of their field.

First announced has been the Reverend Al Sharpton who has declared that he is probably more qualified than any other Democrat seeking the White House. So, far, that might just be true. Unfortunately, this says less about Sharpton’s qualifications than it says about the qualifications of the rest of the field.

Sharpton is followed by the first-term Democrat from North Carolina – Senator John Edwards. His most significant claim to fame is as a successful and very rich (by any definition) trial lawyer. The mantra of his marathon press interviews announcing his candidacy was that he will represent “regular people.” Of course, if any Republican used such a phrase, it would immediately be subject to wholesale attack for the implication that there are “irregular” or “not regular” people who he would not represent. With his penchant for winning lawsuits, and Sharpton’s willingness to bring lawsuits, a Sharpton-Edwards team might actually be interesting. Oddly, as most pundits shirked off any real possibility that he might win, Edwards’ followers quickly pointed to the initial reaction to Bill Clinton when he announced his challenge to President George H. W. Bush. Just what the Democrats wanted, pointing back to the possibility of another Clinton Presidency.

Add to the list Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Of course, no one (as in NO ONE) knows who he is. And, with no place at the table in Washington, D.C. in the Congressional battles over President Bush’s policies, it is unlikely that anyone will know who he is anytime soon. The only thing most Americans know about politics in Vermont is that Jim Jeffords ran as a Republican, but defected and gave control (temporarily) to the Democrats over his disagreements with the popular President George W. Bush. Not a real good starting place.

If the first term North Carolina Senator was not enough, the Democratic candidate list includes three more Presidential wannabes – Senator Tom Daschle, Senator Joe Lieberman, and Senator John Kerry. From the U. S. House, the former Minority Leader Richard Gephardt might jump in. So, Senators who could not hold the Senate, and a House Leader who could not win the House, want a shot to win the White House. Interesting.