Which Presidential Candidate Should You Sell Your Vote To? Inside the Election '08 Primaries

April 2007 seems to have officially kicked off primary season for the 2008. Both dockets have several widely known candidates, and it seems that earlier than ever before, voters are already starting to make up their minds. Early April saw what pundits call “the money primary,” a contest to see who could raise the most funds during the first quarter of 2007. On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney dominated. For Democrats, however, there was a surprising split decision. Sen. Hillary Clinton raised the most money ($26 million) but Sen. Barack Obama defied expectations by coming in at a close second (with $25 million). Significantly, he had more donations from grassroots sources.

April also saw the first democratic candidates’ debate, which aired on MSNBC. (The Republican counterpart is scheduled for the first week of May.) Prospective voters (which is to say everyone over the age of 30) had a chance to see where and how the candidates stood on the issues. The real question is what criteria will become pivotal as moneyed interests and voters decide who to support.

The first and most obvious question people will be asking is what the candidates did four years ago. Some supported the war in Iraq; others merely did nothing while the president went forward with a preemptive invasion of a sovereign nation. (Rep. Dennis Kucinich, opposed the war, but no one noticed.)

Next, on the Democratic side, people want to know which minority issue you best represent. Obama (IL) channels race issues, Clinton (NY) gets feminism, Gov. Bill Richardson (NM) will be identified with immigration, and Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (NC) gets poverty. Sen. Joe Biden (DE) will have to settle for 19th century Irish labor issues, whereas Sen. Chris Dodd will be identified with stem cell research (because he is old).

On the Republican side, it’s more a race to outflank candidates on three types of issues: national security, fiscal conservatism, and ability to judge other people’s morality. Fmr. New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani will be associated with national security because of 9/11, but his value-voter ratings drops due to being pro-choice and pro gay marriage. (Plus he wore a dress, which apparently isn’t allowed.) Romney is the most straight-laced, and he has a good chance of winning the business vote, but, as a Mormon, people naturally fear that he eats snakes for dinner and chilled monkey brains for dessert. Sen. John McCain (AZ) is the Republicans’ best … let’s say … dart player.

People generally know that the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary will take place in less than a year, but there are several important primaries to look out for between now and then. Here’s a brief rundown:

If you’re worried about missing any of these events, take it easy; odds are, your vote doesn’t count.