Survivor: Washington, D.C.: outspin, outspend, outstump - Democratic Party presidential contenders for opposition to George W. Bush in 2004

WASHINGTON. D.C. -- We've watched Survivor: The Australian Outback. The Amazon, and Pearl Island. Now comes the game's most treacherous location: the U.S. capital. There are two tribes--the Republicans and the Democrats. Over the next ten months, players from both teams will face demanding challenges and develop cut-throat strategies. Tribal councils called primaries and caucuses will be held in states around the nation. The contestants will be narrowed down to two--one Democrat and one Republican--at each tribe's national meeting. The Republican tribe will gather in New York City from August 30 to September 2 and officially announce its candidate--U.S. President George W. Bush. The Democratic tribe will select its challenger at the Democratic National Convention, to be held in Boston from July 26 to July 29.

Which Democrat will go head-to-head with Bush on Election Day, Nov. 2, 2004? Meet the contenders:

Carol Moseley-Braun

Carol Moseley-Braun, the only female candidate, hails from Chicago, where she was born on Aug. 16, 1947. She worked as an assistant U.S. attorney before entering the political arena in 1978 as an Illinois state representative. Braun served in the House for 10 years. In 1992, she was elected to the U.S. Senate and served one term. She made history as the first African American female senator.

Wesley Clark

Wesley Clark, 60, grew up in Little Rock, Ark. He graduated first in his class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In his 34-year military career, Clark rose to the rank of four-star general. Clark, who has never rim for political office, called the war in Iraq "reckless" and believes the United States should seek international help to rebuild Iraq.

Howard Dean

This 56-year-old doctor and former governor of Vermont is the Dem to beat, say political pundits. The candid candidate says he'd repeal "every dime" of Bush's tax cuts and use the funds for healthcare and education. Dean overhauled Vermont's healthcare system and says he'll do the same for the nation. He's also outspoken in his opposition to the war in Iraq.

John Edwards

John Edwards, 51, was the first member of his family to attend college. He worked his way through law school and became a highly successful attorney. He entered North Carolina politics in 1998 when he ousted an incumbent Republican senator in a major upset. Edwards supported the invasion of Iraq but voted against $87 billion in aid to rebuild Afghanistan and Iraq.

Richard Gephardt

Dick Gephardt was born in St. Louis on Jan. 31, 1941. He's been a U.S. representative since 1977. In 1989, Gephardt became House majority leader. Following the Republican takeover in 1994, Gephardt was elected minority leader, a post he held until 2002. He voted for the war in Iraq and the $87 billion in aid for Afghanistan and Iraq. He pledges to repeal Bush's tax cuts to finance healthcare coverage for all Americans.

John Kerry

Sen. John Kerry, 61, of Colorado, served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War (1964-1973), where he was wounded in combat. When he returned home, he became an antiwar activist. Kerry supported the recent war in Iraq but now says he did so based on "faulty U.S. intelligence." He voted nay for $87 billion in aid to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Dennis Kucinich

Dennis Kucinich, 58, grew up in a family of seven children in Cleveland. When he was 31, he became the city's mayor--the youngest ever person to be mayor of a major U.S. city. From 1995 to 1997, he served in the Ohio State Senate. In 1996, he became a representative in the U.S. House, where he is now in his fourth term. He opposed the war in Iraq and wants the United Nations to help rebuild Iraq.

Joseph Lieberman

Joe Lieberman, 62, grew up hi Stamford, Conn., and attended Yale University, where his nickname was "the Senator." In 1989, Lieberman became a U.S. senator and has held the office since then. In the 2000 presidential race, Lieberman was Democratic candidate Al Gore's running mate. Lieberman supports the U.S. war in Iraq and voted yea to aid for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al Sharpton

The Rev. Al Sharpton, 50, was an ordained minister by the age of 9. The Brooklyn-born Pentecostal preacher has never held elected office but is a well-known civil rights activist. Sharpton supports constitutional amendments that would establish public education and healthcare as fundamental rights.

CONSIDER THIS ... Who will Democratic tribal members select to run against George W. Bush? For whom would you vote? Why?

Get Talking

Ask students if they've watched the popular CBS show Survivor. Ask: What is the premise of the show? How is the U.S. presidential process similar? How is it different?

Background

According to the U.S. Constitution, a presidential election is to be held every four years. The nominating process officially begins with the first state primaries and caucuses, which usually take place in the January or February of the election year.

At national conventions held the following spring, delegates from the states cast votes for the person who will represent the political party in the general election. In order to secure a party's nomination, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes from the delegates The candidate for president then must choose a vice-presidential candidate.