Does It Really Matter?

The other day, I was struck with the depressing thought that, given the current mood of the country, it seems all but inevitable that a Democrat will become President in 2008, regardless of the candidates that each party fields.

A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC news poll seems to confirm my pessimism:

Views on the war are shaping early opinion about next year's general election as well. At a time when three-fourths of Americans say they are following the 2008 race at least "somewhat closely," Americans by 49% to 31% say they want Democrats to win the White House next year.

I know it's early and that a lot can happen between now and November 2008 and that the question concerns a generic Democrat versus a generic Republican (insert your own appropriate clichés here), but those numbers are pretty stark. It makes one question whether the Republican primary process is really about choosing the next President or merely a sacrificial lamb. (Cue the "Meatballs" chant.)