A campaign adviser disagreed with my assessment that the candidates are overdue to start laying out some policy plans…

Every campaign goes according to a different rhythm. This one is definitely salsa rather than the foxtrot. But Q1 is more about winning the staff primary and the money primary, with the focus shifting in Q2 to winning the money primary and the ideas primary. What is most remarkably different about this cycle is the seeming imperative of winning the daily YouTube primary.
But I’m a little surprised that everyone is operating according to the same schedule. You’d expect guys like Romney, Brownback, and low-name-ID guys to be just working on becoming known, before rolling out big agendas. At the same time, you’d expect McCain and Giuliani, already well known, to be laying down policy markers on at least some issues. [Insert from Jim: And how about Hillary? It’s not like there’s a lack of name ID there.] Maybe this signals nothing more than they’re holding back the policy stuff to Q2. But maybe it signals that they intend to run a very bio-centric campaign, and not try to confuse people with real issues.
Not much about the way this campaign is unfolding is hewing to historical standards. But I wouldn’t give up the faith yet. Soon you’re going to be sending emails out wondering whether voters are becoming bored to death with everyone’s ten point plans.

Touche. I’ll try not to seem like too much of a complainer… but rather than the Daily Tracking Poll From More Than a Year Out Update, I’d like to write “Candidate X has come up with a brilliant idea” sometime this cycle…