Is it November 2008 Already?

Can someone please let me know when the Presidential election begins starting two years out?  Besides starting earlier than past elections, the biggest problem I have with this year’s election is the amount of declared candidates that are currently holding public office.  For instance, on the Democratic side there are six declared candidates who are currently holding elected office either as the State Executive or in the United States Congress.  Likewise on the Republican side, there are three declared candidates holding office in the United States Congress.    I guess the question that I would like to ask is don’t these nine candidates have day jobs?  By day jobs, I mean serving the public that already elected them!    It’s two years out and these candidates are already out campaigning full time to be elected to a new office.  Don’t these candidates have an obligation to their constituents who placed in them in office?  If they are out there campaigning just about 24/7, how can they be in touch with the various issues that are crossing the Executive Statehouse and House/Senate floor daily?  And not just the candidate – you know that their staffers are all working on the campaign too, instead of the issues for their current office. I tell you, if I was opening looking for another job at my current employer, they would fire me for not fulfilling my obligation to them.  So, if these nine candidates were serious about running for the Presidential, why don’t they just resign their seat?  As voter, I would find their message a bit more meaningful knowing they are committed to their cause 100%, instead of hedging their bets with their current job and possible future job.  What do you all think?