Have you heard much about the presidential election lately?

You know, the contest in November that the media are usually hyping about this time? The one that will determine the Leader of the Free World for the next four years? The one that normally has significant repercussions on Senate and House races around the country?

Neither have we, and we’re still struggling to decide if that’s a negative thing.

It’s less than a month away for the Democratic and Republican presidential conventions, and Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore are being so elusive you’d think they were hiding from the law (with Gore’s overzealous fund-raising tactics, he just might be).

Typically, the presidential race would be all we’d be hearing about by now. It’s true (unfortunately) that most of the time Americans ignore politics and elections.

But this race has made for a particularly dull, uninspiring political season, and everyone usually blames the candidates for not being able to get people interested. In this case, the blame is entirely appropriate.

Both George W. Bush and Al Gore are boring men with virtually nothing of interest to say. Too harsh? Not even close. It’s more than a bit confusing trying to understand why two men who’ve devoted a substantial portion of their lives to public service seem to be hiding from the press corps and the people whom they’re supposed to be getting excited about the political process.

It’s obvious why they’re avoiding the media: They don’t want to be asked the tough questions about the issues they know nothing about. They also don’t want to engage in any sort of conversation that involves any sort of controversy — read: no more talking about past (alleged) cocaine use or fund raising.

Sure, there’s not a total lack of coverage of the race. Bush recently grabbed headlines for his part in the Gary Graham execution, and those old fund-raising questions still seem to be dogging Gore.

But where’s the excitement, the flash, the inspiration? Even the annual debate about who should be considered for the vice presidency isn’t getting the sort of coverage it usually does.

Remember back, way back, about six months ago when former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley and Arizona Sen. John McCain were still in the race? Whether you agreed with their stances on the issues or not, those men brought thousands of people out to the polls who’d never before given voting a second thought. Those men had passion for the process and knew how to get others excited, too.

But now they’re gone, and we’re stuck with two daddies’ boys who seem as interested in the election as the voters are interested in them. Settle in, America; it will be a long four months.

Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Kate Kompas,Greg Jerrett, Heidi Jolivette, Justin Kendall and Tara Payne.