It's way more than a year before the next presidential election, but we're already well into the candidate debate season. And so far, the debates are some of the best shows on television.

On NPR this morning, news commentators speculated that voters will get tired of the debates. I hope not. Americans need to make a better choice than they did in 2004. And since the primary season has been moved up, it's not too early to start studying.

Last night's debate on CNN, like the earlier debates, displayed a gratifyingly strong Democratic field. And even with the extreme time limits, even with eight candidates on the stage, we got a good look at the Democrats' similarities and differences. And surprisingly, even within 60 seconds, the candidates made forceful arguments on complicated subjects.

Among the highlights for me: Joe Biden and Barack Obama explaining their opposing positions on funding the Iraq war; Dennis Kucinich's insistence that the only solution to the United States' health-care problem is a universal, single-payer system; John Edwards' declaration that the "war on terror" is nothing more than a bumper-sticker slogan designed to frighten Americans; and Biden's attack on the don't-ask, don't-tell military policy.

Quick candidate impressions: Hillary Clinton is coming off less shrill - to me, at least. Obama is confident and congenial and is obviously the most charismatic of the eight. There's something about John Edwards' personality - I can't identify it; does he seem too youthful? - that seems to be keeping him from getting traction. Joe Biden is a superior candidate whose experience and thoughtfulness would make him a good president, and he ought to be getting more attention than he is.

And frankly, other than Mike Gravel, there isn't a weak candidate in the bunch. Like Biden, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson are having trouble getting attention. In last night's debate, they were practically shut out. CNN's Wolf Blitzer did a good job as moderator, but he should have made certain that all of the candidates got equal exposure. Debates like this one, after all, are among the few chances we get to see the candidates talking about the wide variety of issues a president must deal with.

The closer we get to the election, the more we'll be bombarded with campaign ads. And not too long from now, some of the current candidates will withdraw - not because they're not good candidates, but because they don't have enough money to continue.

The ugly truth about American politics is that it takes money - way too much money - to run for office. And the more money candidates can raise, the more likely they are to be elected. Money, more than anything else, will determine which candidates will be on the New York primary ballot next February. I'd bet that half the field will be out of the race by then.

Next up: a debate by the Republican candidates, Tuesday night at 7 on CNN.