Primary question

[hornpharmd]

How come there aren't more large states involved earlier on in the primaries. Florida voted on 1/31 but outside of them we have had:

1-3 Iowa
1-10 New Hampshire
1-21 South Carolina
2-4 Nevada
2-7 Minnesota, Colorado
2-11 Maine
2-28 Michigan, Arizona
2-29 Wyoming

This is a ridiculous process to see so many candidates already dropping out of the race and only one of the big states voting thus far. Add this to the fact that many candidates are never even invited to the debates. So basically if you have some financial backing early on and can get your name out there then you have a decent shot to get invited to debates early on, to get your message out, and to possibly win an election or 2. This keeps you in the game and perhaps more time for funding.

It seems more like a game of monopoly and who can survive the longest than a real democratic election. I keep hearing that many Republicans do not really like any of te candidates that remain. They vote for who they think has the best chance to beat President Obama in the Presidential election. This is just a sad sad process. Anybody like it? Thoughts?

 

[Giovanni Jones]

It's up to the parties as to whether they select the candidates by using caucuses, primaries, or smoke-filled rooms. Also as to whether they award delegates on a winner-take-all or proportional basis. (or award delegates or "super-delegates")

If the GOP hadn't decided to switch to proportional delegate awards for the early primaries, they would probably already be down to 1 presumptive candidate by May. This approach means that the race may not be a foregone conclusion by the time the Texas primary rolls around (probably May 29), but it also means that the eventual GOP nominee (and/or his PACs) will have exhausted a boatload of campaign funds in ads against his GOP rivals well in advance of the general election.

Be careful what you wish for, because the results might turn out differently than what you expect.

 

[Mr. Deez]

The process is centered primarily around the ability to raise money early and fast. Accordingly, the financial backers of the political parties and the parties themselves like it - it empowers them. Pretty much nobody else does. It diminishes the number of decent candidates who even attempt to run.

 

[Giovanni Jones]

fyi -

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