THIS IS THE DUMBEST idea the Democrats have had in a long time. One of
the advantages of a long primary season is that you get to test your
candidates in a wider variety of circumstances. Picking them a year and
a half ahead of time eliminates this review and greatly increases the
chances of disaster.
SUSAN MILLIGAN, BOSTON GLOBE States with more than half the nation's
population are zeroing in on Feb. 5 next year to stage their
presidential primaries, creating a single day that could determine the
major party nominees at a historically early point in the process. At
least 19 states have moved or are considering moving their primaries to
the first Tuesday in February . . .
The trend would mark the biggest change in the presidential nominating
process in decades. It would mean that presidential candidates would
need to raise massive amounts of money -- at least $100 million before
the first vote is cast, according to analysts in both parties -- and may
see their chances of success evaporate at a stage when the contenders in
past presidential contests were still introducing themselves to American
voters.
"It's insane. It's going to be a de facto national primary," said Rich
Bond, a GOP consultant and former chairman of the Republican National
Committee. "It's going to mean that the candidates with the highest name
recognition and the most cash on hand are going to have a huge advantage
over the rest of the field."
Both political parties are trying to keep the states from front loading
the primary schedule. Republicans in 2004 approved rules to penalize
states that hold primaries before Feb. 5 or after July 28, 2008.
Democrats have both incentives and punishments to keep states in line.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/06/states_
may_force_megaprimary_winnow_the_2008_field_early/
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the advantages of a long primary season is that you get to test your
candidates in a wider variety of circumstances. Picking them a year and
a half ahead of time eliminates this review and greatly increases the
chances of disaster.
SUSAN MILLIGAN, BOSTON GLOBE States with more than half the nation's
population are zeroing in on Feb. 5 next year to stage their
presidential primaries, creating a single day that could determine the
major party nominees at a historically early point in the process. At
least 19 states have moved or are considering moving their primaries to
the first Tuesday in February . . .
The trend would mark the biggest change in the presidential nominating
process in decades. It would mean that presidential candidates would
need to raise massive amounts of money -- at least $100 million before
the first vote is cast, according to analysts in both parties -- and may
see their chances of success evaporate at a stage when the contenders in
past presidential contests were still introducing themselves to American
voters.
"It's insane. It's going to be a de facto national primary," said Rich
Bond, a GOP consultant and former chairman of the Republican National
Committee. "It's going to mean that the candidates with the highest name
recognition and the most cash on hand are going to have a huge advantage
over the rest of the field."
Both political parties are trying to keep the states from front loading
the primary schedule. Republicans in 2004 approved rules to penalize
states that hold primaries before Feb. 5 or after July 28, 2008.
Democrats have both incentives and punishments to keep states in line.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/06/states_
may_force_megaprimary_winnow_the_2008_field_early/
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No comments:
Post a Comment