Reply #37: Only 4 states don't.

[Demit]

I don't know how undemocratic it is. After all, the law doesn't say a candidate can't take office if he wins the general—and he could win if more voters voted for him as a write-in candidate than voters who voted for names on the actual ballot. Very unlikely in reality, but theoretically that avenue is there. Hey, just galvanize the people to vote for you! Power to the people!

Seems to me that candidates who don't win their party's election but still want to run in the general election are wanting it both ways. They want the benefits—muscle and money—that comes from being allied with an organization, but don't want to accept the downside, the decision that party members (voters) make not to choose them in a primary election.