Let's pitch caucuses and primaries: National Primary Day

[camero]

With states cutting each others throats to have the first primary and with the candidates being pretty much selected by the end of February, we should just pitch them all. Several states are not getting in the rat race by canceling or not funding thier primaries.
Florida is debating holding a straw poll again but that is a big waste of campaign funds.

My proposal is that we pick a date in June (say Flag day) as a National Primary Day where all states hold thier primaries and make it a National holiday. We should also make the General Election a holiday. That way, states can save money and all races will be of equal importance and there is plenty of time to campaign.

Just, MHO.

[Hep]

1. No argument from me

I vote in the MAY primary.

[camero]

2. The candidate will most likely

be picked by then, so it's like you really have no say in who is picked.

[Hep]

9. The only chance I have

is if the convention goes to a second or third vote. NC gives proportional delegates, so...

[camero]

3. Plus

It would increase turnout because people would have the day off to vote.

[Ficus]

4. Small states

will never see candidates then. Only large urban centers with lots of votes.

[camero]

5. You forget

The red states had 50 million voters in the 2000 election. They will be represented.

[Ficus]

7. I don't live in a red state

Gore won here. And we have a population of 3 million people. Why would you come here in a national primary, when you could spend all of your time in NY and LA?

Don't assume rural=red

[camero]

8. Candidates campaign nationwide

and buy TV spots nationwide for the general election. I didn't say it didn't have its faults. Its just a better way to pick our candidates. States could thoeretically hold straw polls before Primary Day, and the candidates that are behind would gravitate to those states.

[Ficus]

12. I just wish

it was more spread out. As for getting to know a candidate from TV spots - not interested.

However I do greatly understand the frustration of people who don't live in IA or NH. Regional primaries are a better idea than national.

Would John Edwards support a ban on meat packers owning hogs if he didn't have to campaign here? Nope. He's a tool of the hog industry in NC. And let's not forget ethanol, and on and on.

Just keep in mind here in Iowa we have very little of national importance except every 4 years someone pays attention to us. Big states always have media there to spotlight issues going on in their state.

This is a fundamental issue our nation has struggled with since it's birth. Big vs Small state power, and how to make sure everyone is represented.

[camero]

14. Regional Primaries

Spread out over 2 weekends is an idea. Northeast and Southwest one day and Southeast and Northwest another.

[Ficus]

15. being a midwesterner

I'd like to ammend that idea to include the midwest as a separate region. I think my state shares more in common with states like Minnesota and Michigan and South Dakota than California or New York.

[camero]

16. A farm state, yes.

But the key would be for one state or region not to have too much influence. If that idea takes hold, I think 4 regions instead of 5 would be best. Then we would have more diverse areas.

[camero]

6. That benefits us actually

Since Gore got most of the urban vote in 2000.

[camero]

27. kick

kick

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

10. I like Ross Perot's advice for getting middle class Americans to the polls

At least two days of voting, let's say a Friday and a Saturday, so people who work for a living have a realistic opportunity to get to the polls. Sure, you're boss is required to give you time off, but then again your boss isn't supposed to fire you for supporting a union, so how likely is it really.

Two days of voting, at a minimum.

[camero]

11. That's a good idea

It would also require an increase in funding for elections. And more poll workers watching polling places for irregularties.

[Ficus]

13. many countries

do that. Or make election day a holiday.

[pansypoo53219]

17. rather shorten the race

and have complete federal funding. which would mean goerge would not be pimping for money day after day after day.
george is either ON VACATION or RAISING MONEY FOR RETARDICANS.

[camero]

19. I agree with public financing

It's just a seperate issue and I would have to start another thread.. Haha. But we will eventually have to have public financing of all campaigns.

[Ficus]

20. Someone tell that

to HoHo. The money race is a race we'll lose.

[camero]

18. Another thing

Candidates would stay in for the whole race and maybe limit the influence of money in poltics. How many times have you thought you picked a good candidate but his or her money ran out before all the primaries were done?

[Ficus]

21. well...

I'm a Dennis K. supporter. So yes.

[camero]

22. Most likely

DK would have just as much a chance to win under this system. If public financing of all campaigns was included, he would have a much better chance of winning. Ideas would trump special interests.

[Ficus]

23. Why our party is SO screwed up

we're seen as a conglomeration of special interests, rather than a party of working class people.

[camero]

24. How true

Special Interests have way too much pull in both parties, mostly because of the money race. Which like you said, we won't win.

[camero]

25. kick

kick

[camero]

26. kick

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