General Discussion

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts) Mon Dec 9, 2019, 06:28 PM Dec 2019

Someone please explain to me why a small, rural, mainly white state like Iowa should exercise [View all]

so much influence.

Better, in my view, would be to mandate that there be 5 separate primaries, each consisting of 20% of the electorate, on 5 separate days.

That way, we would not see the ridiculous spectacle of flocks of candidates competing with each other in these tiny diners, and local halls, and school halls where a tiny handful of more rightward leaning voters decide which candidates fail and which candidates lose.

I live near Chicago, population 2.7 million, and we will generally only see candidates a very few times during an election.

In contrast, Iowa has a population of 3.15 million.

Demographically, Iowa is 91% white, versus 60.7% for the nation as a whole.

79 replies

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Someone please explain to me why a small, rural, mainly white state like Iowa should exercise [View all] guillaumeb Dec 2019 OP

Can't explain besides tradition, way too much influence n/t hibbing Dec 2019 #1

So no logical reason. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #5

I hated Super Tuesdays, when the nominee was picked before my state's primary. CaptYossarian Dec 2019 #2

Great post. Thank you. NurseJackie Dec 2019 #3

Thank you. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #6

I am all for a single day for all primaries SterlingPound Dec 2019 #4

One advantage of the seemingly endless primary process is.... guillaumeb Dec 2019 #9

I agree 1000% plus the weeks inbetween some primaries allows the media to SterlingPound Dec 2019 #13

Agreed. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #14

"One big primary" would favor the early money. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2019 #42

I don't know, but this is like the hundredth post on it. cwydro Dec 2019 #7

IT shouldn't... position should be rotated among the states that want to go early... JCMach1 Dec 2019 #8

Or, group states so that 20% of the population is guillaumeb Dec 2019 #11

I don't mind individual states rotating into primaries in Feb. and before March 15. JCMach1 Dec 2019 #43

It exercises influence because people let it exercise influence. onenote Dec 2019 #10

And it benefits the media, and the advertising industry. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #12

This. People will claim those states have too much influence... MichMan Dec 2019 #15

because like all US citizens they are eligible to vote in elections? nt msongs Dec 2019 #16

But their votes weigh far heavier. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #17

In that scenario, the only candidates who could Bettie Dec 2019 #18

But these smaller, whiter, and more rural states guillaumeb Dec 2019 #19

So, I guess there needs to be a decision made by people Bettie Dec 2019 #24

In Illinois, the race is generally already decided, guillaumeb Dec 2019 #25

Maybe the real solution is to Bettie Dec 2019 #28

No offense. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #33

Perfect example of how institutional racism works StarfishSaver Dec 2019 #20

True. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #21

Yes StarfishSaver Dec 2019 #22

+1 crickets Dec 2019 #23

Good point Johonny Dec 2019 #44

I hated it when they picked that white dude Obama RhodeIslandOne Dec 2019 #70

And I hate being reminded of the pervasiveness of ignorance and insensitivity right in our midst StarfishSaver Dec 2019 #71

I'm sorry Iowa was the first state to spring our first black president RhodeIslandOne Dec 2019 #75

And South Carolina was the first state to "spring" our first black Member of Congress into office. StarfishSaver Dec 2019 #76

Probably tradition? Just like the 250 year old constitution! at140 Dec 2019 #26

Many traditions are no longer observed. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #34

No argument, but it is not easy to change at140 Dec 2019 #36

Agreed. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #46

I agree. The entire population of the STLMO metro area is more than the entire state of Iowa. ... SWBTATTReg Dec 2019 #27

Polling is done nationwide Bettie Dec 2019 #29

I never answer any phone call not on my contact list...eom at140 Dec 2019 #37

Are you of the belief that if a different state went before Iowa, no one would have dropped out ? MichMan Dec 2019 #32

No of course not. I'm just saying that more of us should have a say... SWBTATTReg Dec 2019 #66

Nobody's dropping out just because of Iowa RhodeIslandOne Dec 2019 #77

Iowa Democrats vote in Democratic caucuses. Iowa Republicans vote in Republican caucuses. Itchinjim Dec 2019 #30

This again? SharonClark Dec 2019 #31

I am attacking the process, not any particular state. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #35

We all know what NH means during primary season at140 Dec 2019 #38

So my attempt at humor failed? guillaumeb Dec 2019 #47

Sorry, I must have been in a mood which was at140 Dec 2019 #48

Understood. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #49

Absolutely! Humor is what separates us from animals at140 Dec 2019 #67

Trump fakes laughing. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #68

I have never seen Trump laughing at140 Dec 2019 #69

K&R UTUSN Dec 2019 #39

A kick lunasun Dec 2019 #40

IA/NH sets the narrative of presidential politics radius777 Dec 2019 #41

Another day of Skidmore Dec 2019 #45

There is no question that we all have the same needs, guillaumeb Dec 2019 #50

You know where the power matter most of all? Skidmore Dec 2019 #53

And the Senate is also designed to give more power to low population areas. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #54

Are none of those Republicans Skidmore Dec 2019 #57

Maddening, isn't it? Bettie Dec 2019 #65

The purpose of this narrative is to divide us and I say this underthematrix Dec 2019 #51

But we also have to be aware of the not so subtle ways that racism guillaumeb Dec 2019 #52

States set their own primary dates. It isn't something that was decided The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2019 #55

Understood. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #59

Congress can't mandate any such thing. The Constitution gives states The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2019 #60

I know that as well. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #61

If you think Iowa Democratic caucus goers are "rightward leaning" rsdsharp Dec 2019 #56

So people in lightly populated areas have more right to see the candiates? guillaumeb Dec 2019 #58

Yes, we're a small state, although a defy you to show me where I said rsdsharp Dec 2019 #62

It was implicit in your statement, in my view. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #63

My view is different. I'm done with this. rsdsharp Dec 2019 #64

Does the current system produce bad nominees? Kaleva Dec 2019 #72

Could a different system produce different noiminees? guillaumeb Dec 2019 #73

I think one would want to change the current system if they were unhappy with the nominees Kaleva Dec 2019 #74

Influence in general is weird thing fescuerescue Dec 2019 #78

True, we must not break with tradition. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #79