Should we have a national primary instead of state by state?

[mot78]

Only 100,000 people will show up in Iowa to vote, and yet they have more influence over the primaries than the millions of other Democrats. Does anyone here think a national primary would make more sense? Should it have runoffs or IRV to make candidates supporters "transferable" and not go Green in the GE?

[JI7]

1. no

i am open to including maybe another state with a small population but more diversity to be part of the early primaries. but i would rather it start in a place where everyone gets to meet all the candidate more than once and absorb the issues rather than it being conducted through tv ads which it would be if it was done nationally.

[mot78]

2. But why should a handfull of people get to decide who gets nominated

We run elections nationally, so why not primaries? I mean, what if state parties did primaries where the smallest counties got to determine the nominee?

[JI7]

5. because it doesn't automatically elect a pres

it's still a primary and the person goes on the run as the nominee of that party. it's the democratic party that made the decision of iowa and new hampshire being first. the republicans do that also. but other parties don't have to. and they have a lot of influence but don't really decide as other states do vote.

[DieboldMustDie]

6. No, we don't run elections nationally.

The president is elected by members of the electoral college, and they are elected by the voters in each of the states.

[VolcanoJen]

3. No.

A national primary would mean that candidates would visit and spend most of their time in concentrated centers of population only, like New York, LA, Chicago, Miami... rural and smaller-town Americans would never see the candidates, and certainly wouldn't feel engaged by the process at all.

Don't forget... 100,000 Iowans do not choose the Democratic nominee. It's a bit of a slog sometimes... in fact, this year, it's really shaping up to be a long haul, if the polls are any indication.

As much as the electoral college screwed us in '00, I still think it's the best system to ensure that candidates cover the geographical distance of this nation, and meet real Americans. The argument against the electoral college is similar to the argument against small-state primaries, too.

I like Iowa. I like New Hampshire. I like the history and excitement of it all. I like the candidates flipping pancakes, meeting farmers and their pigs, wrapped up in scarves and sweaters in the snowy New England towns, stumping. I just love the stump. Call me corny, but the stump is America.

- Jennifer

[BobbyJay]

4. No, but I think the states should be changed every few years

Make it Montana and Missouri every other election year or something.