tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post3484819132837534236..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: Tales from the Kennedy School Symposium on Presidential PrimariesJosh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-48549515582372446302012-11-07T13:41:55.958-05:002012-11-07T13:41:55.958-05:00Intriguing.
Has anyone ever considered an even ...Intriguing. <br /><br />Has anyone ever considered an even simpler system? Hold the primary nationwide on the same day (say, Election Day the year before the main election). This would, maybe, force candidates to sell themselves nationwide rather than state by state where they tend to customize their message and thus "flip-flop" maybe a bit less? The candidate with the most votes nationwide would win the primary. Wouldn't all the states then have an equal say at the same time how their delegates are distributed? This would force candidates to hit states that they might not otherwise visit if they can recoup delegates later on in the game?<br /><br />Just my two cents!<br />Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-46752652943640487742008-08-13T11:10:00.000-04:002008-08-13T11:10:00.000-04:00why don't they use the current plan, but then rota...why don't they use the current plan, but then rotate which states get to go first? Having Iowa first every year means that we have actual policies because of them, like ethanol fuel, which is a really bad idea (all things considered, it is not as "green" as many other energies, and it wastes food.)<BR/><BR/>Doing it by region seems like a horrible idea. If you did the south first you'd end up with a moderate democrat and a very conservative evangelical-type republican, both of which may not appeal fully to their respective parties. If you did the northeast first you'd end up with an uber-liberal democrat and a moderate republican (maybe a pro-gay or pro-choice one), which would not appeal to the parties as a whole.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-6821027184934290972008-05-12T21:34:00.000-04:002008-05-12T21:34:00.000-04:00I honestly haven't really thought of a system like...I honestly haven't really thought of a system like this before. My issue is that it would be something of a collective action problem. The states <I>would</I> tally those votes and then it would be a matter of states resisting the temptation to release the information and influence the process. And as we've seen with frontloading, states aren't that good at resisting. <BR/><BR/>The question that arises from that is what the penalty would be for releasing your information early? I would bet that they wouldn't lose all their delegates. <BR/><BR/>...or would the Dems want to repeat the Florida/Michigan experience again?<BR/><BR/>This is an interesting idea though. With the right sanction, it could work. What that sanction is, I have no idea.Josh Putnamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-70324945562632610552008-05-12T21:03:00.000-04:002008-05-12T21:03:00.000-04:00The idea has some merit, but it would be hard to g...The idea has some merit, but it would be hard to get more money to run a campaign when nobody knows who is winning. The richest candidate would probably win. This year it would be Romney and Obama.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379192575044761972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-30842042639784836932008-05-12T16:50:00.000-04:002008-05-12T16:50:00.000-04:00how bout holding elections in whatever order you w...how bout holding elections in whatever order you want, but results aren't tallied until all states vote...basically the benefits of a national primary day combined with the benefits of retail politicsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-37908893343326667552008-05-11T13:41:00.000-04:002008-05-11T13:41:00.000-04:00Good stuff! I would like to see something done, bu...Good stuff! I would like to see something done, but you have been warning us about the problems. I suspect that there will be a push for a national primary. This year it probably would have produced a Clinton/Guiliani race.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379192575044761972noreply@blogger.com