COMMENTARY | Every four years in a presidential campaign for a new candidate the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary get all the attention in the media. Not only that, they have an opportunity to personally meet with all of the potential candidates. In a way, these two states are there at the very beginning and a deciding factor of the entire primary process. By the time the New Hampshire primary is over with it virtually becomes a moot point. The leading Republican or Democratic party candidate has all but clinched their nominations. It is too costly for other candidates to stay in the race if they don’t have a chance according to the polls reported by the media. By the time the South Carolina and Florida primaries roll around in mid to late January there is no point in voting.
During statewide elections when it isn’t a presidential election year you have a statewide primary to whittle down the candidates for the general election in November. It seems to save a lot of time and money for the candidates. In other words, you don’t have two select cities practically deciding the outcome of who will be the party’s candidate. Why can’t a presidential primary work in that way with a national primary? Iowa can still have their caucus and New Hampshire their primary, then a national primary for all of the 48 states. It sounds cost-effective for the candidates and gives everyone a chance to be in on the primary process. Talk about a win-win situation. Not so fast, unfortunately.
According to The Daily Plunge political blog, the staggered primaries over the ensuing weeks until the spring have always been the tradition. It may have worked in the 20th century, but in the information age of the 21st century it is fast becoming archaic. It is the individual states who decide on when to hold a primary. In the case of Florida, they moved their primaries to an earlier date in 2008 and 2012 hoping to be a part of the momentum. It backfired in 2008 for Florida when the DNC punished them at the convention with lesser delegates, reports the Tampa Bay Times. With a national primary both the RNC and DNC would not have to worry about states changing their primaries to make it more relevant for voters. This would benefit candidates, voters and party officials. It truly is win-win.
SOURCES:
Constitutional Topic: Presidential Campaigns, USConstitution.net
Henshaw, “The Pork State Caucus,” DailyPlunge.com
Adam C. Smith, “Volatile presidential primary season not helping Republicans,” TampaBay.com