Primary/Caucus System

[Erc]

I've got some influence as my state votes on Super Tuesday (right?)--but even then its usually decided by then.  And that's a bit undemocratic, but its the way the parties want to do it.  And I can't blame them--the way the system is now, a clear winner will almost inevitably emerge by a certain point.  If it were all on one day--imagine the NH results extrapolated to the rest of the US.

Kerry: 1682 Delegates
Dean: 1154 Delegates
Clark: 544 Delegates
Edwards:  528 Delegates
Lieberman:  376 Delegates
Kucinich:  62 Delegates
Sharpton:  7 Delegates

(2177 needed for nomination)

And then we're back to the pre-FDR days of conventions, where everything gets ridiculous.  Neither Dean nor Kerry would pull out, and Clark & Edwards are vying for a possible dark-horse compromise candidate position (as could Lieberman, although he might pull out early in the hopes of a VP slot).  And then the delegates have all the power...

Of course, the likely solution is that Edwards drops out on the second ballot, pushing Kerry up to 2210 and the win (in return, he gets the VP slot).


In my opinion, the best solution is having IRV or some other method everywhere on one day, thus solving both problems.  Of course, this opens the door for IRV in the general election, which neither party wants.  Plus it renders the conventions utterly useless.

So I don't think it will be changing for a while.