2012 Primary Calendars & Rules To Be Set Soon

I doubt anybody will try and challenge Obama, so this is mostly posturing for 2016 for the Dems. But on the GOP side, any changes to the system will be crucial to the players involved.

First, via CNN, let’s take a look at the Dems’ plans…

The commission’s looking at three issues that dogged last year’s marathon primary battle between then-Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Their goals: changing the window of time during which primaries and caucuses may be held, reducing the number of unpledged delegates, and improving the caucus system.

Note that “unpledged” delegates are actually known as “superdelegates,” and I’m glad to see that Dems are cutting back on these folks. That system is in serious need of reform since the only reason it was created in the first place was to steal a nomination from a candidate who had won the primary season but the party leaders didn’t deem fit to represent them. Dems avoided that nightmare last year, and apparently never want to have to worry about it again.

Concerning the time frame change, many Dems have been calling for Iowa and New Hampshire to be removed as the first in the nation, but that’s not going to happen. However, you may see caucuses conducted first and primaries second since caucuses are usually held because the state doesn’t have the funds to hold a primary. A notable exception to this is the infamous Texas two-step that disenfranchises many voters who only have time to vote in the primary portion of the primary/caucus hybrid system.

So what about the Repubs? What reforms will they make?

Democrats have always been able to make changes to party rules between conventions, a luxury now afforded to Republicans, thanks to a rule change that was approved at last year’s Republican Party convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Among the issues the Republicans are dealing with is the front-loading of the primary calendar. Between the two parties, contests were held in 24 states on Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008.

Here’s why getting rid of the front-loading is important for Repubs. First, if they can stretch out the time it could give more moderate candidates a chance to grab the nomination. In other words, states like Iowa and South Carolina won’t carry as much weight. Second, a longer primary season means more time for fundraising, which also means more time to ramp up the type of on-the-ground infrastructure that Obama had after his hard-fought battle with the Clinton machine.

Here’s the question: What would you change about the primary systems?

(Photo: Topnews.in)