The October 2 Washington Post carried this George F. Will column. The column seems to predict that the Republican Party will hold a national presidential convention in June 2016 instead of either late August or early September. The column also seems to suggest this is a good idea.
But Professor Josh Putnam has this column in response. Putnam is the nation’s leading expert on presidential primary timing, and he argues that Will has overlooked many obstacles to the Republican Party holding a June convention.
The super timebomb Electoral College was one of the EVIL ANTI-Democracy deals made in the top secret 1787 Federal Convention by the scheming small and slave State gangs.
Democracy NOW.
Abolish the E.C. and USA Senate.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
i.e. NO robot party hack primaries, caucuses and conventions.
Putnam asserts that 25-30% of delegates were elected after mid-May in 2012. But that includes Texas, California, and New Jersey.
The late May primary in Texas was not by choice. Had there been a 2012 June Republican national convention, the presidential, senatorial, and local primaries would have been held in March. As it was, Democrats didn’t use the primary for choosing convention delegates.
New Jersey and California had February presidential primaries in 2008. Since New Jersey has odd-year elections, there is no issue of coincidence with state elections.
California no longer has partisan primaries for other offices, so it would be simpler for administrative purposes to separate the primaries. In 2012, the Democrats didn’t need a presidential primary, and they were content to not have Republicans campaigning in the state. In 2016, they won’t want to be left as an afterthought. Splitting the primary would give them an opportunity to move the state and local primaries to September.
Richard, the headline says “June primary”, but you obviously mean “convention”
Also, the first sentence says “June 2012” when I believe you mean 2016.
There were four other states where both parties chose delegates after mid-May: Arkansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
Arkansas and Kentucky held their primary on May 22. They could still make it to a June convention. In 2008, Arkansas held an earlier presidential primary.
South Dakota Republicans would likely figure out a way to choose delegates. If not, the North Dakota delegation could just sidle over to the microphone and vote for their neighbors at the convention.
thanks! I just now fixed it.
if they could just move it back to june of 2015 the republicans might be able to accomplish what george will would really like. a year could be just enough time for voters to forget the idiotic things republicans say in the primary season.
oh wait – that stuff still gets into their party’s platform.