Until about 50 years ago, the presidential election process consisted of a few backroom maneuverings, two sometimes raucous conventions in July or August, and a campaign that began on Labor Day and lasted all of two months. In the 1950s and ’60s, the state primaries gained in importance to the point where today they determine the nominees.
It has been reported that we will know both nominees by next March (we already know one).
As a result of this system, we have had nine Democrats running for most of this year and we are still four months from the first caucus and 14 months from the actual election.
Recent polls show that most people cannot name any of the nine who have been slugging it out formonths. The whole process seems to be driven by polls, money and sound bites.
Oh for a good convention floor fight. That would get people’s attention.
