Dime For Your Thoughts Primary

The 2008 presidential primary season is in full gear. The question has risen from several circles about changing the current system to vote on one day instead of different dates, as is the current practice.

Currently, different states vote on different days, such as Iowa, being one of the first caucuses that seemingly sets the pace for other states that vote on a later date. Recent discussions have made the argument that many early states have "more say" than others since they vote first. It might seem that this argument has a point. Florida and Michigan moved their primaries up for that very reason.

We have all heard the news stories and comments from political analysis, for example; stating that candidate A, has a stronghold on the nomination since they won a certain state that voted early in the election. There is a burning question that arises from this scenario: the states that vote first, does this make an influence on voters from states that hold primaries later? From what I have heard, yes. So once again the question, Should there be a single day for all 50 states? The case has been made that this is the more sensible thing to do, it makes it more fair to all the states and allows more individuals to make their own mind up without the influence of who has won before they had the chance to vote.

I never really understood this; we vote for the president after they are nominated on one day, why not for the party nomination as well?

My gripe; my vote matters just as much as an individual in Iowa, or Vermont etc. they need to have the vote on one day. I don't want someone in another state deciding who I want to vote for; since several candidates have dropped out before I even had a chance to have my say, then they effectively decided for me. I may, or may not have voted for any of the candidates that dropped out, but I no longer have that choice since the other states have already voted and those candidates dropped out thinking they had no chance to win.

Kudos to the Democratic party for standing up to Florida and Michigan for violating party rules. Both states moved up their primaries to make a bigger influence on the election. Neither state's electoral votes for the Democratic nomination will count, though the votes for the Republican party do count.

Dime for Your Thoughts conducted a poll to see what the public thought. Out of 300 people polled 92% agreed that there should be one day instead of several. 8% believed it should stay the same, though many commented that there needed to be more clusters of states voting at the same time.

They need to have voting on one day, but a different day for each party. Brad--Vermont
Maybe so, I think if they did do it this way, it should be the same week; i.e. one on Tuesday, the other on Saturday.

Each participating party should be free to decide its own nominating process. Anonymous--Illinois
Fair enough, but they should agree on similar practices.

They need to have the thing on one day, so we have less of their shenanigans to listen too. Tom--Pennsylvannia
I doubt we will hear less. The mudslinging will be pointed at the opponent from the other party instead.