Article Title
The Presidential Primary: A Faulty Process
Abstract
The system of presidential primary elections has in effect created a nonsystem for selecting party candidates for the highest office in the nation. Personality has become the substitute for program content, and campaign spending coupled with the influence of the media counts for more than the candidates' experience, knowledge, expertise, administrative ability, and attachment to the policies and programs of their respective political party. In large measure the current presidential primary system has failed in its objective to advance the democratic process within the political parties while undermining the effectiveness of the parties and the importance of activists, the party regulars. It is altogether fair to allege that the democratic values we cherish as a nation are not being reinforced by the primary system. This article proposes that we reexamine the process for selecting each party's presidential candidate in search of a better way.
Recommended Citation
Fraser, Douglas A. and Bluestone, Irving
(1990)
"The Presidential Primary: A Faulty Process,"
New England Journal of Public Policy: Vol. 6:
Iss.
2, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/nejpp/vol6/iss2/4