Comments on: Question of the Week http://www.shakespeareteacher.com/blog/archives/403 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:43:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Brian http://www.shakespeareteacher.com/blog/archives/403#comment-5239 Brian Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:19:09 +0000 http://www.shakespeareteacher.com/blog/archives/403#comment-5239 They used to select the presidential candidates at one time, without going through primaries. It was called the convention. Carter was the first candidate who successfully secured the nomination before the convention, but securing enough delegates during the primary to make the convention unnecessary. Its a fact! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1976 They used to select the presidential candidates at one time, without going through primaries. It was called the convention. Carter was the first candidate who successfully secured the nomination before the convention, but securing enough delegates during the primary to make the convention unnecessary.

Its a fact!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1976

]]> By: Benjamin Baxter http://www.shakespeareteacher.com/blog/archives/403#comment-5222 Benjamin Baxter Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:13:10 +0000 http://www.shakespeareteacher.com/blog/archives/403#comment-5222 All primaries should not be held on the same day, that much is certain. The month-plus of campaigning between Iowa and Super Tuesday is an essential part of the campaign --- it tests presidential mettle. It shows to the party how each candidate stands up over a prolonged struggle to win the support of a majority of delegates, similar to how the candidate stands up over a prolonged struggle to campaign in a general election. Early primaries and caucuses ensure that flash doesn't win over substance, and it tests the depth of character of both the candidate and his platform. Whether Iowa specifically and New Hampshire specifically should have so much say, I doubt it. But holding primaries on the same day would be folly. All primaries should not be held on the same day, that much is certain.

The month-plus of campaigning between Iowa and Super Tuesday is an essential part of the campaign — it tests presidential mettle. It shows to the party how each candidate stands up over a prolonged struggle to win the support of a majority of delegates, similar to how the candidate stands up over a prolonged struggle to campaign in a general election.

Early primaries and caucuses ensure that flash doesn’t win over substance, and it tests the depth of character of both the candidate and his platform.

Whether Iowa specifically and New Hampshire specifically should have so much say, I doubt it. But holding primaries on the same day would be folly.

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