Menu

Argument: “Backloading” of the primary schedule can help reduce the special interest effect contained in all “big money ‘ campaigns.

Issue Report: Primaries in US elections

Support


The purpose of the pod set-up is to allow the least populated states to vote first and thus wield influence over the primary campaigns, while the more populated states vote last.

The states voting towards the end of the schedule maintain significant influence over the primary process because of the large number of delegates that large states have to offer.

The gradual escalation of population size allows candidates without extensive campaign funds to build momentum from the smaller, earlier primaries so that he or she can potentially succeed in the larger primaries. The aim is to weaken the connection between big money and campaign success and to maintain public engagement throughout the primary season.

Since over 50% of the delegates would be decided in the final pod, the early states would not have the power to decide the candidacy. However, they would help grassroots campaign to flourish and allow lesser-known candidates a reasonable chance. They would have the ability to influence the direction of the primary season, and the power to thrust notable candidates and unlikely dark horses to the forefront of the race, but would not decide the ultimate outcome.

One added advantage of lengthening the primary season is that it gives the voters more time to evaluate the candidates, while also giving the candidates time to reach out to a more diverse collection of states instead of just the swing states or the traditional early primary states.

Spacing out the pods in 30-day intervals relieves some of the pressure to raise massive amounts of money in very short periods of time. A worthy candidate without adequate means to continue a 4-month campaign can rely on donors as he or she carries the smaller primaries.”