Nation. January 3, 2008 – “A number of savvy reformers, such as California’s Tom Gangale, have come around to supporting a scheme, referred to as the American Plan, that in several senses builds on the strengths of the Delaware Plan. The American Plan is designed to begin with contests in states with small populations and then build over an extended period to primaries in bigger states. The schedule would give candidates with low name recognition and small bank accounts time to score breakthrough wins early and then attract the attention, contributions and support needed to compete with better-known and better-funded contenders in bigger states.”
Benton Sawry. January 10, 2008 – “In these primary elections money isn’t as big an issue as a candidate’s ability to appeal to the voters. In Iowa and New Hampshire commercials and “robocalls” don’t have nearly the same effect as they may in the larger states because the citizens in these states literally have dozens of opportunities to listen to candidates at rallies, debates and even meet the candidates in person. Before December, Mike Huckabee was a Republican afterthought, but he was propelled to the top of the polls by the Iowa caucus without the help of the tens of millions of dollars his competitors spent. John McCain, the distinguished Senator and Vietnam veteran, had his back to the wall this summer. Despite his initial lagging in fundraising and in the polls he was able to capture the New Hampshire primary over better funded candidates because of this election’s personal nature Citizens have the ability to form an opinion of a candidate based on their character rather than on their ability to raise money and spend it on mass media. This system is good for our electoral system. It dulls the effect of soft money and large donations and puts the power of democracy back in the hands of the voters and grassroots activists.”
U-Wire. January 8, 2008 – “John McCain, the distinguished senator and Vietnam veteran, had his back to the wall this summer. Despite his initial lagging in fundraising and in the polls he was able to capture the New Hampshire primary over better-funded candidates because of this election’s personal nature. Citizens have the ability to form an opinion of a candidate based on their character rather than on their ability to raise money and spend it on mass media. This system is good for our electoral system. It dulls the effect of soft money and large donations and puts the power of democracy back in the hands of the voters and grassroots activists.”
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