Season One Research Files
Episode Twenty-one
8:00pm-9:00pm
SUPER TUESDAY
In the race for the White House, the Primary Election is a method by which a political party chooses its nominee for President. The winners of primary elections run against nominees of other parties in the general election. The primary is a unique U.S. institution, born in the era of political reform at the beginning of the 20th century. It grew in importance after World War II. Each state may set its primary dates as it pleases.
Because it comes first (late February or early March), the New Hampshire primary usually attracts major attention. The season then continues through early June. Back in 1988, a number of southern states decided to hold their primaries on the same day, in order to increase the chances that moderate southerners of either party might be able to secure their parties' nominations. This series of primaries became known as 'Super Tuesday.' During election seasons ever since, March has been awash in primaries. And now that California has moved its election up to that 'Super Tuesday' spot, the period during which candidates can actively campaign has been tightly compressed. California is by far the biggest political prize, since about 17 percent of the delegates needed to win the Republican nomination and 20 percent of those needed to secure the Democratic nomination are awarded to that one state. In the Presidential election of 2000, Super Tuesday was held on March 7th.
Some critics argue that presidential primaries often polarize a party's constituencies along ideological lines; that no true national consensus can come from them; that they deplete the candidates' energies in irrelevant hand-shaking tours; that they divert attention from basic issues; and that they cost inordinate amounts of money. Friends of primaries reply that they provide at least one opportunity for the voter to express his opinion on potential nominees, without party bosses speaking for him, and are a vital testing ground that will show which candidates possess the stamina and coolness under fire expected of a would-be president. Possibly the greatest contribution of the primaries is that they quickly end untenable candidacies.
Taken together with national opinion polls in presidential election years, the primaries have made it more difficult for national conventions to disregard the wishes of rank-and-file party members. Television gives major publicity to candidates' campaigns in the primary election states. More often than not, a strong leader emerges in the nomination race before the convention, and the delegates feel compelled to nominate him. Convention deadlocks are now rare, and delegates seldom turn to a dark horse.
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