In the section on elections - in both 2305 and 2306, but mostly 2305 - we discuss a key consequence of the two stage election process in the United States. In the first stage a candidate needs the support of party identifiers in order to become the party's nominee. In the second they need the support of the general electorate in order to win the election.
This creates a problematic dynamic because party identifiers of the two major parties pull candidates to each ideological extreme while the general electorate prefers candidates in the middle. The saying goes - more or less - primary elections are won on the edges while general elections are won in the middle. Since primary elections come first, candidates have to position themselves as staunch conservatives or liberals first, then re-position themselves in the middle in order to win the general election.
It's an odd game to play, but its a direct consequence of the primary electoral system - complicated by other factors like gerrymandering.
Anyhoo - here's a story in today's papers illustrating this process among Republicans running for their party's nomination. As soon as I see something for the Democrats I'll post it.
- Click here for the article.
This creates a problematic dynamic because party identifiers of the two major parties pull candidates to each ideological extreme while the general electorate prefers candidates in the middle. The saying goes - more or less - primary elections are won on the edges while general elections are won in the middle. Since primary elections come first, candidates have to position themselves as staunch conservatives or liberals first, then re-position themselves in the middle in order to win the general election.
It's an odd game to play, but its a direct consequence of the primary electoral system - complicated by other factors like gerrymandering.
Anyhoo - here's a story in today's papers illustrating this process among Republicans running for their party's nomination. As soon as I see something for the Democrats I'll post it.
- Click here for the article.
. . . in the most wide-open Republican presidential field in memory, most of the contenders continued a rush to the right this week in the hope of capturing the attention of the GOP base. The strategy is clearly aimed at primary contests in states such as Iowa and South Carolina, which are dominated by large blocs of evangelicals and other conservative voters.
But it could also cause the eventual nominee problems in a general election with a more moderate electorate. On social issues ranging from abortion to same-sex marriage, much of the Republican field has now taken positions that are at odds with mainstream American opinion. For example, 3 out of 4 Americans say a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion if she becomes pregnant as a result of rape.
Moderate Republicans said Friday they are concerned about the potential for Democrats to revive their “war on women” line of attack from 2012, when they successfully portrayed presidential nominee Mitt Romney and other Republicans as out of touch with or even hostile to the concerns of women.
