Originally Posted by Katczinsky

You act as if each state is given equal representation at the convention; they're not. Iowa sends 57 delegates while California sends 441.

That makes sense if the number of delegates is roughly in proportion to the population of each state



If the primary was held all on one day then the candidates wouldn't have time to campaign in each state, and they would just revisit the 'swing states' that get enough attention in the general election such as Ohio, Florida, and the big states such as California and New York. The idea is that a candidate is supposed to garner support across demographics.

But the candidates don't campaign in each state under the current rules! They spend months in Iowa and NH, and little or no time everywhere else.

I think Clinton spent one day campaigning in California and I'm not sure that McCain campaigned here at all.

The point is that people outside of Iowa and NH may have wanted to vote for candidates who dropped out based on their performance in those 2 states.






The drawn-out primary elections avoid the problems you like to complain about when it comes to the electoral system.

Though you would have a point if we did away with the electoral system in the general election all together. Which I should say I'm in favor of; even as an Ohioan .