Primaries
In response to “Too Bad This State Has So Little Voice,” editorial, Feb. 19:
Bigger is not necessarily better. The advantage of a small state like New Hampshire holding the first primary is that its citizens are afforded an opportunity to size up the candidates personally, instead of having to rely upon 30-second sound-bites on television.
It would be virtually impossible for a candidate like Paul Tsongas, with a well-developed program but short on campaign funds, to get his message out in a state as vast as California, where successful candidates must depend upon expensive mass saturation of the airwaves.
Agreed, California should play a more pivotal role in deciding who the eventual nominees of each party should be, but the nation is better served by leaving New Hampshire first.
JIM REDHEAD, Oakland
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