The Primary System Requires Updating
Re “Primaries Are Meaningless and Irrelevant for Many,” Commentary, Feb. 15: Costas Panagopoulos certainly got one thing right: His solution is imperfect. After making a remarkably good case for rotating regional presidential primaries, he suggests we continue to allow Iowa and New Hampshire to choose first.
Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) is in his current leadership position precisely because he made strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. Giving these, or any two, states such an important head start is plainly unfair to the other 48.
It’s time for a federally operated regional primary system in which each geographic region of the country, from time to time, chooses candidates first.
Rick Wiggins
Pasadena
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It’s about time that primary voting kept pace with changing technology and the media. A century ago the electronic media were not there for voters to learn about the candidates. Candidates had to go from state to state for people to know about them. Now, with technological advances, candidates reach the whole of the U.S. population simultaneously and instantaneously.
If one looks closely at the purpose, even the delegate system is outdated. It’s about time the candidates got elected with popular votes.
Ramesh Gowda
Diamond Bar
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