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Time to reconsider process of picking candidates

Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:28 PM CST

If we want a timely example of why our nation needs to change the way it nominates candidates for our top elected office, just look at the hyperbole pitched by campaigns, reporters, columnists and others in the wake of selection processes in Iowa and New Hampshire.

After the first, the general theme was that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's train couldn't be stopped; our state's favorite son was on his way to the White House.

Reality was checked after the second, following a Sen. Hillary Clinton "surprise" comeback. All of a sudden, Clinton had the edge again, bolstered by a Tuesday win in Michigan, the pundits said.

For the GOP, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was considered a solid front-runner after Iowa. Not so fast. He's now third?

Our point is this: Far too much selection power is left to too few states, states that sometimes aren't even statistically and culturally close to being the most representative states.

Illinois is the state most representative of the nation, according to an Associated Press story based on U.S. Census Bureau information.

So why do we continue a nomination process that puts so much emphasis on the earliest selection processes ? a caucus in Iowa and primary election in New Hampshire. Each is a small population state. Neither is especially representative of the nation at large.

It is time to reconsider the primary election process, which has turned the current presidential campaign into the longest and most expensive in history.

National political parties will have the ability to consider overhauling our system during the upcoming national conventions in August and Septembr. They should swiftly make plans for discussion, voting and action later this year.

The level of confusion, frustration and unequal treatment for voters nationally that the current nomination process now causes is clear reason for change.

One who tracks politics closely, and is well-respected statewide for his political mind, is Southern Illinois University's John S. Jackson, with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

In a well-sourced paper published earlier this month, "Presidential Nominations and Regional Primaries: An Analysis of Proposals for Reform," Jackson lays out a strong case for change. He favors a four-section set of regional primaries. Other variations call for a six-region set of elections; another plan calls for a one-day national primary.

Each carries advantages, and some negatives, but arguably the fairest system to voters in every state might be a regional system.

Four or six sets of regional primaries could be evenly timed, in early spring through summer, with the order selected initially at random and alternated every four years afterward.

The front-loaded "season" this year - with primaries or caucuses in 22 states on Feb. 5 alone - will have minimized the opportunities for candidates to meet with voters throughout the country. Here in Illinois, with our primary also on Feb. 5, the frequency of candidate visits and stops in Southern Illinois undoubtedly will be low.

We haven't seen a presidential candidate recently. Campaign visits still are possible, but none are yet scheduled in Southern Illinois.

Obama is perceived as the easy Illinois winner among Democrats, with Clinton also faring well. Political analysts say the front-runners aren't likely to spend much time in a state in which the results already are known, nor would the also-rans waste time in a state that's perceived as decided.

There still is a chance for Illinois visits by the GOP candidates, but odds are more likely for campaign stops to the heavily populated counties ringing the city of Chicago than the rural landscape south of Interstate 64.

Some voters feel left out. How can anyone finally decide on a candidate without having a chance to see the potential leaders in action?

For this we can blame the existing system of primaries and the mad rush by states to schedule their votes as early as possible. Feb. 5 may be known as Super Tuesday, but it sure isn't super for Southern Illinois.

It's time for a change. We need a system with clearly defined rules and one that spreads the power to influence the nominations' outcomes more evenly among all states.

Let the dialogue begin.