Primary Election II

“The candidate of a party becomes that party’s candidate because he or she is the choice of the party’s registered voters. This primary system of selecting the party’s candidates is now either mandatory or optional in all states and is almost universally used. In most states such primaries are “closed,” which means that only the voters who have officially registered as members of a party may participate in that party’s primaries. However, a few states hold “open” primaries, which means that the voter is not required to disclose a party preference but can mark any party’s primary ballot within the privacy of the voting booth. In some states, if no candidate is able to win an absolute majority in the first primary election a run-off election is held a few weeks later. In the run-off election the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary compete for the nomination. “ Robert C. Bone , American Government.
(A small note: usually run-off election rules are very lax. A run-off election held in Arizona was won by the turn of a card)
Once the winner has been decided for that party, running for the office begins in earnest.
The party involved will campaign what will show off their candidate’s best side. Unfortunately, winning contests have been won using a term
called “mud-slinging”. The opposing party “digs” up “dirt” on the other candidate, such
as: marital infidelity, questionable accounting practices in their campaign, pressure on
certain individuals using various under the table tactics to influence them to “get behind
their candidacy”. The Governor of Illinois was recently sent to prison for 14 years for
attempting to “sell” President Obama’s Senate Seat to the highest bidder. Although this
did not have anything to do with a primary election, it shows what ends politicians will
stoop to for a winning election.
It is your job to find the items you favor and see which candidate has the most trustworthy presentation. Could you vote for that person in the up-coming General election?
This may take many hours of research, or if you are a supporter of a “polarizing” election item such as; abortion, your selection would be easy.
What is a polarizing event? A subject that is so severe in it’s meaning and thrust that a voter will vote for that candidate whether or not they agree with anything else the candidate stands for. With abortion, many people on the far right believe that life begins with the sperm fertilizing the egg within the woman’s womb. If that be the case then abortion would be killing a “person” with all the rights and privileges of an 18 year old citizen. Because the fertilized egg can not think for itself at the moment, the state must do it for the baby. Usually a court takes over and that ensures rights and privileges. It is polarizing because you can’t be a little bit pregnant. Usually abortions are permitted on those women that have conceived via incest, or rape or danger to the mother’s life. Candidates on the right make sure their “constituencies” know their position on abortion.
You should be able to ascertain the issues that you can stand behind and those that you can not. Can you stand up in a meeting and defend your position? Are you able to come back with knowledgeable answers to people’s responses?
What is on the line? If your “opponent” wins the election and the views presented by that person is used in Congress and you will have to abide by his/her presentation and representation. Is that acceptable? Or, will you research a bit more to strengthen your position when you present your side. Look for areas of your “opponent’s” presentation that you disagree with and research why you disagree and be ready for a further discussion with the candidate.