THE PRIMARY CALIFORNIA FORGOT

20Apr08

It was all we heard back in February. The Governor loved it and so did his Democratic party friends in the legislature. Everybody was thrilled that the state had spent 80 million dollars to become a “player” in the nominating process.

But the financial and political windfall from the new primary date was tempered by the fact that  California wasn’t the  only state holding a primary that day. The candidates time and money was split with several other states including New York,  New Jersey and Illinois.  And because of the various rules regarding the allocation of delegates it was unlikely the Democratic primary would be definitive. Sen. Borack Obama knew he could finish second in the state and still receive a large share of delegates. The only real purpose was served on the Republican side.

Of course it would have made more sense to move the entire  primary ballot to February but that wasn’t possible. Why? Because lawmakers in Sacramento needed to keep the June primary in place just in case the term limits reform ballot measure passed, thus allowing them to refile for re-election to seats they otherwise would have been forced to leave.

So now we are faced with a June primary that has Congressional and legislative races and two statewide ballot measures. One thing it won’t have is interest. Expect a record low turnout.

And what if we had kept the June Presidential primary? California would not be in position to decide the Democratic party nomination. Of course they could have done that back in February had they followed the GOP’s example and their party’s own history. There was a time not long ago when California’s primary was winner-take-all. 

Sort of like that other election in November.

 

 

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