Letters to the editor

Leave nominations to party stalwarts

Fifteen months away from the next presidential election, and we have all but anointed the next Democrat challenger! Super-egotists charge to the front, and with money and hype, convince a few in small rural states that they are the one.

This builds a momentum that appears all but unstoppable. More thoughtful candidates, perhaps more suitable candidates, hesitate to join this mad rush.

This is not in the interest of either political party. Let each party put forward a candidate that expresses the concerns and ideals of the party and is the one that is most electable among the candidates that do express these ideals. This can only happen if we return the choice of the party candidate to the party stalwarts meeting in convention.

Step one is for members of both parties to use their local political clout to bring us to a national presidential primary day. I would suggest the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May. This would identify convention delegates three months before conventions and six months before the election.

Aspirants will still aspire!

However, they will need to aspire before larger pools of voters and convention delegates.

A second beneficial step would be to return to the lost concept of the favorite son. While states need not send delegates to convention as uninstructed, preferred potential candidates should be their favorite son or another among the candidates that best expresses regional party concerns.

Let each party move to put forward their best candidate. The nation will profit.

John Elkmann

Winfield