The Pre-Primary Convention Model

Testifying at the Brock Commission’s Academic Forum, Professor Stephen Wayne of Georgetown University suggested a pre-primary convention where delegates would meet for a two-day convention early in the year of the presidential election. This convention would take place before any state held a primary or caucus. The delegates would vote on all presidential candidates who agree with the general principles of the party. Any presidential candidate who received the votes of a minimum percentage of the delegates, possibly 20% or 25% would be eligible to run for the party's nomination. All candidates approved by the pre-primary convention would then appear on the presidential primary ballot in every state. The approved candidates would each be given time at the pre-primary convention to give a speech to kick-off their national campaign. Any presidential candidate that did not receive enough votes in the pre-primary convention to appear on the primary ballot could gain a position on the ballot through obtaining signatures. Any candidate who collected the signatures of one percent of the registered Republicans in a state would be eligible to appear on the primary ballot in that state. (Brock 2000, 31)

Advantages

The Brock Commission report noted no advantages to this idea.

Disadvantages

Professor Wayne’s plan adds procedural complexity (two national conventions rather than one) and creates a caste system of candidates (those with the imprimatur of the party and those without). What purpose does this serve? It does not address the central problem in the current system, which is the front-loading of the schedule and the consequent increase in the importance of the money primary.