My Primary Schedule Proposal, slightly reworked

THE LANG PROPOSAL-

What follows is my primary-schedule proposal for the nomination of the Democrat to run for President of the United States in 2008. It is based upon 2004 Delegate allocations (2162 needed for nomination at the National Convention), and would follow a progression of small voting blocks to the largest voting blocks over a period of at least 17 weeks. Here is the basic order:

WEEK ONE--3EV states + territories. (Obvious Geographic and political diversity, 6% of Delegates on the line) Alaska (18), American Samoa (6), Delaware (23), Democrats Abroad (9), Dist. of Columbia (39), Guam (5), Montana (21), North Dakota (22), Puerto Rico (57), South Dakota (22), Vermont (27), Virgin Islands (6), Wyoming (19)---Total delegates at stake: 269 (6%)

WEEK TWO--4EV States. Idaho (23), Hawaii (29) Maine (35), New Hampshire (27), Rhode Island (32)---Total delegates at stake: 146 (3%)

WEEK THREE--5EV States. Nebraska (31), Nevada (32), New Mexico (37), Utah (29), West Virgina (39)---Total delegates at stake: 168 (4%)

WEEK FOUR--6EV States. Arkansas (47), Misissippi (41), Kansas (41)---Total delegates at stake: 129 (3%)

WEEK FIVE--7EV States. Connecticut (62), Iowa (57), Oklahoma (47), Oregon (59)---Total delegates at stake: 225 (5%)

WEEK SIX--8EV States. Kentucky (57), South Carolina (55)---Total delegates at stake: 112 (3%)

WEEK SEVEN--9EV States.Alabama (62), Colorado (63), Louisiana (72)---Total delegates at stake: 197 (5%)

WEEK SEVEN--10EV States. Arizona (64), Maryland (99), Minnesota (86), Wisconsin (87)---Total delegates at stake: 336 (8%)

WEEK NINE--11EV States. Indiana (81), Missouri (88), Tennessee (85), Washington (95)---Total delegates at stake: 349 (8%)

WEEK TEN--12&13EV States. Massachusetts (121), Virginia (98)---Total delegates at stake: 219 (5%)

WEEK ELEVEN--15EV States. Georgia (101), North Carolina (107), New Jersey (128)---Total delegates at stake: 336 (8%) This would be the first week that a nomination could be clinched--very unlikely in this distributed scenario, however...

WEEK TWELVE--17&20 EV States. Michigan (155), Ohio (159)---Total delegates at stake: 314 (7%)

WEEK THIRTEEN. 21 EV States. Illinois (186), Pennsylvania (178)---Total delegates at stake: 314 (8%)

WEEK FOURTEEN--27EV State. Florida (201)---Total delegates at stake: 201 (5%)

WEEK FIFTEEN--31EV State. New York (284)---Total delegates at stake: 284 (7%)

WEEK SIXTEEN--34EV State. Texas (232)---Total delegates at stake: 232 (5%)

WEEK SEVENTEEN--55EV State. California (441)---Total delegates at stake: 441 (10%)

If this was started the last week of January, It would wrap up by the middle of May. If a there were to be a split on weeks that have disparate EV totals (weeks 12 & 10) the season would extend to the first of June--perfect, if you ask me. Going at things this way assures that small states get their voice early (and perhaps for the only time), and bigger states get to do the heavy lifting after enduring a lot of jockeying by candidates.

The big drawback is that a huge amount of resources are expended by viable candidates over an extended primary--the very thing the DNC was trying to avoid in this latest run. But ask yourself--What did an early, obvious nominee gain for us this time? Certainly not the White House…. (BTW, I was a dedicated Kerry volunteer starting in Sept 2003...)

If a candidate draws 75% support through the first primaries, it will take until week 13 (early to mid-May) to get the nomination. If it is a horserace (and THAT is what the press is begging for!) and a given candidate garners 55% support over the rest of the opposition, then the nomination will not be decided until the final week in this scenario. Any split allowing for less than 50.1% to be gained by a given candidate and we got us a brokered convention—which could be good given the current media philosophy….

Check this over and let me know what you think

Finally, look how each week has a very broad geographic (and presumably social) spread--this can only be a good thing. I can't see how a nominee would be chosen before the last five weeks....And also note the early attention to RED states.....Perhaps the Nominee garnering early (red-state) support would be extra-strong in the ensuing race with the GOP.

Better media coverage though I guess there is the risk of self inflicted wounds. I think Kerry would have won the nom even without front-loading, anyway.