1st Edition
Reforming the Presidential Nominating Process Front-Loading's Consequences and the National Primary Solution
Introduction: The Myth of Full, Timely, and Equal Participation in the Presidential Nominating Process 1. The Path to the Contemporary Nominating Process 2. The 2008 Nominations: Déjá Vu All Over Again 3. The 2012 Nominations: Reverting to Script 4. The 2016 Nominations: The Same Old Story with Unexpected Twists 5. The Inequalities and Ambiguities of Party Membership 6. Framing a Rights-Based Argument for Party Members’ Rights 7. The National Primary Solution
Biography
Lisa K. Parshall is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Daemen College in Amherst, New York, specializing in American Politics, Public Law, and Public Policy. She has served as an officer for the New York State and Northeastern Political Science Associations, as an Advisor for Vote Smart, and is a Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, New York (2018–2019).
'Building on work she began with the late Franco Mattei, Lisa K. Parshall provides an excellent critical analysis of the American process for Presidential nominations. This work presents a history of the political development of Presidential nominations, a factual discussion of nomination campaigns since 2008, and a telling critique of our front-loaded system of sequential Presidential primaries. Finally, she offers her endorsement of a national Presidential primary along with a full and fair discussion of arguments for and against that solution. This book is unique for its combination of political and legal analysis, particularly for its focus on a voting rights perspective to argue for democratization of way we nominate candidates for President. This is very useful and engaging reading for students, scholars, journalists and citizens alike.' - Arthur Paulson, Professor Emeritus, Southern Connecticut State University
'For those concerned about the United States' dysfunctional system of choosing presidential candidates, Reforming the Presidential Nominating Process provides considerable food for thought. In a thorough examination of the last three nominating contests, Lisa Parshall shows how the system has broken down, then argues that a national primary would solve many of the problems of the current system, presenting not only the evidence for her position, but also the best arguments of those who disagree.' - Bruce E. Altschuler, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, SUNY Oswego
'Political junkies and scholars of the presidential selection process will find this work to be an enjoyable trip down Memory Lane, informative, and a creative argument to solve our nominating conundrum. Lisa Parshall has written a detailed, lucid account of the history and current state of the process by which our major parties select their candidates for president. She also makes an intriguing argum
