Primaries
1 Six-year Term for U.S. President
Something happened 38 years ago that puts more attention on the President’s reelection efforts. The White House now is
preoccupied with Presidential primaries.
Primaries were unknown until Oregon started the first one in 1910. Support for them wavered during the next 60 years. Then, in
the 1968 Democratic Convention the Kennedy delegates wanted more primaries. Now 35 states have them.
In the early 1970s, because of Watergate, election reform laws appeared. They compelled the President and his staff to be
concerned about primaries. Campaign money had to be raised by small contributions from many.
Presidential candidates had to make impressive early showings to obtain the needed financial support from thousands of small
contributions and to qualify for additional campaign funds from the federal government. While these reforms may have resulted
in a more open selection of candidates, they put increased importance on primaries.
The President and his staff now turn their attention for almost two years to reelection.
preoccupied with Presidential primaries.
Primaries were unknown until Oregon started the first one in 1910. Support for them wavered during the next 60 years. Then, in
the 1968 Democratic Convention the Kennedy delegates wanted more primaries. Now 35 states have them.
In the early 1970s, because of Watergate, election reform laws appeared. They compelled the President and his staff to be
concerned about primaries. Campaign money had to be raised by small contributions from many.
Presidential candidates had to make impressive early showings to obtain the needed financial support from thousands of small
contributions and to qualify for additional campaign funds from the federal government. While these reforms may have resulted
in a more open selection of candidates, they put increased importance on primaries.
The President and his staff now turn their attention for almost two years to reelection.
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1 Six-year Term for U.S. President