General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I just want to reiterate my belief that Republicans are the worst people alive [View all]Sophia4
(3,515 posts)That is why primaries that allow voters to pick the candidate are so important.
If voters have confidence in the primary process, if voters know that they with other voters have picked the candidate, or believe that they and other voters have picked the candidate, then they will support that candidate in the general election.
The primary process is essential to gaining support for the winning candidate in the election. When party officials allow their loyalties, plans or choices to dominate and to cause supporters of candidates that are not the choice of the party leaderships to think that "the system is rigged" against them, then those in the party who support other candidates will not support the ultimate winner.
That's just human nature. It has nothing to do with Hillary or 2016 other than that many Bernie supporters felt the system was rigged against their candidate.
So making sure there is not just fairness but the overwhelming appearance of fairness in primaries is very important.