Why is our election season so long?

[21st Century Poet]

7. Size

The largest country in the European Union is Germany. Germany is about the size of one state in the United States. The long process is supposed to give politicians the chance to travel and meet people from all over the country and give people the chance to get to know the candidates and participate more fully in the electoral process.

This made a lot of sense in the old days when it was very unlikely for someone in a remote state to get to know the presidential candidates closely. It is arguably less necessary in these days of politicians using the mass media to reach out to the public. Still, the long season serves as a test of stamina, knowledge, talent and determination, and it shows how the candidates react to happening events and when under pressure. This is supposed to stop flash-in-the-pan politicians from getting elected. Donald Trump, for example, seems to be sinking. Had the process been one of only a few weeks, he would probably have been nominated before anyone could put up a fight.