This idea is well-intentioned, but wrong-headed as it unacceptably nibbles away at the democratic foundation of our republic - the right to vote. In the plan, conceived by the party rules committee on Aug. 3, Montana's presidential choice for the national ticket would be decided by a caucus vote of local party officials from each county, as well as sitting Republican officeholders (legislators, county commissioners, etc.).
Using this formula, our candidate would be selected by a cabal of a scant 3,000 Montanans, as opposed to the approximately 105,000 Republicans who exercised their right to vote in our last presidential primary.
The proposal does contain the modest improvement that would bind delegates elected under the state convention process to vote for the caucus winner on at least the first ballot of the national convention. Under our current system, Montana's Republican convention delegates are not required to vote for the presidential primary winner, though I have yet to meet anyone who can cite an example of when a delegate has failed to do so, let alone an example of where a delegate has had an impact on an election based on such a lack of fidelity.
Thus, the caucus proposal would close a minuscule loophole, but one which could be better addressed by changing state law on presidential primaries, such that delegates would be bound by their party's primary election choice on at least the first national convention ballot.
Timing of the presidential nomination process is another area addressed by the caucus proposal. Whereby most other states hold their primary election or caucus process in February, or even earlier, there is considerable concern in a number of circles that our June primary occurs too late in the process to have any impact on the national race. Of the 50 states, only South Dakota and New Mexico select their party nominee for president as late as we do - scheduled for June 3, 2008.
Our Legislature had a crack at resolving this issue during the 2007 session when Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, introduced a bill to hold our presidential primary generally consistent with those in other states - February or March of a presidential election year. It was a good bill that would have timed Montana's presidential primary such that we actually got our oar in the political water before the party candidates were chosen - not after.
After passing the House, the bill was killed in committee by Senate Democrats, ostensibly due to the $1 million price tag associated with conducting such an election. While I am tempted to applaud this solitary example of Democratic fiscal conservatism, some argue that it seems a small price to pay to give Montana a greater voice in selecting our president.
Frankly, though I think the bill was a good one, I feel this way more because it would make us feel better than any delusion that it would elevate us to major player status in the process of selecting a party presidential candidate. Let's face it, with only 0.32 percent of the nation's population of 300 million people and only three of 538 electoral votes (0.56 percent), we do not loom large on the radar screens of presidential candidates.
What should happen here is really less important than what should not happen. If you agree, contact the chairman of your county's Republican Central Committee and register your “vote” - as the Montana Republican State Central Committee is slated to decide this issue on Aug. 25.
Alternatively, register your view directly with the Montana Republican State Central Committee in Helena, (406) 442-6469.
Don Loranger writes from Bigfork.
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