Over the 38 years that I have been voting Democrat...

[WCGreen]

I always, always vote in the Primary so that I have two choices. I believe the Primary is important because it gives me a chance to set the stage for the General Election.

If people decide not to participate in the primary then they are leaving the decision completely in the hands of the mucky mucks.

Look, I know there doesn't seem to be all that much of a choice most times, but think about this; you are placing the choice in the hands of people who only want to win.

And we all know what that means, we are left with which candidate is willing to never look back on what the rank and file want...

[Lasher]

1. I've been voting Democratic longer than that

And I have come to believe that the game is fixed, even before we vote in the Primaries.

[tabbycat31]

2. That varies by state

In mine, every county's party has conventions before the primaries. The winners at the conventions get the "party line" which means that under their name will be "X county Democrats (or Republicans)"

Candidates can run "off the line" and win, but it is not easy. The primaries that are the most interesting are when a district consists of more than one county (or parts of) and the county parties do not endorse the same candidates.

[WCGreen]

5. A lot of local party's do that...

Every person who runs as a precinct committee member and wins gets a chance to vote on party endorsements.

[Warpy]

3. Oh, same here. The primaries are when you get to vote

for a candidate instead of against some horror from the other party.

[hepkat]

4. Always wish my primary vote could be for the same guy as my general election vote

But I can't be involved with the Democratic party beyond that. The power trip and suppression of progressive candidates made me ill when I was active in my state and local party organizations.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Couldn't agree more!

K&R

[pscot]

7. It's a high value vote, for sure