(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States hold mixed feelings on the process to choose presidential nominees, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 57 per cent of respondents are content with the nominations being determined by a series of state primaries and caucuses, but 71 per cent are dissatisfied with the fact that the contest is effectively over before many states have held their primary or caucus.

In addition, 49 per cent of respondents think it is good that the caucuses and primaries begin in January of the election year, and 45 per cent are satisfied knowing that the parties’ 2008 nominees for president will probably be known by early February. Only 26 per cent of respondents believe it is a good thing for Iowa’s caucus and New Hampshire’s primary to always be the first two contests.

Since 1976, the Iowa caucus has kicked off the process of finding presidential nominees for the two major political parties in the United States. The caucus differs from a presidential primary because the casting of ballots in favour of a particular candidate is preceded by a "gathering of neighbours" where specific platform issues are discussed.

New Hampshire traditionally hosts the first presidential primary in the United States. Since 1952, 11 Republicans and eight Democrats have won the Granite State contest and later earned their party’s presidential nomination. New Hampshire allows independent voters to take part in primaries.

Last month, Former Republican National Committee (RNC) member John Ryder expressed dissatisfaction with the current system, saying, "If you hold a primary in May or June, it doesn’t matter. The nominee has already been selected. The primary becomes irrelevant."

Polling Data

Good thing or bad thing?

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 American adults, conducted from Dec. 10 to Dec. 13, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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