Open Left

Actually, we can't

The nominating process for President in 1964 had a small number of primaries.  State parties chose most of the delegates and conservatives took over the local and state parties.  Hubert Humphrey was nominated rather easily at the 1968 Democratic convention despite not participating in primaries (he did get some Johnson delegates).

The path that Goldwater took in 1964 would not work in 2012.

The nomination would also probably be easier for a Republican movement to control as a number of big Republican primaries are still winner take all.

Identity politics played no factor in the Goldwater movement.  It is a substantial barrier to anyone challenging Obama as a Democrat in 2012.

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by: David Kowalski @ Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 03:02:11 AM CST