A PLAY-OFF SYSTEM FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS?

A PLAY-OFF SYSTEM FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS? Now is the time for football bowl games and for sportswriters arguing for a college football championship playoff system. Why not have playoffs for the Presidential nominations? The playoffs could take many forms, but all would have this essential component: there would be at least two rounds of primaries, with the candidates starting from scratch in the second round. As one example, all states would have primaries before April 1. The eight (or four or 16) leading candidates after the first round would be eligible for the second round of primaries on May 1, and it would be this second election which would result in committed delegates. The chief argument for giving Iowa and New Hampshire so much say in choosing the nominees is that the voters in these small states can get to know the candidates before voting, so that name recognition is not given undue weight. This system would be another way to give lesser known candidates a chance to become known.