The Delaware Plan faces its first test next week at the Republican National Committee's Rules Committee meeting in Indianapolis. But it also must be approved by the national convention delegates in Philadelphia this summer. As Delaware politicians ponder the Delaware Plan for selecting presidential candidates, they also should give serious thought to changing the date of primary elections for state and local offices. Delaware's primary is held the first Saturday in September. If either major party hasn't settled on a particular candidate by that time, it is unlikely the party will prevail at the general election two months later.
Primaries are healthy manifestations of differences within parties.
They generate interest in the political process. But fairness dictates there should be considerable distance between intraparty disagreements and the general election, when one party challenges the other. There usually are a host of primaries for legislative and council seats throughout the state. In Wilmington, a Democratic primary is not an impediment to election. In fact, the winner of the Democratic primary there is almost assured of winning in November.