Letters to the Editor
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Not altogether hopeless
These numbers suggest to me that a lot of people in this country don't have the stomach for primary season and the endless, boring "talking points" and political posturing that has nothing to do, really, with the real issues we will face in the actual presidential election. Primaries put candidates in the unenviable position of appealing to the extremes of both parties sufficiently to get to the nomination, when they can refine their positions to run a national race, and they're all just trying to do that without creating totally wacko sound bites that will haunt them in the national race. The primary system brings out the worst in all candidates, and I think that a lot of people just tune out and don't pay attention.
If, after the primaries are over, and we have two candidates and their running mates identified, these same numbers hold, then God help us. But I believe by that time, the vast majority of Americans will know who is running. What is more interesting to me is whether the vast majority of Americans will know WHY they are voting for one or the other, aside from the habit of voting one's party.