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Tired of Iowa? That's finally over. Now it's time to get sick of New Hampshire. And then maybe Florida, as the 1988 presidential election careens around the continent.
However tedious all that might be, we have to look at the bigger picture, the important things. Is there any way we could benefit from this?
Certainly. Getting involved in the selection of presidents offers Colorado an excellent, and inexpensive, method of economic development. All we need to do is hold an early presidential primary -- January would be a good time -- and the benefits will come rolling in.
Would-be presidents spend millions on advertising, hoping to gain a few percentage points that will establish their momentum. Denver television stations could afford to give real vacations to their news crews, instead of making the broadcasters work when they're wandering around San Diego. Newspapers would have more money to pay columnists, something no reasonable person could oppose.
To compete in Colorado's early primary, candidates would need large staffs. Some would come from elsewhere, and they would spend their money here before moving on to Iowa or New Hampshire. That's good. Even better, a lot of unemployed locals would be able to find jobs with these campaigns.
Then there is favorable publicity. Our governor travels widely to spread the word about the delights of Colorado. But why not let the networks and wire services do that for us?
Have you ever read or heard a disparaging word about Iowa or New Hampshire recently? Does any report ever mention whether their highways are safe, or like ours? Can you hire their legislators as consultants? Are their schools staffed by competent teachers? Does either state contain raving dimwits?
Who knows? All we ever see of those states is their virtuous native stock: industrious Midwestern farmers or taciturn bedrock New Englanders. The defects of Iowa and New Hampshire are conveniently swept under the rug. This time in this year, all news about those states is good news.
We could use that. A primary would do more to enhance our national image than a dozen Bronco bowl games or another gubernatorial mission to the Orient.
An early Colorado primary would also put our concerns on the national agenda. Since they're forced to campaign in Iowa, all presidential candidates have to develop a farm policy that at least sounds coherent.
Gathering delegates in Michigan's early polling means that every president has had to grapple, long and hard, with the issues raised by increasing automotive imports -- trade balances, the quality of American manufactures, labor-management relations, etc.
But no candidate need concern himself with public land management, federal water policy, immigration from Mexico or other issues that concern us. We don't help select the president, so what we care about isn't important.
Our regional concerns wouldn't become national concerns, though, unless the Colorado primary drew national attention.
But there's really no reason to worry about attracting attention. Why?
Assume that you are a high-powered national correspondent with a substantial expense account. You can spend the first month of every leap year getting frostbite outside the gates of textile mills in New Hampshire and wading through the pungent barnyards of Iowa.
Or you could cover the Colorado primary after flying into Aspen. When you weren't schussing down the slopes or dining lavishly on your expense account, you might find time to carry out the vital task of informing a nation.
Given that choice, would you go to Iowa or New Hampshire? Would anybody? It's safe to assume that a Colorado primary would be the featured darling of the networks and wire services.
So here's a way to enhance our economy, improve our image and make us appear a lot more important than we really are. All it will take is a minor change in our election laws, which shouldn't cost anything, since the legislature is already in session anyway.
The downside is that politicians, accompanied by camera crews, will show up on your doorstep. But only every four years. It might take effort, but we ought to be tough enough to handle that.
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