Primaries and Nominations

For John, BLUF:  Why you pay for Party Primaries—Woodrow Wilson and his ilk.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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In The [Lowell] Sun is a book review that might be of interest.

"'Primary Politics':  If you love politics, you will love this book".

Primary Politics:  Everything You Need to Know about How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates
by Elaine C. Kamarck

Paperback:  240 pages
Publisher:  Brookings Institution Press; second edition (November 19, 2015)
ISBN-10:  0815727755
ISBN-13:  978-0815727750

The short book review does a good job of covering the book, and primaries, excerpt for a mischaracterization of the 1972 Democrat Convention.  The published review reads:

The 1972 Convention was also tumultuous, with groups who were formerly kingmakers believing they were being marginalized in favor of newer groups like organized labor, minorities and women, who would eventually become half of the party's delegates.

In fact, organized labor was one of those groups which lost power to newer constituencies, such as minorities and women.  The shift in power was good for the nation as a while, as it spread political power out to the People and away from political elites.

Regards  —  Cliff