Should the party endorse?

Some of you like to maintain the status of "independent," so this may not interest you.

For others who submit to the two party system and get involved in the primary, this issue is huge.

It's the issue of whether or not to endorse.

Bob Dohnal has a column over at Wisconsin Conservative Digest arguing against the endorsement process.

He's specifically referring to Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District race throughout most of the article. I don't have much input specific to that race. That being said, I do think his argument is very solid.

Here's my argument: with a primary that doesn't come until September, endorsement has unfortunately become the most effective means of clearing the field of all but one candidate.

I'd much rather let the primary play itself out. I don't like the endorsement process. But the fact is Wisconsin's primary isn't in April or May like it should be, and it's virtually impossible to beat an incumbent (or a strong opponent in an open seat) in just six weeks. Just ask Tim Michels.

I think it's generally best if those working within the party are united behind one candidate as early as possible. That's why Scott Walker's decision to exit the race for governor was the right move. It's why I'd like to see either Paul Bucher or JB Van Hollen exit the attorney general's race, and it's why I wish either Gard or McCormick would step out of the Eighth Congressional District race and stay in the Assembly.

Regardless of what you think about the party endorsing - and I have mixed feelings, but lean towards being against it - the fact remains that the party is ultimately grassroots. If the delegates at a caucus choose to endorse, that's their prerogative. There's nothing illegal about endorsing. It may not help the "democracy" of the political process, but if the delegates are willing to sacrifice that in exchange for a (relatively) united front, there's not much anyone on the outside looking in can do.

In the end, the problem isn't in whether or not the party endorses a candidate in the primary. The problem is that the primary is too late. The party is simply attempting to fix the problem of the late primary with the next best solution: endorsement.

It's a sad substitute for the democracy of a true primary.