Elections in the USA: Plunkitt’s Method of Wooing the Electorate

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Explain Whether Plunkitt’s Method of Winning Is Legitimate or Illegitimate
Explain the difference between Open and Closed Primary Elections
Discuss which type of primary, closed or open you think is best and explain why
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

An election in the United States is essentially a contest between the republicans and the democrats. The elections are divided into several categories. This paper focuses for the most part on the primary elections. In addition, it seeks to review chapter six of the Plunkitt of Tammany to justify his method of winning. The paper also seeks to explain the difference between open and closed primary elections.

Explain Whether Plunkitt’s Method of Winning Is Legitimate or Illegitimate

Plunkitt of Tammany Hall’s method of winning is legitimate. He simply explored one of the most effective strategies to win his district. His method was based on understanding the human way of thinking. In an election, all candidates seeking to convince the electorate that they deserve the position. Plunkitt believes in philanthropic politics (Riordon 37). He claims that the electorates are not interested in campaign letters and update emails (Riordon 37).

The electorates are looking for a leader who shows concern and one who is sensitive to their needs. His plan is very legitimate because it addresses the issues of the electorate directly and that is what leaders should do. He has developed a regular system, which enables him to interact with poor families (Riordon 37). Some may argue that this is just a way to win the electorates’ trust but Plunkitt sees it differently.

He plays his role as a leader and provides solutions to the problems facing his people (Riordon 36). The electorates are looking for leaders who can solve their problems and reduce their suffering. Plunkitt goes down to the people to identify and know them personally, which proves his concern for their welfare and his commitment to share and understand their problems (Riordon 37).

Explain the difference between Open and Closed Primary Elections

Open Primaries

In an open primary election, the ballot is open to every person who wishes to vote regardless of his or her political affiliation (McCarthy par. 5). This means that if the democrats are holding their primaries, the republicans and the libertarians are allowed to vote for their preferred candidate. Open primary elections do not restrict people affiliated with other parties from voting. The recent Mississippi elections were marred with irregularities because of this (“Foxnews: McDaniel takes step to challenge Mississippi election” par. 6).

Closed Primaries

The closed primary elections are restrictive and exclusive to registered members only (McCarthy par. 5). A closed primary restricts other people affiliated with other parties from participating in the elections. If Mississippi had closed primary elections, the double voting claim filed by McDaniel would not have occurred (“Huffington: Chris McDaniel Will Challenge Results of Mississippi GOP Primary Runoff Election” par. 6).

Discuss which type of primary, closed or open you think is best and explain why

In my opinion, the closed primary election process is better compared to the open primary election. One of the main advantages is that the latter impedes malicious voting. People affiliated with other parties can conspire to give support to the candidate that they consider to have less support to increase their party nominee’s chances of winning the election. In Mississippi, the results showed that McDonald was not able to reach the 50% mark in the primaries therefore there will be a runoff (“Politico: Mississippi Senate Primaries Results” par. 9)

Open primaries allow members of a rival party to vote and like in the Mississippi elections, this can be tragic (“Foxnews: McDaniel takes step to challenge Mississippi election” par. 5). Unregistered members are not committed to seeing the party succeeding. Using the closed primaries procedure, only the registered members can vote therefore the party nominates their best candidate to run for the elections (McCarthy par. 5).

Conclusion

This paper has clearly reviewed and justified Plunkitt’s method of wooing the electorate. It has described his method as purely philanthropic politics. The paper has also explained the meaning of closed and open primaries. At the end of this essay, a preferred type of primary election has been explained.

Works Cited

Foxnews: McDaniel takes step to challenge Mississippi election 2014. Web.

Huffington: Chris McDaniel Will Challenge Results of Mississippi GOP Primary Runoff Election 2014. Web.

McCarthy, Michelle. Voting Matters: Primary Elections. 2012. Web.

Politico: Mississippi Senate Primaries Results 2014. Web.

Riordon, William. Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, New York, NY: Lulu. 2009. Print.

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