I think that ship has pretty much sailed. Trump had 100% name ID. Most likely rat nominees are Biden, Sanders, and at this point Bloomberg. In the digital age I don't know how much camping out in IHOPs in NH means anymore. Trump only did big rallys. If Bloomberg's strategy works it will blow the whole thing up.
But let's assume that's true, and that it's to our benefit to have such an 'organic' nominee rather than someone with high name ID prior to running.
I'm still not sure that outweighs people in the later voting states getting no real say on the nominee. Texas had no say in 2012 cause Romney put it away already (with less than 50% of the vote).
In any case the disorder of the current system bothers me, scattered dates, different rules in different states. Some states winner take all even with a tiny plurality. Pennsylvania with it's beauty contest and directly elected delegates some of which were unpledged. The rats actually do it better having it all be proportional.
Anyways my thought was, rather than a primary, to do a caucus run by the party, charge a buck or something to participate, that should help pay for it and also reduce democrat interference.
If a candidate cleared 50% (or 40% with a lead of at least 10%) they would get all the points from that state, if not it would split between the top few candidates.
This would end the relevance of convention delegates in choosing the nominee.
Directly basing it on the GOP vote would also encourage those state GOP's to turn out their vote. I know the current formula as you said "sorta" does something like that, I prefer doing things to sorta doing them. ;-D
Going off the last election, Texas would have the most points for 2020 (roughly 7.4% of the GOP vote was from Texas so if we had 1000 total points it would get 74), then Florida and then Cali, PA, OH, NY. Due to the tiny number of GOP votes DC would vote with Maryland. I excluded territories since they don't vote in the general but Puerto Rico could be worked in.
Top two in points go to a runoff, unless someone gets a majority in the first round.
Some kind of national qualification process for who makes the ballot, I'm not sure if Weld or Walsh would clear it ;-).
Anyway, just an idea.
You make some good points about wanting a nominee that plays well in competitive states.
State’s rights. no national primary ever.
Populist events are the only way to get conservative populist candidates. No conservative movement will ever dominate the country without an active grassroots.
I like the model that Maine Republicans used: caucuses held daily over a few week period. Delegates elected at same. All are officially uncommitted. You have to survey the 3000 delegates to find out who is winning.
Could work to break the 2-state monopoly.
Michigan did something similar in ‘88.
Continued ...