So, in effect, you would prefer a system where there are no candidates on the ballot. Only uncommitted delegates who would make the selection at the convention? How does a ‘return to smokey rooms’ improve this situation? That type of system seems very prone to the kind of manipulation you suspect happened this cycle.
First, I don’t mind a primary with candidates. I simply don’t award delegates to those who cannot go above 50% threshold.
Second, the delegate from your level is someone you know and help select. So, yes, I’d prefer a nation of locally elected delegates vote for candidates at a convention over the system in which someone getting 37% of a vote in New Hampshire gets vaulted by the media into the lead in a few more 37% and less wins in a few early states, and thus to the