My proposal for the 2008 Democratic Primary for President. It is very simple, let Illinois vote first, then New York, California, Florida, Texas, followed by a national region, South, Midwest, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest rather than Iowa and New Hampshire going first. One of the first reforms of the new DNC chairperson should be to change the primary season to make it more Democratic.
I am bias I live in Illinois, but the case could be made for several states across America going first rather than Iowa and New Hampshire.
Yes, the focus should be on 2006 elections and increasing the number of Democrats in Congress and across the States, but reform of the Democratic Party should be a goal too.
More on the Flip.
2008 Democratic Primary: Iowa vs. Illinois
Population of Illinois
According to the 2000 national census, Illinois ranked fifth among the states, with a total population of 12,419,293. This represented an increase of 8.6 percent over the 1990 census figure of 11,430,602. In 2000 some 88 percent of the total population lived in urban areas. Chicago alone accounts for one-fourth of the state's total population, and the Chicago metropolitan area accounts for two-thirds. The average population density for the entire state was 88 persons per sq km (228 per sq mi).
Whites constituted 73.5 percent of the population in 2000. Blacks were 15.1 of the people in the state. In the late 19th century blacks accounted for only 2 percent of the state's people. In the 1940s, blacks in large numbers began moving to Illinois, many from Southern states. In 1940 they numbered nearly 400,000, and by 2000 the number had more than quadrupled.
Asians comprised 3.4 percent of the population in 2000. Their numbers rose substantially during the 1980s and 1990s. Native Americans are 0.2 percent of the people and those of mixed heritage or not reporting race were 7.7 percent. Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders numbered 4,610. Hispanics, who may be of any race, were 12.3 percent of the population.
Population of Iowa
According to the 2000 national census, Iowa ranked 30th among the states, with a total population of 2,926,324. This was an increase of 5.4 percent from the 1990 population. The average population density was 20 people per sq km (53 per sq mi) in 2003.
Iowa's rural population has declined continuously since 1900. In 1930 more than 60 percent of the state's population still lived in rural areas. As Iowa farms became increasingly mechanized, the need for farm labor decreased. Some former farm workers left the state in search of better job opportunities, while others moved to urban areas within Iowa. The population of the state's cities and towns grew. During the 1950s Iowa became a predominantly urban state for the first time. By 2000 some 61 percent of the state's total population lived in urban areas. During the 1980s and 1990s most of the large cities grew very little, or even lost population. Suburban areas and towns not far from the large cities were the fastest growing parts of the state.
Whites made up the largest share of the population of Iowa in 2000, with 93.9 percent of the people. Blacks were 2.1 percent of the population, Asians 1.3 percent, Native Americans were 0.3 percent, and those of mixed heritage or not reporting race were 2.4 percent. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders numbered 1,009. Hispanics, who may be of any race, were 2.8 percent of the people. Most blacks and Asians lived in the larger cities. A few hundred Sac and Fox Native Americans lived on a small reservation near Tama, but many Native Americans also lived in cities, especially Sioux City.
Principal Cities of Illinois
Chicago is the principal city of inland North America. The city is one of the leading commercial centers in the United States, and it is also one of the principal centers for industry and transportation. In 2002 there were 2,886,251 people living in the city proper and a total of 9.2 million people living in the metropolitan region centered on the city, including adjacent communities in Wisconsin and Indiana.
Principal Cities of Iowa
Des Moines, the state capital and the largest city in Iowa, had a population in 2002 of 198,076. There were 456,022 inhabitants in the Des Moines metropolitan area. In addition to serving as the seat of government.
Religion of Illinois
The Roman Catholic Church now accounts for about one-third of all church members in Illinois. Of the various Protestant denominations in the state, the most numerous are the Baptists, Methodists, and Lutherans. There are also large Jewish congregations in Illinois, particularly in Chicago. Saint Sava's Serbian Monastery, in Libertyville, is the North American headquarters of the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church. The Baha'i Faith, a religion founded in Persia in the 19th century, maintains its American national center in Wilmette, a suburban community that lies just north of Chicago.
Religion of Iowa
Protestant denominations now account for more than half of all church members in the state. The Methodists are the most numerous Protestant group, followed by the Lutherans. However, the largest single religious denomination is the Roman Catholic church, with about one-fifth of all church members. In addition, there are large Jewish congregations in Sioux City, Des Moines, and other urban areas.
Illinois has a white population of 73.5% versus 93.9% of Iowa. Blacks make 2.1% of the population of Iowa versus 15.1% black population of Illinois. Iowa has 2.8% Hispanic population versus 12.3% of Illinois population. Illinois has more diverse population than Iowa. The diverse collation of the Democratic Party is not represented in Iowa.
A minority candidate does not have a natural base in Iowa or New Hampshire. A state like Illinois, the candidates is going to have to campaign not just in rural parts of the part of the states but in the forgotten inner cities during the election. Did the candidates visit Chicago, New York City or Los Angles during the primary season? No, they just stop by to raise money. The candidates during the primary season is more focus on ethanol rather than issue of urban America. Illinois has a mixture rural, urban, farm, city, suburb population which is not centered on one issues. The candidates message is going to have to resonate to the whole state in order to win.
America and the Democratic Party has a diverse population. Is it time our primary system reflected our diversity?