| Chapter 1: | Symptoms |
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(see figure 1.3). For many states, turnout percentages for presidential primaries and caucuses is often in the single digits.
The 2008 contest for the Democratic presidential nomination witnessed a dramatic increase in participation, but it was an anomaly. The fact that neither party had an incumbent president or vice president running meant that both parties’ contests would be more competitive than usual. Also, unlike all of the recent nomination contests, the battle
Figure 1.3. Overall turnout in presidential primaries, 1972–2008.
Source. Curtis Gans, “The Primary Turnout Story: Presidential Races Miss Record High Senate and Governor Contests Hit Record Low,” Report, Center for the Study of the American Electorate, American University, http://www1.media.american.edu/electionexperts/2008%20Primary%20Turnout_Final.pdf, accessed August 26, 2009.