States that don’t vote GOP for President (or for much else) should have the least amount of say in choosing the nominee (and MD hasn’t voted GOP for President since 1988, has only voted once for a GOP Governor since after 1966 (in 2002), and last elected a GOP Senator in 1980). Slick Willard will lose the general.
There is no reason why GOP and Dems should hold their primaries at the same time. It should be arranged that the MOST GOP states have their primaries/caucuses FIRST.
“States that don’t vote GOP for President (or for much else) should have the least amount of say in choosing the nominee...”
That’s covered by delegate allocation to the National Convention, in a positive way:
“Bonus Delegates
“President: States casting a majority of their 2008 Electoral Votes for the Republican Candidate receive 4.5 + 0.60 × the Jurisdiction’s Total 2012 Electoral Vote in bonus delegates. Should the District of Columbia cast the majority of their electoral votes for the Republican Candidate, the District will receive 4.5 + (0.30 × 16) in bonus delegates. Round any fractions UP to the next whole number. [Rules 13(a)(5) and 13(a)(7)]
“U.S. Senate: Award 1 bonus delegate for each Republican Senator elected in the 6 year period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2011. Limit 2. [Rule 13(a)(6)]
“Governor States electing a Republican Governor between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit: 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(i)]
“U.S. House: States electing Republicans to 50% or more of their U.S. House seats between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(ii)]
“One Chamber: States electing a Republican majority to one chamber of the state legislature (OR the legislature is presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(iii)]
“All Chambers: States electing a Republican majority to all chambers of the state legislature (OR all chambers are presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(iv)]”
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/R-Alloc.phtml