Coffman Opposes Presidential Primary

Secretary of State calls it nothing more than a “$2 Million Straw Poll”

Denver, March 8, 2007 – Secretary of State Mike Coffman today weighed in on the issue of whether Colorado should have a presidential primary.

“A presidential primary under Colorado’s system – regardless of when it would occur – would be nothing more than a $2 million straw poll,” Secretary Coffman said. “It’s certainly not a good use of taxpayer dollars, and would have absolutely no effect on the presidential primary race.”

The last presidential primary in Colorado was in 2000. However, it counted as nothing more than a preference poll, because under Colorado’s precinct caucus system a presidential primary has no binding effect on the selection of a party’s nominee. In Colorado, delegates – who ultimately decide their party’s nominee – are selected by the delegates from their respective party’s state conventions with no obligation to adhere to the preferences expressed by the voters in a presidential primary.

“Colorado is unique in how it selects major party presidential nominees,” Coffman said. “Some may disagree with our precinct caucus system, but nevertheless that is the system we have, and it governs how we select our party nominees.”

In 2002, a ballot measure to alter the caucus system was rejected by 60% of voters.