invisible primary
n.— «Requiring candidates to launch what is effectively a national campaign ensures that only those who have honed their messages in advance will be able to succeed. No longer will candidates have a chance to experiment with themes that may resonate with the electorate and build momentum state by state. Pre-tested themes will supplant face-to-face contact with voters, giving pollsters and consultants even more weight than they already enjoy. The edge will go even more to candidates able to most successfully court donors and activists in what insiders call the “invisible primary.”» —“A primary shift that doesn’t bode well for democracy” by Linda L. Fowler Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin) May 19, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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