http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/ I don't understand how this crap works??? As I see it all the ballots finish in June????? No wonder only the heavily wealthy can pursue the presidency. Well, I guesse that's living up to the American dream, Capitalism. Up here in Canada if you're a card carrying members of a party, you can apply to be a delegate and go to a massive meeting where votes are cast.
Those are the primaries (some states have "caucuses" instead) where the major parties each choose their respective candidate, the actual election is in November and the independent and "other parties" candidates are on that ballot as well.
The US primary system is set up so that only the extremely wealthy or those supported by the extremely wealthy have a chance at being nominated and in the end elected. That's exactly why it's set up the way it is Max.
