ABSTRACT
The changes in the nomination process following the 1968 presidential election meant that national and state party leaders and office holders would no longer decide who the party's nominee would be. The 2015-16 Republican Party nomination contest seems to confirm Polsby's viewpoint, while the Democratic Party's experience, for the most part, confirms the 'invisible primary' school of thought. Aspiring candidates for their party's nomination now compete in primaries or caucuses in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and various US possessions. The long, open contest for the party's nomination has provided newspapers, television networks, and cable channels, as well as the countless web sites, blogs, and social media platforms that arose as we moved into the 21st century with a continuing story to cover and comment upon. The campaign team that helped the candidate to secure the nomination continues on to the general election.
