Several years ago in Alabama, the Libertarian Party polled enough votes for one of its nominees in a General Election, that resulted in the party qualifying to hold a party primary for nominating candidates for office in the next election cycle. But instead of using this “forum” that would have gotten exposure for the party as well as its candidates, the party instead opted to hold a “nominating convention” and “hand pick” their nominees.

3rd parties – when they do qualify for holding a primary election – should take advantage of such. For by holding a primary, it gets voters accustomed to seeing the party hold its own primary and exposing the voters not only to the party but to its candidates.

To a limited extend, the American Independent Party in California is guilty of doing the same thing. Party leaders should encourage “warm bodies” who are members of the party and who subscribe to the party’s doctrine to make themselves available for nomination. By having at least two candidates for the same office in a 3rd party primary, this draws attention to the party and to its candidates that it otherwise would never get.

American voters are accustomed to candidates being nominated at primaries. When 3rd parties do otherwise – when they have the primary option – it smacks of the old days of the “smoke-filled back rooms.”