Dear Michael Smerconish
(I know one is supposed to reach you by twitter or facebook but I "do" neither)
You had an interesting story, on your CNN program this morning, about a young man from New Hampshire, I think, who was so disgusted with the "offering" on his ballot (primary, I think) that he wrote in his beloved dog name, took a photo and, of course, posted it for the world to see.
Soon after that he was contacted by a state prosecutor informing him that it was illegal, against the sanctity of the voting booth. A judge threw the suit out.
Still, one can understand this, and you had law professor from UCI commenting that others may be coerced to vote for someone and to offer a proof that they've done so.
Still, I could not help smiling.
Here we have the Iowa caucuses, that make or break candidates. Break, mostly. And in these caucuses you have to stand up in front of neighbors and family members to pledge your support. At least initially. A horse trading follows to win the ones whose candidate is not "viable."
I actually know a person who selected a candidate in one party's primary because... well, there were the children who worked hard for that candidate. But, then, in the general elections, voted for the opposing party candidate.
If for nothing else, this should take Iowa from the "fist in the nation" status. (The other reasons are it being lily white with no major urban centers that are so much in the news..)