GOP fundraising for 2nd Q is proof the Trump mob runs the GOP and, with it, over half of the States.

[IUCrazy2]

I guess it would likely backfire as parties would try to select the 2 worst candidates that they think they could beat the easiest.

So you're probably right, 2 needs to be changed. Edited original post.

Any ideas on how to get parties to put up more moderate candidates?

More people participate in voting in primaries.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2022/results/indiana/primaries

This was an off year election so turnout is maybe impacted by that some but roughly 500,000 people in a state with a population of 6.8 million (roughly) picked the candidates. In the 2020 general election, 3 million people cast votes. I am sure that is not the full voting public but it gives you an idea of at least the moderately politically active in the state (less than 50% of the population but some of that other half would be ineligible to vote). So in 2022, 16.67% of those who voted in 2020 picked the House and Senate candidates.

You want more "moderate" or more tolerable candidates, you have to convince the roughly 80% of people who do not participate in primaries that they are just as important as the general elections.

Or you go back to the way the Founders originally intended and repeal the 17th amendment. Then you have the populis firebrand House and the more moderate and deliberative Senate with it's state picked representatives (in theory).

 

[IU_Hickory]

Serious people aren’t going to point to the economy as an example of Biden outdoing Trump.

There are other areas to build conviction, starting there shows you are lost.

Serious people wouldn't be blaming the economy on the president in the first place.