Also, as I recall (no guarantees, like the secret pod!) today's systems evolved from the old 'smoke filled rooms' where all decisions were made by "political machines" run by the rich and/or powerful and they picked which candidates to back. Different parts of the country even down to city level had their own political machines so until …
Also, as I recall (no guarantees, like the secret pod!) today's systems evolved from the old 'smoke filled rooms' where all decisions were made by "political machines" run by the rich and/or powerful and they picked which candidates to back. Different parts of the country even down to city level had their own political machines so until it was time to field presidential candidates they were only a loose confederacy. Having a national, individual party leader just didn't happen in that world. Since the parties opened up and became more democratic around the 1960's the situation nationally hasn't changed much
As far a Schumer and Jeffries I don't know of any official party roles for the Senator and House Democratic leaders outside of their own bodies.
Beyond all that, you may have seen this quotation from Will Rogers:
"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat"
Also, as I recall (no guarantees, like the secret pod!) today's systems evolved from the old 'smoke filled rooms' where all decisions were made by "political machines" run by the rich and/or powerful and they picked which candidates to back. Different parts of the country even down to city level had their own political machines so until it was time to field presidential candidates they were only a loose confederacy. Having a national, individual party leader just didn't happen in that world. Since the parties opened up and became more democratic around the 1960's the situation nationally hasn't changed much
As far a Schumer and Jeffries I don't know of any official party roles for the Senator and House Democratic leaders outside of their own bodies.
Beyond all that, you may have seen this quotation from Will Rogers:
"I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat"