It’s long past time we toss the “lane theory” of primaries into the dustbin of history.
Lane theory holds that candidates are essentially running to attract subsets of voters who have consistently different sets of priorities, ideological or otherwise. Until near the end of the race, claims the theory, candidates are clumped in distinct lanes, trying to defeat the others in their lane to make the final two. …
If the idea has any meaning, or provides any analytical purchase, you would expect voters’ second choices to be in the same lane as their top preference. They aren’t. CONT.
Mark Mellman (Mellman Group), The Hill