Invisible Primary

Pre-primary where part bosses winnow the field and make a first choice. They shower with donations and positive press (creating a positive polling feedback loop) before voters get involved - whereupon they essentially just “ratify” this already-made choice

Reporters refer to these preferred candidates as “electable” or “wise choice”. They describe the voters who don’t like them as “stubborn” or “off-reservation”. ¹

To detract attention from the chummy invisible primary, the media turns off the red/blue hate closer to the election.