Jeff Jacoby’s recent columns regarding the nightmarish, never-ending quality of US presidential campaigns are right on the money (“Our long national nightmare,’’ Opinion, Aug. 31; “Three prescriptions for a shorter campaign,’’ Sept. 7). With the negativity, name-calling, boorishness, and lack of focus on issues, not to mention the record unpopularity of the current Republican and Democratic candidates, this election is worse than any I can remember, and I have been voting since the 1960s.

Other nations, both friend and foe, must be laughing at our self-absorption. I, for one, am already dreading the next presidential election, which, without substantive change, will start in about two years.

I think Jacoby’s idea of regional “cluster’’ primaries makes all sorts of sense. What do average citizens like me have to do to make this happen?

Judy J. Dandison

Stratham, N.H.