By Henry Luce III

IDEALLY, primary elections can be viewed as national contests in microcosm, races that measure and illuminate shifting voter sentiment across the country. But primaries, like other political mechanisms, almost never fulfill ideals. Local problems, quirky election laws and this year's long, variable roster of contestants can easily warp the reflection of what people really think. Because our business is to report on these attitudes as well as an election's outcome and impact, we introduce this week a new campaign-season feature --a report on a TIME Citizens Panel to complement our cover story on George McGovern.

Selected by the social-research firm of Daniel Yankelovich Inc., the 200-member panel is a cross section of citizens by geography, age, sex, education, employment, income and political affiliation. The participants were asked their opinions on such issues as Viet Nam, busing, crime, taxes and the economy. Unlike subjects in a typical political poll, they were encouraged to respond thoughtfully and at length. The TIME panel members will be interviewed again at later stages of the campaign to find out how their opinions are being affected by the candidates and by current events. Other panels will also be formed to broaden the analysis. "This is a new kind of technique," says Yankelovich, "a blending of social-research and journalism skills. Without leaning so heavily on numbers, it shows a very sharp, clear picture of the mood and feeling that people have about the issues."

The Citizens Panel is just one of the many lenses through which we are observing politics this week. Our cover story, written by Keith Johnson, examines McGovern's political history and reports on why his candidacy has flourished while Edmund Muskie's has wilted. Reportage and analysis by TIME staffers are supplemented by a second Yankelovich poll. In this one, Pennsylvanians were questioned about their presidential preferences as they left the voting booths, but before they knew the election's outcome.

Valuable as they are, surveys and research teams do not yield intimate knowledge of the candidates' strategy, personality and whims. Among the correspondents covering each of the principal aspirants was John Austin, who followed McGovern through the hectic last days of campaigning in Massachusetts, from an afternoon at the Boston Garden to election day in McGovern's hotel suite. "One aspect of McGovern that strikes you," says Austin, "is his genuine lack of pomposity. He is proud and self-confident, but that never shows up in his dealings with people. While I was interviewing him on election day, he stopped and inquired if anyone wanted some lunch. There were aides around to do it, but McGovern without hesitation started taking orders. "A hamburger? How do you want it? Ketchup? Mustard?"

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