Primary Timing and Election Impact
Iowa and New Hampshire jealously guard traditional roles in the Presidential election process. The importance of the early contests is so great that any interested candidate makes many visits, beginning months before the actual election. Anyone wishing to avoid elimination needs a message that resonates with New Hampshire Yankee thinking and mid-western corn belt wisdom.
Other states have concluded that issues crucial to their residents may not be getting enough attention in these early contests. The most recent development is from Michigan, where legislators are considering a primary on January 15th or even January 8th. New Hampshire and Iowa might respond, but there is considerable psychological resistance to a primary held before the election year even begins. The race to be early seems is reaching a limit.
How much does this matter? Let us put it this way: Michigan voters are not too concerned about subsidizing ethanol.
Posted: August 24th, 2007 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 3
Comments
Comment from SusanB
Time: August 25, 2007, 5:07 pm
Wow!! Just read some news saying the national party will make FL Dems forfeit their votes at convention unless they delay their primary at least a week.
Pingback from Election Stocks » The Links on Sunday
Time: August 26, 2007, 12:09 pm
[...] Possibly after reading Jeff’s article about Primary Timing and Election Impact, the DNC voted on Sat. to refuse seats for FL representatives at the convention unless ths state delays the date of its primary per the party’s calendar. [...]
Pingback from Election Stocks » Racing to be First: The Florida Saga
Time: August 26, 2007, 12:23 pm
[...] Florida did not even try to hold the first primary. Unlike Michigan (discussed here) Legislators there just sought to be among the first, holding voting on January 29th. Every state would like to have an impact, holding primary elections before some candidate is assured of victory and issue positions have been locked in. [...]
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