Changes

[[File:Primary-date.jpg|thumb|350px|states move up primaries earlier and earlier; in 2008 4 states held primaries in January and 21 in February]]

[[File:Primary-date.jpg|thumb|350px|states move up primaries earlier and earlier; in 2008 4 states held primaries in January and 21 in February]]

In recent years the primary seasons has come earlier and earlier, as states move up to earlier dates in the hope it will give them more leverage.  For example, [[Barry Goldwater]] won the 1964 nomination because he won the last primary in California. The logic is faulty--in highly contested races the later primaries have more leverage.  Thus in 2008 California gave up its traditional last-in-the-nation role and joined 20 other states on Super Tuesday.  Neither the candidates not the voters paid it much attention.  Michigan and Florida moved up their primaries in defiance of national Democratic Party rules and were penalized. The result is the primary season is extended, and is far more expensive, and no state gets an advantage--except for Iowa and New Hampshire, which now have dates in early January.

In recent years the primary seasons has come earlier and earlier, as states move up to earlier dates in the hope it will give them more leverage.  For example, [[Barry Goldwater]] won the 1964 nomination because he won the last primary in California. The logic is faulty—in highly contested races the later primaries have more leverage.  Thus in 2008 California gave up its traditional last-in-the-nation role and joined 20 other states on Super Tuesday.  Neither the candidates not the voters paid it much attention.  Michigan and Florida moved up their primaries in defiance of national Democratic Party rules and were penalized. The result is the primary season is extended, and is far more expensive, and no state gets an advantage—except for Iowa and New Hampshire, which now have dates in early January.

In late 2009 the two national parties are meeting to find a common solution.

In late 2009 the two national parties are meeting to find a common solution.

==References==

==References==

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[[category:United States Presidential Elections]]

[[Category:United States Presidential Elections]]