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In the [[United States]] electoral system, a '''primary''' election is an election that determines the nominee for each [[political party]], who then competes for the [[government]]al office in the general election. The process allows voters to choose between different candidates of the some political parties, perhaps representing different wings of the party. For example, a Republican primary may choose between a range of candidates from [[moderate]] to [[conservative]]. Gallup's 2008 polling data indicated a trend in primary elections towards more conservative candidates, despite the more liberal result in the general election.
In the [[United States]] electoral system, a '''primary''' election is an election that determines the nominee for each [[political party]], who then competes for the [[government]]al office in the general election. The process allows voters to choose between different candidates of the some political parties, perhaps representing different wings of the party. For example, a Republican primary may choose between a range of candidates from moderate to conservative. Gallup's 2008 polling data indicated a trend in primary elections towards more conservative candidates, despite the more liberal result in the general election.
[[category:United States Presidential Elections]]
A '''presidential primary''' is a state election that picks the delegates committed to nominate particular candidates for president of the United States. A "presidential caucus", as in Iowa, requires voters to meet together for several hours in face-to-face meetings that select county delegates, who eventually pick the delegates to the national convention.
In recent decades, New Hampshire holds the first primary a few days after Iowa holds the first caucus. That gives these two states enormous leverage, as the candidates and the media focus there. New Hampshire and Iowa receive about half of all the media attention given all primaries.
==Issues==
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.
==References==
==References==
*''Gallup Polling Information, 2008 Congressional Election Data''
*''Gallup Polling Information, 2008 Congressional Election Data''
[[category:United States Presidential Elections]]