Mixed Emotions: An Early Florida Primary

Frontloading big state primaries makes the Presidency a toy for the richest candidates.

by Rod D. Martin
January 22, 2007

I have to say, today's story about the possibility of moving up the Florida Presidential primary tugs me both ways.  But there is a right answer.

First, Florida needs an earlier state primary desperately. Selecting party nominees in September is crazy, outdated, and greatly harmful to candidates' ability to raise money and get their message out.  It should move up; and likewise, Florida's much earlier Presidential primary should move up as well.

However, the chief effect of frontloading more and more primaries is to make the Presidency a toy for the very richest candidates:  the Clintons, the Bushes, the Giulianis, and no one else.  I'm criticizing none of those folks in saying this.  But honestly:  isn't it at least possible that someday, some time, someone ought to have a chance to get their message out who is NOT the frontrunner in February of the year before?

Having Iowa a couple weeks before New Hampshire, heading from there -- a bit slowly, more slow…