Citizens from Iowa may still be mopping up spilled champagne from New Year’s Eve parties by the time they gather for the Iowa presidential caucus on Jan. 3. Iowa is one of many states whose officials have moved the traditional primary date forward in an attempt to play a bigger role in choosing the presidential candidates.

Setting a primary date earlier than other states is a strategic move that is part of a national phenomenon called frontloading. Though it has been an issue through several presidential elections, this year is one of the most drastic examples of widespread frontloading in history.

“We’re seeing frontloading like never before,” said Chalmers Brumbaugh, professor of political science. “The primaries are going to be over in the blink of an eye.”

Presidential primary season used to take three or four months for political parties in all 50 states to select which delegates would attend their party’s national convention. Traditionally, primary elections culminate on “Super-Tuesday,” one of the first Tuesdays in March when a large number of states hold their primaries.

This year the bulk of the votes will be cast nearly a month earlier on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states hold their primaries. The date was coined “Super-Duper Tuesday.”

Now New Hampshire, Florida and South Carolina are jockeying to beat each other to the polls, eyeing primary dates in mid-January. After the first few primaries, half of the candidates are likely to drop out of the race.

North Carolina Republicans and Democrats are expected to maintain the May 6 primary date, putting it in the last grouping of states to vote. Most other states will have cast their votes by the time North Carolinians hit the polls, so the results will be of little national concern.

“[The North Carolina Primary] is not going to have any affect on national politics,” said Political Science and Public Administration Professor George Taylor. “As far as the presidential race is concerned, it will practically be over.”

With primary dates in other states set even earlier, the entire country is scrambling to prepare for what will be a quick primary process. Presidential fundraising campaigns are in full swing because once the primaries begin they will have little time to raise money if political opinion goes in their favor.

“Now you have to be ready early,” Brumbaugh said. “We’re losing the ability for a candidate to emerge late in the game.”

In the past, last minute candidates such as Jimmy Carter have run successful campaigns.

A several month gap between the first primaries and the majority of the states primaries gave newly emerged candidate’s time to raise money and gain momentum.

Frontloading makes late entry to the presidential race nearly impossible because candidates cannot compete financially.

Our next president has almost certainly announced his or her intentions to run.

News Editor: Olivia Hubert-Allen - 10/31/07