Primaries

From the Scholars Strategy Network, written by Sarah F. Anzia of University of California, Berkeley. Edited for Journalist’s Resource.

George Washington University professor John Sides is a leading academic voice on the Web on all things political.

As more states “front-load” their presidential primaries to ensure the relevance of their outcomes early in the primary cycle, the nominating process has become increasingly condensed into the first few months of the election year. Iowa’s 2012 presidential caucuses are now scheduled for January 3.

Since 1972 the American presidential nominating process has begun in the state of Iowa. There are many conflicting opinions about whether or not this tradition best serves the interests of democracy — Iowa’s demographics and rural nature are not necessarily representative of the nation at large — but in any case this history continues to unfold through the 2012 election season.