Time for a rotating primary schedule...

[JCMach1]

Enough of NH and Iowa already.

Why should two such small states play such a large part in the process. Imagine if the first primary had been somewhere else?

Just one of the whackjob things about our system that needs to be cleaned up.

[Walt Starr]

1. ABSOLUTELY!

It favors incumbent presidents, for one thing.

[DjTj]

2. Small states give outsiders a chance...

...If it started in a large state, the only people that could compete would be those who have raised a whole lot of money.

Everyone in Iowa probably got to see their candidate at least once. That just wouldn't be possible in California or New York.

I think a small state is definitely the way to go.

[JCMach1]

3. You could still keep a small state first....

then go to medium, then large... Perhaps even spread them out more evenly in February and March.

Think how different things might have gone if say Oklahoma had gone first...

Or Nevada. Alaska anyone??

[Bombtrack]

4. Alaska would never work, it's huge in area and separated by Canada

Not to mention it's a fricken wasteland

that's just a waist of money

Delaware is one state that just screams to be the alternative. It's close to DC and very small. Rhode Island would also work. As well as west virginia

[JCMach1]

5. I just say fairly distribute them...

and perhaps end some of the nonsense.

[Walt Starr]

6. Yes, get rid of the Iowa and New Hampshire stranglehold

It sucks.

[Shanty Oilish]

7. Here's the calendar

If anyone's forgotten. No guarantees of its accuracy, I got it off DU.

January 27
New Hampshire

February 3
Arizona
Delaware
Missouri
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina

February 7
Michigan
Washington

February 8
Maine

February 10
Tennessee
Virginia

February 14
District of Columbia
Nevada

February 17
Wisconsin

February 24
Hawaii
Idaho
Utah

March 2
California
Connecticut
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Rhode Island
Vermont

March 9
Florida
Louisiana
Mississippi
Texas

March 13
Kansas

March 16
Illinois

March 20
Alaska
Wyoming

April 13
Colorado

April 27
Pennsylvania

May 4
Indiana
North Carolina

May 11
Nebraska
West Virginia

May 18
Arkansas
Kentucky
Oregon

June 1
Alabama
South Dakota

June 8
Montana
New Jersey

[kentuck]

8. I rather like this timetable for the primaries but....

I think Iowa should change back to the primary system rather than the caucus.. I do not think it really works that well...We could see on TV the way they were swapping and horse-trading - that shouldn't be done with our votes.

[JCMach1]

9. Or get rid of the 15% viability BS

I suspect in that environment DK, for example, would have gotten 10-15%.

[isbister]

12. ...horse-trading - that shouldn't be done with our votes

Isn't it their votes? Iowa should decide for Iowa.

[Kat45]

10. What if they had all the primaries on the same day?

No advantage goes to any particular state(s). The candidates have to think about and campaign to the people in the entire country. Everybody gets to vote for their preferred candidate because no candidate would have already already dropped out before their state gets to vote. With everyone voting on the same day, nobody is influenced by how others have already voted. I haven't had the time yet to think the idea through in depth, but I do think I like it.

[bicentennial_baby]

11. I like that idea

I also have yet to think it through, but I like it so far.

[isbister]

13. Maybe...

NH first and IA second?