Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Scheduling Insanity

Why we are courting disaster in next year’s presidential primaries

February 8, 2007 – In 1968 the country had 14 state presidential primaries, scheduled rather sensibly and intermittently between March and June. In 2008 a minimum of 42 primaries will be held, possibly as many as 47, beginning in January, or even earlier, and stretching out for six long months. Even worse, the ’08 schedule will be the most “front-loaded” ever, with so many contests moved into January and early February that the party nominees might be determined in the blink of an eye, with no chance for “buyer’s remorse.” In 1980 only one state had a primary or caucus by the end of February. By 2000 nine states did so, and in 2004, nineteen. Next year, an incredible thirty states are on track to push into January or February.