The Front-Loading Problem in Presidential Nominations

by William G. Mayer, Andrew E. Busch

The race for the White House may seem like a marathon, but the
nomination process is becoming a sprint, with the starting gun fired
earlier each time. Where state primaries and caucuses were once spread
out over a period of three or four months, most are now crammed into a
four or five week interval at the very beginning of the delegate
selection calendar. The compression and hastening of the nomination
season are changing the nature of the presidential selection process,
the most visible pillar of American democracy. Despite the importance of
this issue in American politics, however, too little systematic analysis
has been done on the topic. This is the first book to offer a
comprehensive examination of the front-loading problem in all its
facets.

William Mayer and Andrew Busch define the parameters of the
front-loading question as well as its impact. They trace the history
that shaped the current system and explain why it is such a critical
element of presidential elections. Most important, the authors present a
detailed analysis of all the major proposals for coping with
front-loading and of the political and constitutional obstacles for
reform. While they conclude that there is no easy solution to this
complex issue, they identify a general direction for reform efforts.
They also feel that the political parties should be the prime movers in
formulating and implementing changes.

Author Information:

William G. Mayer is an associate professor of political science at
Northeastern University. He is the editor of The Making of the
Presidential Candidates, 2004(Rowman & Littlefield).

Andrew E. Busch is an associate professor of political science at the
University of Denver. He is the author of Outsiders and Openness in the
Presidential Nominating System (University of Pittsburgh Press).

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2003