PRIMARY CALENDAR
WaPo reports on the early primary frenzy, with as many as fifteen states awarding their delegates before the end of February. While most observers see no clear implications as to how it will impact the race, it seems obvious to me that it has one big one: Money will be more important than ever. There will be no opportunity for a dark horse candidate who does well in Iowa or New Hampshire to use that as a springboard for fundraising. Indeed, I think most of the declared candidates are already running for VP or simply trying to bolster their name recognition in bids for other offices or a 2008 run. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if, as in the 2000 GOP nomination race, a number of prominent candidates dropped out before the first ballot is cast in Iowa.
