Nation’s Presidential Primary Calendar is a Political Tragedy

• By Bill Brock
• Special to Roll Call
• March 6, 2007, Midnight

In less than a year, Iowa will kick off the voting for the major parties’ presidential nominations. A month later, the race may be effectively over — long before most states vote. As a result we have almost unwittingly allowed the evolution of a system for nominating our next president that leaves most Americans out of the process, emphasizing money, surface appearances and media appeal over careful analysis. This fact reflects a dangerous lapse on the part of both national political parties.