In the January issue of PS, papers by William Mayer
and by Lonna Atkeson and Cherie Maestas investigate reforms of the
party nomination procedure for presidential candidates. In order to
avoid the amplification of name recognition and early fundraising
advantages, as these effects resulted from the “frontloading” of
state nominations ('08 Tsunami Tuesday), broader “spacing” between
primary dates may be required. But such an expansion of the
sequential voting principle carries an unfortunate disadvantage
ignored in the papers. This disadvantage is the, however unintended,
consequence of candidates manipulating their program in accordance
to methods through which votes are being cast.