... Prof Bainbridge, what do you mean by "representative of the country as a whole"? Which state is representative of the country as a whole? I mean that as a serious question... I don't think that question can be answered without lots of people poking holes into whatever state you bring forth as an example (race, median age, educational makeup, commerce, population, number of metropolitan areas, topography, political affiliation, past history, et al) ... Now I'm not defending Iowa's first-in-the-nation status, I never have, but where do you think candidates would visit if California had the first primary? That's right, only the major metro areas. Do you think for a second that they would appear in some small town to meet with 30 or 40 locals and talk the issues? No, they wouldn't.

Labels: caucus dates