The system used for nominating presidential candidates for each party - primaries and caucuses - is in need of reform because of issues that stem from frontloading, which are the advantages that come with heavy campaign funding as well as the large influence the media has on the results. What must be taken into consideration is that while the system is in need of reform, it usually creates a clear winner for each party as well as a leader who is strong enough to run for and be President.
The main issues with primaries and caucuses is front-loading, which is when states will try to have their primaries held as early as possible in the schedule in order to have the most influence over undecided or ‘super delegates’ at the national convention. The two states that are always the first in the schedule are New Hampshire and Iowa, which are in January. These two states have a huge influence on the nomination process, and candidates and the media will spend much of their attention on these two states. For example in the 2010 primaries, half of all media expenditure was spent on covering the New Hampshire primaries and the Iowa caucus. This media expenditure also brings in a lot of income for the state through hotels and restaurants and there is always a rise in tourism in those states because of people wanting to watch the candidates. Candidates who win the most delegates in the New Hampshire and Iowa caucuses usually have a massive advantage in the rest of the primaries over those who didn’t. This is because the media creates the bandwagon effect amongst the public and turn the primaries into a ‘Beauty contest’ where the candidate with the most appealing or eye-catching phrases will get a lot of media attention. The bandwagon effect is when people are more likely to support someone who seems most likely to win the nomination. This means that candidates who get the bandwagon effect will see a massive boost in campaign funding, which will help them later in the...