ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how the conflicting goals of the national parties, the state parties, and the presidential contenders produced the hodgepodge of primary and caucus dates. The presidential nomination calendar extends from the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, typically held in February, to several clusters of states on "Super Tuesdays" in March, and finally, to a few states holding out with traditional primary dates in the first weeks of June. Yet each election cycle introduces another example of the conflict between the national parties, state parties, and candidates in trying to mold the presidential nomination calendar to satisfy their own individual goals. The national parties simply do not control the actual selection of primary and caucus dates. Against these maneuverings by state party leaders, the national parties will continue to try to maintain some control over the start of the nomination calendar and encourage states to adopt a more diverse set of primary dates.
