I would be thrilled if South Carolina and Nevada are moved up in the Dem primary schedule.

[Yavin4]

Those states have some the highest percentage of working class Democratic primary voters in particular, African American and Latino voters. This forces candidates to deliver a message that appeals to them. Democratic primary voters in Iowa and N.H. skew to very liberal, college educated White voters, esp. the Iowa caucus and such voters are not representative of the larger Democratic party let alone the broader general electorate.

[viva la]

1. I agree-- let's center on having primaries that bring people in

If it's easy and important for "lean-dems" to vote, they probably will, and I know-- once you start voting regularly in your state's primary, you just become more invested in the party's prospects, and you feel like you actually can have an effect.

I know also from experience that states, esp. small states, can sometimes end up with party organizations that are sort of insular and privatish clubs. There can end up an atmosphere that is almost resistant to new people coming in and trying to get involved-- "We don't do it that way. We have our traditions."

That's fine for the Republicans, who prefer to rule from the minority and grossly limit who gets to have any power at all. But it's antithetical to Democratic values-- and success. We need more new people all the time. We need a deep bench, especially now that the powerful Boomer+ generation is (should be) passing on the torch. (I am a Boomer myself, and want very much for the GenX etc people to take over-- looking at you, Cory Bush and Katie Porter! )

More representative early primaries will galvanize nore younger voters and remind the older ones why they are Democrats.

[Sogo]

2. Yada, yada, yada....

Iowa gave us Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.

Which of these would you have replaced with someone else in their respective years? (You know, someone who was more "representative of the larger Democratic party"?)

[Yavin4]

3. You're comparing completely different eras in American politics

Also, you are greatly discounting major demographic and political shifts as well. Until 2012 or so, Iowa was a toss up state. Today, it's a fully fundie Republican, and the typical Democratic party presidential primary voter is largely young, White, college educated, and probably a student given how the caucus is run.

[Sogo]

8. South Carolina is a toss up state????

I was making no comparisons, and thanks for proving that you know nothing about the "typical Democratic party presidential primary voter" in Iowa....

[Demsrule86]

6. Three that you mention went onto to lost the General. So your argument doesn't' work.

Primaries are intended to field viable candidates who can win a General...nothing more and nothing less. Oh and if you were talking about Bill Clinton...he lost Iowa.

[Sogo]

7. Except Carter and Obama, those candidates were arguably a foregone conclusion as the Dem candidate,

and I wasn't talking about Bill Clinton, you were, and I knew he lost Iowa. So whether or not they went on to win the General is irrelevant. There are 49 other states who have primaries....If nothing else, 2020 proved that all states have a say in who becomes the eventual nominee.

Iowa did launch the two improbable candidates who were the eventual WINNERS of their respective races.....

Are you saying that whichever state is first has the obligation to pick the eventual winner of the Presidential race?

[Demsrule86]

4. I agree...We must make sure no one becomes our nominee who can't win AA voters and

working-class voters....which we find in the rustbelt. There is no path to the presidency except through the rustbelt. And we need Virginia since it is looking bleak for Ohio. Left out Hispanic voters who are very important also...and Nevada should help with that.

[NNadir]

5. I saw a proposal to add Georgia to the list. It makes sense to me. We should rely on swing...

...states to choose our candidates, on the theory that these states are the ones we need to carry. If a candidate can fly in one of these states, they can fly in the general election.

Iowa is now a firm died in the wool incontestable Red State. While I support a 50 state strategy, Iowa doesn't matter to our hopes in any way,