When Clinton ran in 1992

[oberliner]

He announced his candidacy three months prior to the Iowa caucus.

Now we have candidates making formal announcements over a year before the Iowa caucus.

I am curious if people have thoughts as to why this is the case and whether or not it is a problem.

[Erika]

1. We weren't in war and polarization n/t

[MonkeyFunk]

2. The reason is $$$$

It's gotten exponentially more expensive to run for office, and people need to start raising the big bucks earlier and earlier.

And yes, it is a problem.

[stevebreeze]

3. do you really think Clinton only started running 3 months before?

this just more closely follows reality. I don't think this is high on the list of electoral problems.

[pepperbear]

4. yep. a combination of polarization and $. sounds about right n/t

[WCGreen]

5. Carter started running in 1975 in Iowa....

All the rest of them were duking it out in New Hampshire...

Jimmy C made a splash...

Early...

[onehandle]

6. I am now announcing my candidacy for President in 2092.

Of course I'll just be a head floating in a jar by then.

[Kerrytravelers]

7. The Daily Show introduced us to the future president of 2040.

[Gman]

8. In 1988 all three dozen of them

(or so it seemed) announced six months to a year or so before the primaries began, IIRC.

[Igel]

9. If I thought about it, it would depress me.

Even as a kid I relished the time between presidential campaigns.

This year, the campaign break lasted maybe a week. I mean, the campaign supervisors didn't even have time to get over their hangovers before they were hammering out memos and lining up fundraising appearances.