Early contests often determine which candidates gain news coverage, attract donors and endorsements, and which struggle to remain competitive, said Stephen Farnsworth, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Mary Washington.
“The first, second or third contests effectively determine the nominee in many cases,” he said. “Because there is such outsized attention, focused on those early states, by the candidates, the media, and by donors, if you don’t do well early on, there’s not a lot of opportunity for a comeback.”
