Who Needs A Primary?

It has become an election-year tradition. Every four years state governments hold their presidential primaries earlier and earlier, trying to ensure that their voters get to influence the race before most candidates drop out. Next year six states are planning to hold primaries a week after New Hampshire's. And four weeks later the nomination will probably be all but locked up. But the front-loading of the primary season is having an unintended effect. Some states, frustrated at not having any influence on the nomination and trying to save money, are dropping out. Three states--Colorado, Utah and Kansas--have canceled their primaries for...