I live in New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation primary state.
Campaign season started here more than a year ago.
Ive met most of the major candidates by attending campaign events at diners and college auditoriums.
We have already cast our ballots.
Yet, for most Americans,primary seasonis just ramping up.
A 16th state, Iowa, will also hold its caucuses for the Democratic Party nomination on Super Tuesday.
Republicanscast their votesin Iowa in January.
The impact ofSuper Tuesdayis hard to overstate.
States voting that day include Texas and California, the two most populous in the nation.
More than 30 percent of American voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots on Super Tuesday.
Super Tuesday isoften a decisive dayin presidential campaigns a make-or-break moment that can all but assure a candidates victory.
Big wins on Super Tuesday sealed the nominations for George H.W.
If you have feedback or a story idea then pleasecontact us here.
So, how did Super Tuesday come about?
It is a relatively recent invention in American politics, as is the whole primary system.
How did it work before primaries?
The first Super Tuesday was held in the 1980s.
The Founding Fathers did not envision presidential primaries.
Entrenched political parties didnt form until the early years of the republic.
There was no will of the people in these decisions.
Progressive reformers wanted to make the process more democratic.
In 1912, 13 states held thefirst presidential primaries.
Wrestling power from political bosses, though, took time.
By 1916, 25 states held presidential primaries, but delegates often were not bound by the results.
Backroom deals still reigned.
