I think the democratic deficit, is in the mechanism of early primaries, not in the (inevitable) fact that if there are things happening, then the media will report them.
So, I don't think the issue can be addressed by the media carefully reporting the results in proportion to their actual effect on nominations. For one thing, that's an unrealistic expectation given that particular journalists or companies might be actively supporting a particular candidate. Unlike the BBC, US broadcasters cannot (in law or in common sense) be expected to pretend a neutral, facts-only, standpoint. But secondly, candidates and late voters would still be looking at the early results as indicators of public opinion, even if all the media did was report the numbers.
The media isn't creating the buzz any more or less than they normally do - it's the early primaries which are creating the buzz. I've a sneaking suspicion that primary schedules are enshrined in state laws and constitutions, so that's where you have to go if you want to consign the Iowa caucus to obscurity.
Interesting to see that this year a couple of states moved their primaries earlier, in the hope of gaining more publicity / influence, and as a result are being boycotted by some of the candidates.
Michigan wasn't so much as boycotted as nullified for the Democrats, as they stated NO delegates would be taken from the Michigan primary. The republicans halved the allotment, which Michigan seemed happy with as it gets to early influence.
Obama and Edwards took their name of the Democratic nomination form in Michigan, whereas as Hils didn't. The others may have done, but to be honest, baring weirdness, they are all pretty non-descript and out of the race.
The Republican nomination is far more interesting as multi-player race:
Fred Thompson the actor and lazy man. Ron Paul the liberterian and accused racist. "I love" Mike Huckabee, the baptist and Chuck Norris'd approved Creationist, Mitt Romney the Mormon from Michigan John McCain the ex-airforce man who was cpatured and tortured in Vietnam. Rudy Guliani, America's mayor and man who hasn't shown up yet.
The early primaries are enshrined in state law in new Hampshire at least. I think it's same for Iowa, and the Republicans and Democrats both have 5 special states that are allowed to vote before 1st Tuesday in February (now called super Tuesday... it wasn't always like that).
These are now set to be around the corners of the USA, Nevada being the first in the west, and South Carolina first in South.
So, I don't think the issue can be addressed by the media carefully reporting the results in proportion to their actual effect on nominations. For one thing, that's an unrealistic expectation given that particular journalists or companies might be actively supporting a particular candidate. Unlike the BBC, US broadcasters cannot (in law or in common sense) be expected to pretend a neutral, facts-only, standpoint. But secondly, candidates and late voters would still be looking at the early results as indicators of public opinion, even if all the media did was report the numbers.
The media isn't creating the buzz any more or less than they normally do - it's the early primaries which are creating the buzz. I've a sneaking suspicion that primary schedules are enshrined in state laws and constitutions, so that's where you have to go if you want to consign the Iowa caucus to obscurity.
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Obama and Edwards took their name of the Democratic nomination form in Michigan, whereas as Hils didn't. The others may have done, but to be honest, baring weirdness, they are all pretty non-descript and out of the race.
The Republican nomination is far more interesting as multi-player race:
Fred Thompson the actor and lazy man.
Ron Paul the liberterian and accused racist.
"I love" Mike Huckabee, the baptist and Chuck Norris'd approved Creationist,
Mitt Romney the Mormon from Michigan
John McCain the ex-airforce man who was cpatured and tortured in Vietnam.
Rudy Guliani, America's mayor and man who hasn't shown up yet.
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These are now set to be around the corners of the USA, Nevada being the first in the west, and South Carolina first in South.
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