Exactly why are Iowa & New Hampshire so important in the General Elections?

Question

What is the big deal with these two states? Is it purely because their primaries are the earliest?

Answer 1

statistics

Answer 2

They are important in the presidential selection process because they do what they do (in Iowa they have party caucuses; in New Hampshire they have a presidential preference primary) before any other state.

Answer 3

You've gotten the words "general election" and "primary" confused. Those two states are not important to the general election. They are important during the primary season because those two states are the ones who go first: Iowa holds caucuses and it does so first; New Hampshire holds a primary and it does so first. The reason going first is so important is because it helps to winnow the field of candidates. Candidates who do very poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire tend to drop out of the race before any of the rest of the states hold their caucuses or primaries.

It ought not to work this way, which is why I have been suggesting a constitutional amendment to provide for a more appropriate schedule.

Answer 4

they are not that important , it just that they are first in the primaries

Answer 5

Yep, The first tests,