Reply #37: Pity for Iowans, I'm pretty sure.

[Occam Bandage]

In exchange for having to live in Iowa, we let them be important once every four years.

Seriously? I agree, it's absolutely absurd. I understand the concept of letting a few states go first; we allow candidates to concentrate, letting the citizens of that state get an in-depth view of them. But Iowa and New Hampshire in particular? Neither are particularly good choices.

I think Ohio would be a good bet to go first. It seems fairly representative of the nation as a whole.