tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post3092673799075132028..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: Presidential Primary and Caucus Dates Over Time (Take 1)Josh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-82802020412525432552009-01-26T20:17:00.000-05:002009-01-26T20:17:00.000-05:00Thanks Scott.Most of the "backloading" in 1992 is ...Thanks Scott.<BR/><BR/>Most of the "backloading" in 1992 is due to several southern states moving back to their "original" primary dates after the failed experiment that was the Southern Super Tuesday (at least in the eyes of predominantly Democratic-controlled state legislatures/governments).<BR/><BR/>That's part of it. But their are a couple of other interesting points.<BR/><BR/>1) Kansas opted for a primary in 1992 and it happened to be in early April, later than the caucuses in 1988.<BR/><BR/>2) The GOP didn't have a fully competitive series of contests. Bush was challenged early on by Buchanan, but most of the caucus states moved into "protect the incumbent" mode, holding token, small-scale contests later in the calendar. The contests in that scenario are more party business functions than delegate selection events.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-29832260584248134222009-01-26T18:54:00.000-05:002009-01-26T18:54:00.000-05:00I'll echo the kudos.Now a question on the content....I'll echo the kudos.<BR/><BR/>Now a question on the <I>content</I>. 1992 was one cycle where frontloading actually seemed to be reversed a bit. Any special reason for that?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14690577323454357276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-88820492485304570052009-01-26T17:08:00.000-05:002009-01-26T17:08:00.000-05:00Matthew and SD,I agree with both of you. There li...Matthew and SD,<BR/>I agree with both of you. There likely should be a natural progression to the color scheme. The problem I've had with going from dark to light is that once you get past, say, three categories it gets progressively difficult to differentiate between color categories on a map. Your alternate suggestion may work, though. I'll play around with it some in the next week or two and try to come up with a better solution.<BR/><BR/>The black line is a necessity given the image editor I'm using or more precisely my limited knowledge of the image editor I'm using. I'll see what I can work out, but I won't make any promises on this one.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the well wishes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-35945655466174457422009-01-26T16:59:00.000-05:002009-01-26T16:59:00.000-05:00Josh, I'd echo what MSS said: the maps are great, ...Josh, I'd echo what MSS said: the maps are great, but a more inuitive color scheme would go a long way. Six shades is probably a little hard to follow, but maybe you could just go through the spectrum: Red/January, Orange/February, Yellow/March, Green/April, Blue/May, Purple/June. I think that would especially highlight the major trends through time.<BR/><BR/>Also, I'd recommend getting rid of the black line splitting states with different dates for the two parties.<BR/><BR/>That being said, let me emphasize that these are minor quibbles. The maps are great as is.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16645401695696484967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-76459015565477791572009-01-26T14:03:00.000-05:002009-01-26T14:03:00.000-05:00Josh, the maps are very helpful and useful. (Did I...Josh, the maps are very helpful and useful. (Did I ever mention that I like maps?)<BR/><BR/>Now, everyone is a critic, right? I could grasp the information faster if the color scheme followed some logical (to me) progression. Like light to dark green (or blue or whatever) from Jan. to June. Or if that's not enough shading, maybe starting with one dark color and then going all the way through to its complement on the color wheel.<BR/><BR/>Just a thought. <BR/><BR/>Good luck on the job talks!MSShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199636437911986505noreply@blogger.com