The key question is whether that interest can be maintained now that Bush and Gore have emerged as the nominees. They need to figure out a way to embrace their message that some new ways of doing politics in America is sorely needed. Each region would then rotate so that in the next election, the region that went last would go first, etc. So for example, if the Northeast held their primaries in the first month, they would go second the following election year, and so forth. The idea of regional primaries has been around a long time but it is being revived by the State Secretaries of State and by commissions appointed by the two parties.
Most plans still permit Iowa and New Hampshire to kick off the process.
Such a process would not necessarily produce more competitive contests. A frontrunner could sweep the first regional primary, possibly because he or she hails from that region, and ride the momentum to victory. Many factors enter into competitiveness, including the temper of the times, the divisions within each party, the quality and resources of the candidates, and their ability to frame and communicate a message that connects with the public. Moreover, competitiveness in the nomination stage is not always the foremost value to be sought. Better to look to the November election for that.