By Jair Juarez

Eagle View Reporter

Super Tuesday, an electoral phenomenon unique to American politics, emerges as a pivotal moment in the presidential primary race, where a significant number of states hold their primaries or assemblies on the same day. This year, on March 5, a total of 16 states and American Samoa will hold primaries and caucuses for the 2024 presidential election.

Daniel Bennett, associate professor of political science at John Brown University, was asked about the strategies of gaining support on campaigns. He pointed out the primary strategies employed by campaigns for Super Tuesday is maximizing voter turnout and support with a multifaced approach, including traditional methods such as making calls, knocking on doors, and extensive advertising campaigns. The goal is to engage with likely voters and underscore the importance of their participation in the electoral process. However, with the rise of early voting and absentee ballots, campaigns must adapt their strategies to identify and mobilize supporters earlier in the election cycle.

The outcome of Super Tuesday holds immense significance in the presidential primary race, historically serving as a barometer of candidate viability and momentum. However, in recent cycles, its impact has diminished somewhat, particularly when candidates have already established clear frontrunner status. Despite this, Super Tuesday still provides a platform for candidates to solidify their positions and potentially sway undecided voters, albeit to varying degrees depending on the competitiveness of the race.

Candidates whose name appear on the ballot in Arkansas met a filing deadline of Nov. 14, 2023. Since that time, both Democratic and Republican races have changed significantly, but the March 5 ballots reflect that earlier deadline. Voters in Arkansas will see a number of candidate names on the Republican and Democratic party ballots for the presidential nominees. Candidates who have suspended their campaigns, such as former Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, will still be on the GOP ballot even though Nikki Haley and Donald Trump are the two remaining active candidates. On the Democratic side, ballots will include five other candidate names in addition to incumbent President Joe Biden.

Matt Evans, a political science professor at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, was asked about the evolving nature of Super Tuesday’s significance. He noted that its impact may vary depending on the competitiveness of the primary contests and the candidates’ established frontrunner status. “Super Tuesday is only meaningful when you have competitive presidential primaries,” he said. Evans emphasizes that without viable challengers to former President Trump and President Biden, the internal processes of each party provide predictable results, making Super Tuesday a non-issue in this election cycle.

After the briefest sort of flirtation with two-party politics, Arkansas has emphatically returned to a one-party monopoly. On the other hand, Democrats and Independents may do what they can in the technically nonpartisan judicial races, especially locally.

After the briefest sort of flirtation with two-party politics, Arkansas has emphatically returned to a one-party monopoly. On the other hand, Democrats and Independents may do what they can in the technically nonpartisan judicial races, especially locally.

Janine Parry, Professor of Political Science, University of Arkansas

Despite polling data indicating voter displeasure with both Biden and Trump, and rumblings within party ranks about potential alternatives these factors have not translated into significant challenges to the frontrunners. In past elections, Super Tuesday served as a battleground where upstart candidates could demonstrate their viability and challenge the establishment. However, without such struggles between contenders, the role of Super Tuesday has been relegated to a mere formality.

Janine Parry, a professor of political science at the University of Arkansas and director of the Arkansas Poll, was asked to reflect on what the Arkansas Poll’s 2022 and 2023 findings might tell observers about what to expect in Arkansas’ 2024 primaries.

“The last couple of years of Arkansas poll data tell us two, perhaps contradictory things: first that we’ll see far higher participation, again, in the Republican Primary than in the Democratic one,” Parry said in an email. “After the briefest sort of flirtation with two-party politics, Arkansas has emphatically returned to a one-party monopoly. On the other hand, Democrats and Independents may do what they can in the technically nonpartisan judicial races, especially locally. All that said, it would be surprising to see more than 28% of eligible voters statewide participate.”

Parry also addressed how Arkansas’ participation in Super Tuesday enables a small state to perhaps wield more influence than it might otherwise.

“Super Tuesday and past efforts like it are about less-populated states trying to make any kind of splash in national contests by ‘holding hands’ and conducting a larger election that can impact outcomes more than any single state’s outcome might,” Parry said.