Rasmussen: Voters Dislike That Iowa, NH Go First

Fewer than one-in-five voters think it is a good idea for Iowa and New Hampshire always to lead off the primary voting calendar, a new poll from Rasmussen Reports shows.

More than twice as many would like a change to the way the two main parties pick their presidential candidates, the national poll of 1,000 likely voters showed.

Iowa has had the lead-off caucuses since 1972 while New Hampshire has been first primary in the nation since 1920.

But neither state has large immigrant or African-American populations, leading to accusations, especially among Democrats, that the polls are not representative of the country as a whole.

The Rasmussen figures showed 18 percent believe the system should remain with the Hawkeye and Granite states holding as much sway as they do, and 39 percent calling for a change. But 43 percent said they are not sure.

The majority said a series of regional primaries would be a better system.