Iowa, New Hampshire hold too much clout

There is entirely too much emphasis being placed on the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primaries.

It is absurd that a media circus in our 30th most populous state, a largely agrarian state with a total population of less than one-third of the Chicago metropolitan area, is largely responsible for determining the future leader of our country.

This spectacle then moves to the 41st most populous state to further decide the race. By the time Illinois voters will get a say on which candidate they prefer, most of the candidates will have been eliminated from contention or will have dropped out entirely.

Let's try to keep the wishes of a bunch of Midwestern farmers in perspective and not let them determine the fate of the other 99 percent of the country.

Gary Hayden

Lombard