LIKE CHARLIE BROWN trying to kick a pigskin but always ending up supine, there’s a foolish consistency to California’s dream of a grander role in the presidential selection process.

Take, for example, the 1996 race. The Golden State figured it could play kingmaker by moving up its primary from the first Tuesday in June to March 26 of that year. Unfortunately, a few other states had the same idea–California ended up 32nd on that year’s campaign schedule.