invisible primary

English

Noun

invisible primary (plural invisible primaries)

1. (US, politics) The period between when major political candidates show interest in running for president and when the primaries and caucuses actually begin.

   Synonym: money primary

   • 2015, Wayne P. Steger, A Citizen's Guide to Presidential Nominations, page 96:

     This suggests that Democratic Party stakeholders were less able to unify behind a candidate during the invisible primaries before Bill Clinton became president.