Barring something major, the GOP race could be over by mid-March.
Many of those early states, however, are awarded proportionally. Many later states are winner-take-all.
Many of the southern states, who formerly had primaries late in the spring, have moved their primaries to early March. This gives them more influence than in previous elections.
If Trump is the nominee, he could likely upset the Dem hold on the northeastern states, and especially NY.
Yes, RNC has tampered the primary process to favor their anointed candidates.
Mar 1 - 14 all 26 primaries are all proportional and
beginning on Mar. 15 it becomes a mix.
SC of the four early states is a winner take all the other three proportional.