Major candidates are major candidates primarily because they were given far more face time by the media even before they became candidates. The media has effectively replaced the smoked-filled rooms as the nominating procedure with the voters merely validating the media’s selection.
That’s true to some extent..the self fulfilling prophecy..but many, like Kucinich, Gravel, Dodd, Biden, Hunter, Tancredo, Gilmore, et al..have had 6 months or so to make their case..they haven’t caught on. Their continued presence demeans the whole process..