Noun
A supposed affliction said to cause someone, especially a political candidate, to struggle as soon as they become a front runner.
Usage- Informal
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
"This is sort of the fourth generation of front-runner-itis he's suffered through," said Carney. "First it was that he was hiding in Austin and not campaigning. Then it was all he cared about was money. Then it was 'he's afraid to debate.' Now it's that he's not substantive enough. I don't know if it's all just wishful thinking on the part of his opponents or something more."
Yes, FrontRunneritis is a terrible disease. Lyndon Johnson had it. Ed Muskie had it. Howard Dean had it. Candidates for all levels of office catch it.
More examples (3)
Romney, on the other hand, is exhibiting signs of "front-runneritis," said Lehane, "where they try to protect themselves. They go into a cocoon; they don't want to engage in the hurly-burly that is the very definition of an Iowa caucus or a New Hampshire primary."
But she also has "front-runneritis" - in some cases drawing comparisons to New York's Christine Quinn: early favorite to succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg; finished third in her Democratic primary.
Look, I understand the current Seahawks mania. Who can't love Pete Carroll and his Legion of Boom? But I have the sense — bear with me, now — that there's an element of frontrunner-itis infecting us.