Debates, Not Voters, Begin Sending Democratic Presidential Candidates Packing

The current tally of 20 Democratic presidential hopefuls is enough to set a record in any previous primary season. But even with the giant number of candidates, the reality is that the winnowing has already begun.

The field is shrinking — slowly — but what's different this time compared to past campaigns, is what's driving candidates to pack it in.

Here's what it's not — voters.

"Iowa really isn't the first winnowing process in the primary anymore," said Brad Anderson, a veteran Iowa campaign operative.

It's now the debates, he argues.

This next debate, which has essentially halved the field — at least for one night — "is really the first contest," Anderson said.

The Iowa caucuses will still be the first time actual voters will weigh in, Feb. 3, followed by the New Hampshire primary, Feb. 11. Those will inevitably shrink the field drastically, as usual. But the weeding out isn't