Term from US politics. 'Twas conventional wisdom that you needed to win the New Hampshire presidential primary in order to go on to winning the White House. But the "Money Primary", taking place in the year leading up to NH, has become the one to win. It involves the candidate stocking his/her financial war chest for the presidential bid, trying to wow as many Big Money donors as possible. The person you vote for in Year X has already sold out in Year X-1. 1999 winner: George W. Bush.