In the past few decades, the importance of the primaries in terms of the overall election has increased significantly. As states have fought to increase their impact in deciding the presidential nominations, the process of front-loading has pushed the primary dates forward, and media coverage of candidates in this (i) ________ process has proved decisive in both the party nominations and the election itself. In part, the media (ii) _______ the growing importance of the presidential primaries by saturating media outlets with news of potential candidates and their fight to (iii) ________ the nomination. In the case of presidential primaries, it is increasingly the case that it is not the voters, but the media, that decide which candidates will advance and which will not.

Blank (i)	Blank (ii)	Blank (iii)
A. curtailed	D. hinders	G. impede
B. protracted	E. stupefied	H. laud
C. hackneyed	F. perpetuates	I. clinch