frontrunneritis

Noun

1. A supposed affliction said to cause someone, especially a political candidate, to struggle as soon as they become a front runner.
   • "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...
   • 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. - 2007 October 8, Peter Fenn, “FrontRunneritis”, in The Hill,...
   • 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...