CNN, December 14, 1999:

Former GOP presidential candidate Lamar Alexander endorsed Republican front-runner George W. Bush Tuesday, becoming the latest in a long line of Republican figures to back the Texas governor.

...Appearing at a news conference with Bush, Alexander said Bush is assured of winning the nomination -- even though the first caucuses and primaries are more than a month away and Bush is facing a strong challenge from Arizona Sen. John McCain.

"The process is almost over," Alexander said....

USA Today, January 4, 2000:

Elizabeth Dole endorsed George W. Bush Tuesday for the Republican presidential nomination, invoking Ronald Reagan and asserting that the Texas governor would restore trust to the White House.

...After picking up Dole's endorsement four weeks before the New Hampshire primary, Bush headed to Iowa to stump for votes in advance of the Jan. 24 presidential caucuses there....

Associated Press, January 4, 2000:

Bush is the endorsement champion this time. He has the support of 29 of the 55 Republican senators, including the newest, Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island....

Twenty-five of the 31 Republican governors have endorsed Bush. He has the backing of 166 of the 222 GOP House members so far....

As I recall, the press response to this was awestruck admiration -- what a mighty machine the Bush campaign was! No one found any of the endorsements "puzzling." No one argued that they disenfranchised voters. No one argued that decent human beings would have waited two months.