preliminary heats

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "preliminary heats" in the following sentence?

With the presidential race in preliminary heats, you can bet from now on when voters wanna talk trade, the politicians will listen.

[Clanad]

In  racing parlence, a preliminary heat is a race or races that occur prior to the main event.  The winner(s) advance to the next "heat" and so on until they participate in the main race.  In this case, the method of choosing those that will become presidential candidates is called a heat. The "method" varies from county to country with a presidential elective type of political system.  One of the candidates will eventually become the president...

[Peter Pedant]

Yup Clanad has got it,

(Hi Kay jay!) - BUT or even AND - althought heats as you have read are preliminary to the real race, the adjective has to stand. Otherwise: With the presidential race in heats.....doesnt make sense. Well it does and it is obscene. When a girlie dog wants to kiss a boy dog, she is said to be on heat.

( I am aware Kids read this column)

Oh, and this had to be direct speech. You can't write wanna - it is only said.

wanna = want to......,

sorta = sort of.....

sudduv = sort of.....

outta = out of and not outer.

Didja = did you.....

wodger = what do you......