Does declaring earlier increase a candidates chances of winning their party Prez nomination?

Ted Cruz was the first major candidate to declare for 2016; Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton then Marco Rubio shortly thereafter. It appears others like Carly Florina, Crhis Christie and others are waiting in the weeds.

I remember in 2008 after John McCain sealed up the GOP nomination, some analysts said voters rewarded McCain for entering the race early and putting there work in, as opposed to someone like the higher profile Fred Thompson who didnt enter until later 2007 and might have been perceived as the big movie star who got lazy, entered late and wasn’t willing to pay his campaign trail dues.

I also wonder whether Rick Perry’s later entry didnt do him any favors in 2012.

That said, based on memory I can go back to 1968 when many felt RFK was on track to win the Democratic nomination despite not entering the race until March 27----1968, a few days after LBJ withdrew. Hubert Humphrey declared about the same time, and won the nomination after RFK got assassinated. Eugene McCarthy who was leading Kennedy 6 states to 4 before there killing, entered earlier than both but ended up with ugatz.

Is there an advantage is getting in early? Is there ever a good reason for candidate to jump in late, even before primary season, in 2016? Are there any stats to back either argument?

I think we’re having more or less the same discussion in this thread?