Pa. to consider moving up presidential primary

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04348/426270.stm

Gov. Ed Rendell said today he'll set up a special task force to look at recommending changes in state election laws, with the most important issue being a study of whether to move up the 2008 presidential primary election from late April to February or March.

Rendell said 2008 will be a key year because both political parties will be nominating presidential candidates. He said the current system gives rural states with relatively small populations, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, too much influence over the candidate-selection process. By the time Pennsylvania holds its primary in late April -- as happened this year and in other presidential election years -- the candidates are basically already chosen.

He wants a large state like Pennsylvania, with both urban and rural areas and a diverse racial and economic makeup, to have more influence over which candidates are chosen by the parties.