NH secretary of state: Early December 'realistic' for primary

[brooklynite]

Source: MSNBC

CONCORD, NH -- New Hampshire's secretary of state warned Wednesday that he could set a primary date as early as Dec. 6 unless Nevada moves back the date of its caucuses.

Bill Gardner, who has set the date of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary since 1976, issued a memo calling Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 (both Tuesdays) "realistic options" unless Nevada agrees to set its primary for Tuesday, Jan. 17 or later.

At issue is the sliding primary calendar that resulted by Florida rescheduling the date of its primary for Jan. 31, in violation of rules set for the primary by the Republican National Committee. As a result, Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina have moved up the dates of their primaries to maintain their status -- in that order -- as the first nominating contests in the 2012 cycle. Gardner has signaled the New Hampshire date will be significantly earlier by moving up the Granite State's candidate filing period to begin Oct. 17, ending Oct. 28.

South Carolina set its primary for Jan. 21, and Nevada set its caucus for Jan. 14. Iowa officials have recommended Jan. 3 as the date for that state's caucuses.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/12/8290932-nh-secretary-of-state-early-december-realistic-for-primary

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Naturally, the national parties are completely helpless to apply discipline...

[SpiralHawk]

1. NH (R) jumps the shark

can you spell d-e-s-p-e-r-a-t-e?

[tanyev]

2. Say, does this also include Democratic primaries?

It just occurred to me that there must be races further down the ticket that will need a primary. Here in Texas we do both parties on the same day. Seems like that would be simplest for the elections offices, but this is getting out of control.

[David Sky]

5. The Presidential primary in NH is for all parties. It is usually NOT

a primary on candidates for state office, congress, etc.

If needed, another primary is held in Sept before the election in Nov.

The current Governor, John Lynch, (D) is retiring at the end of 2012. There will probably be a primary for Governor and other elected federal office-holders, (2 reps in House, the Senators' terms go until 2014-2016) in 2012 in the fall.

[Liberal Veteran]

3. Maybe they could just have it on same day as the previous general election?

That way no one could jump in line ahead of them.

[Odin2005]

4. This is rediculous. All primaries should occur in a 1-month period in the summer.

[David Sky]

6. NH is nothing but stubborn. They think they make a lot of $ from

having the earliest primary. But to have one in Dec of 2011 will mean fewer visits from fewer candidates, less press members renting cars, hotel rooms, buying food.

Besides, most people feel it's kind of stupid, since Romney is now a resident of NH, (escaping Mass taxation on his huge income), and will most likely "win" the most votes, meaningless. The Dem primary this year is also meaningless in NH.

[brooklynite]

7. In all fairness...

I think there -is- value in having the candidates campaign in a setting where retail, face-to-face discussions on issues with voters are necessary. That said, the pettiness of "me first!" can get annoying.

[David Sky]

8. I would have to agree with you, and Iowa and New Hampshire, and maybe a

dozen other states, (perhaps those with failing economies, Michigan, Ohio, etc) should ALL have these "retail" level primaries, over the weeks and months of spring and early summer of 2012, months before the final election. NOT a year and a month before the end of Obama's term.