Breaking a Primary Logjam

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

Breaking a Primary Logjam
South Carolina Decision May Help Set Calendar
By JUNE KRONHOLZ
October 10, 2007; Page A6

South Carolina may force an answer to a nettlesome question of this presidential primary season: When will the voting begin?

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Clarity may be coming. The Democrats have authorized four states to hold early decisions. One of them, South Carolina, must by state law announce the date of its primary at least 90 days in advance. That means that if South Carolina Democrats move balloting to Jan. 19, as expected, that announcement must be made within weeks. That could trigger other states to finally lock in their dates -- including an Iowa caucus as early as Jan. 3.

Meanwhile, Wyoming's Republicans have scheduled a Jan. 5 delegate-selecting convention, although it will likely mean going to the Republican National Convention in September with 14 delegates instead of 28. "We feel it's worth it," said Amy Larimer of the Wyoming Republican Party.

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Currently, 20 states are scheduled to vote on Feb. 5 and an additional 16 will vote by March 12, locking up most delegates five months before the Democratic convention opens Aug. 25 and Republicans assemble on Sept. 1. But other states decided to jump the gun. Nevada and South Carolina Republicans moved their votes to January to keep up with state Democrats. Florida jumped the Feb. 5 season opener, intruding on the date reserved for South Carolina Democrats. Wyoming Republicans moved up their date. "We wanted a voice for the smaller states. We wanted Wyoming to be in the spotlight," said the party's Ms. Larimer. Michigan's legislature also moved up the state's primary date, although the state parties can opt instead to hold nominating conventions that would allow them to keep their convention votes.

Yesterday, state Democratic powerhouse Debbie Dingell, wife of Michigan Rep. John Dingell, linked the candidates' withdrawal from the Michigan primary to national-party efforts to allow Iowa to retain its historical influence at the expense of larger states. "This election is not about president of Iowa, it is about president of these United States," she said.

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The Democratic Party's calendar currently has Iowa scheduled for Jan. 14. But Iowa's law requires its caucus to be eight days before the next "nominating event." That technically would mean New Year's Eve if New Hampshire calls its primary, as expected, for Jan. 8. But Democratic party rules require that delegates be chosen in the same calendar year as the convention. Friday, Jan. 4, seems unlikely, even though Iowa generally holds its caucuses on weekends. Friday nights are reserved for high-school basketball in Iowa, the party's Ms. Giddins noted.


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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119198314805054367.html (subscription)

[Kagemusha]

1. Jerks.

Can't be satisfied with what the DNC is doing, can they? No, S. Carolina has to make the situation even worse. And S. Carolina is actually favored by the schedule. And this is how it rewards everyone.