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State cites its "first in the South" tradition.
By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Staff Writer
Published August 9, 2007
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Leave it to Florida to cause mayhem in the nation's electoral process.
Making good on a promise not to let Florida usurp South Carolina's tradition of being the first Southern presidential primary, South Carolina Republicans are poised to move their GOP primary to Jan. 19 - 10 days before Florida is set to vote, the Washington Post reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.
That, in turn, is likely to cause a scramble by other states to schedule still-earlier elections, so that Iowa could well hold caucuses in December of this year.
The country's nominating schedule has been growing ever earlier and more compressed for years, but Florida caused the latest bout of primary calendar anarchy.
State lawmakers and the governor, bucking their own national parties and facing likely penalties, moved Florida's primary from March to Jan. 29 to ensure the state had more influence in picking the presidential nominees.
State Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, chuckled Wednesday night over the prospect of South Carolina Republicans voting 10 days before Florida.
"Great news. For 10 days in 2008, Florida will be the political center of the world," Rivera said.
South Carolina Democrats are currently set to vote the same day as Florida, and it's unclear whether they may move earlier, too. Miami Republican Rivera wondered why South Carolina Republicans had to move its primary so much earlier than Florida, when it could have scheduled it just a few days earlier.
"They're somewhat gluttonous," he said of the Palmetto state's push for more attention. "Just like in the Civil War when they wanted that free labor from slaves."
The move, set to be announced today, is likely to shift the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucuses at least into early January, and other states are actively angling to stake out spots earlier in the process. Top strategists for the presidential candidates said it would force them to overhaul their carefully crafted campaign plans.
Katon Dawson, who heads the South Carolina GOP, made the shift in order to retain the distinction of holding the "first in the South" presidential primary balloting. Dawson's move was sparked by the Florida Legislature's earlier decision to upstage South Carolina by moving its primary to Jan. 29. South Carolina had been scheduled to vote on Feb. 2.
Under some scenarios, the decision could lead Iowa to hold caucuses in mid December, creating an unprecedented situation in which convention delegates are selected in the calendar year prior to a presidential election.
The move is certain to trigger action by New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner, who is compelled by state law to set the date of his state's primary at least a week before any other. That could push New Hampshire's primary, currently scheduled for Jan. 22, to Tuesday, Jan. 8.
In Iowa, state law requires presidential nominating caucuses to be held at least eight days before any other voting takes place.
In past years, some of the biggest states have conducted their primaries in May or June, long after the nominees in both parties had been determined.
Information from the Washington Post was used in this report.
Jan. 19: South Carolina GOP primary. (South Carolina's Democratic primary, which is scheduled to take place on Jan. 29, is not affected by the decision.)
Jan. 29: Florida Democratic primary.
Feb. 5: More than 20 states, including California and New York, are scheduled to vote on a day dubbed "Tsunami Tuesday."
Not yet set: The dates of the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucuses. Both states are compelled by state law to set dates at least a week before any other voting. Those dates would apply to both the Democratic and Republican contests.
In past years, some of the biggest states have conducted their primaries in May or June, long after the nominees in both parties had been determined.
[Last modified August 9, 2007, 00:48:51]
| by BadBob | 08/09/07 05:15 PM |
| "They're somewhat gluttonous," he said of the Palmetto state's push for more attention. "Just like in the Civil War when they wanted that free labor from slaves." Is he not aware of the fact that Florida had slaves, too? He's not Mensa material. | |