Why Not Hold a Presidential Primary in 2007?
Governor John Lynch (D) of New Hampshire signed a bill that seeks to help the state continue to hold its position as the nation's first presidential primary, reports the April 28th New York Times.
This law gives their secretary of state greater flexibility in determining when the candidates may file their papers to run in the primary. The law is also designed as a response to changes made in the proposed 2008 calendar of the Democratic National Committee. That proposed 2008 calendar includes at least one state caucus between the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary.
There is competition between states to hold early primaries. Their campaigns have included promotions of pleasant winter weather as well as the diversity of the voting populations. California is considering a bill to allow a primary as early as January 2nd.
Given California's weight, if the primary were held that early, the nomination campaign will be greatly altered to match the new schedule. Iowa and New Hampshire would become far less important with California either coming first or very close to the opening elections.
New Hampshire is not without weapons in the fight for the early primaries. The state enacted a law in 1975 stating that the primary would be held seven days before any "similar elections." If California scheduled its primary on January 2, 2008, New Hampshire could schedule its primary on December 26, 2007. Perhaps people returning their Christmas gifts may fill out ballots while waiting on line to buy whatever is 50% on sale.
Perhaps it may be a good thing to stack the deck earlier. Having a diverse population choosing the party's representative is a good thing. And considering that the nominee is anointed as the "guy to beat" very early in the process, it would certainly help even out the field a little. Either that or make events like Super Tuesday even more important somehow, perhaps moving it up so there isn't so much press about who won Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Or by pushing the first votes later than a time when people still mistakenly write the previous year on their checks.
Tune in next year as the campaign for the 2032 presidential election starts!
This law gives their secretary of state greater flexibility in determining when the candidates may file their papers to run in the primary. The law is also designed as a response to changes made in the proposed 2008 calendar of the Democratic National Committee. That proposed 2008 calendar includes at least one state caucus between the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary.
There is competition between states to hold early primaries. Their campaigns have included promotions of pleasant winter weather as well as the diversity of the voting populations. California is considering a bill to allow a primary as early as January 2nd.
Given California's weight, if the primary were held that early, the nomination campaign will be greatly altered to match the new schedule. Iowa and New Hampshire would become far less important with California either coming first or very close to the opening elections.
New Hampshire is not without weapons in the fight for the early primaries. The state enacted a law in 1975 stating that the primary would be held seven days before any "similar elections." If California scheduled its primary on January 2, 2008, New Hampshire could schedule its primary on December 26, 2007. Perhaps people returning their Christmas gifts may fill out ballots while waiting on line to buy whatever is 50% on sale.
Perhaps it may be a good thing to stack the deck earlier. Having a diverse population choosing the party's representative is a good thing. And considering that the nominee is anointed as the "guy to beat" very early in the process, it would certainly help even out the field a little. Either that or make events like Super Tuesday even more important somehow, perhaps moving it up so there isn't so much press about who won Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Or by pushing the first votes later than a time when people still mistakenly write the previous year on their checks.
Tune in next year as the campaign for the 2032 presidential election starts!
posted by Will at 12:45 AM
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