Florida took a step toward shaking up the presidential primary on Thursday, giving final legislative approval to moving the state's 2008 primary to Jan. 29 and bypassing a dozen other states set for Feb. 5.I have previously made my opinion on this move clear. The idea that a state with such unbelievably high general election sway like Florida would seek to also hold an equal amount of sway over the nomination process can only be called an obnoxious power grab. However, now that the deed is done, there are only two questions to ask. First, will candidates campaign in Florida, or will threats held out by both the RNC and DNC dissuade them from doing so? From the same article:
Moving up Florida's primary, which is currently in early March, would put the state's contest behind only the Iowa and Nevada Caucuses and the New Hampshire primary -- and on the same day as South Carolina's Democratic primary.
State party leaders have argued Florida's diversity and size merit more influence in deciding the nation's leadership. The delegate-rich state decided the disputed 2000 presidential election.
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who has consistently voiced his support for giving the nation's fourth-largest state more say, is expected to sign the bill. The House voted 118-0 on Thursday to pass the measure. The Senate last week voted for the plan, which also would replace touch-screen voting machines in 15 counties with a paper-trail system.
Florida's move immediately incurred the wrath of South Carolina party leaders and predictions that the national parties will penalize the state.So far, only the John Edwards campaign seems to be taking these threats seriously, and is considering not campaigning in the state.
National Republican and Democratic leaders have said they will take away delegates to the nominating conventions if Florida moved its primary earlier than Feb. 5. The Democratic National Committee has said a candidate who campaigns in Florida for a primary earlier than Feb. 5 will be ineligible for receiving any of the state's delegates.
MDP Chair Mark Brewer made the following statement 1 March 2007:Unless something has changed, we should expect Michigan to move up to January 29th sometime in the next few weeks. With union members and African-Americans making up a large percentage of the primary / caucus electorate in Michigan, such a move might actually be a healthy counter to a Florida primary on the same day. However, with South Carolina, Michigan, and Florida all holding nomination events on January 29th, one has to wonder if more states will join them. I certainly hope not, but it is possible. And then there is the lingering possibility of December events in Iowa and New Hampshire. A few weeks ago, I cooked up a calendar that I think would satisfy all parties involved, and be an improvement on the calendars of recent nomination campaigns. Whatever happens, I hope it happens fast, because I am sick of all the threats and whining. Let's just get a primary schedule in place, and move on with our lives.
"I have consulted with Michigan Democratic leaders and the consensus is that the MDP will hold its Caucus on Saturday, February 9, 2008 provided all other states abide by the DNC scheduling rules," Brewer said. "There is also a consensus among our leaders that if any state schedules its caucus or primary in violation of the DNC's rules, Michigan will move its Caucus to an earlier date. That earlier date may be on or before the date of the offending state's caucus or primary."
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