Democratic presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen., Joe Biden, center, gets some advise from state Sen. Sylvia Larson, D-Concord Friday July 22, 2006. Biden is campaigning for the 2008 election. (AP Photo/Jim cole)
Posted on 07/22/2006 11:35:11 AM PDT by Libloather
Dems recommend election calendar changes
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
19 minutes ago
Democratic presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen., Joe Biden, center, gets some advise from state Sen. Sylvia Larson, D-Concord Friday July 22, 2006. Biden is campaigning for the 2008 election. (AP Photo/Jim cole)
WASHINGTON - National Democrats recommended Saturday that the party wedge Nevada between the traditional one-two punch of Iowa and New Hampshire in the leadoff nominating contests for president in 2008.
South Carolina would move up in the election calendar, too, according to plan that awaits final action next month by the Democrat National Committee.
Democrats envision a 2008 lineup that begins with Iowa's caucuses on Monday, Jan. 14, followed by Nevada's caucuses, probably on Saturday, Jan. 19. New Hampshire would hold its first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday, Jan. 22. South Carolina's primary probably would come a week later.
The changes won approval by the party's rules and bylaws committee, whose recommendations the DNC often accepts.
Democrats are eager to bring more diversity to their early contests in the race for the White House in two years. Blacks and Hispanics have complained that the all-important leadoff contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, each at least 95 percent white, undercut their influence in picking a nominee.
But some White House hopefuls, the governor of New Hampshire and former President Clinton contend the party, for no good reason, is tinkering with a system that has worked for decades.
Under pressure from influential constituencies demanding change, Democrats decided last month to add a caucus after Iowa and before New Hampshire, and a primary soon after New Hampshire's.
New Hampshire's secretary of state will have to determine whether the Democrats' actions comply with a New Hampshire law requiring that the Granite State's primary be scheduled a week or more before any "similar election." He could decide to move the New Hampshire primary earlier to protect its status.
Blacks and Hispanics are important constituencies for the Democrats. Blacks made up 21 percent of the vote for Democrat John Kerry in 2004 and chose him over President Bush by a 9-to-1 margin, according to exit polls.
Hispanics made up 9 percent of the Democrats' support and leaned toward Kerry. Republicans won the support of roughly four in 10 Hispanic voters in 2004 — their best showing yet.
Dang it! Now I'm hungry.
Dear God,PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEASE let me live till november 2008...I want to see the dems destroy each other and blame it on the republicans.....PLEASE!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, the entire election process is convoluted. Regionalize the primiaries. Let the Southern states begin in April, the Western states in May, Northeastern states in June, and Midwestern states in July.
Good grief. The 2006 elections haven't been decided. Can't they at least wait until the new Congerss is sworn in?
So, Nevada will be the Hispanic caucus, S.C. will be for the blacks as there are no white Dems in S.C. Iowa represents the Howard Dean, John Kerry, nutty white vote.
I will have nothing to do with a party that is addicted to quotas.
"Joe Biden, center, gets some advise..."
Better off if he got some advice.
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