Legislators Push For Earlier Presidential Primary (New York)

WCBSTV ^ | Mar 6, 2007

[Livin_large]

The effort to change the date of New York's presidential primary in 2008 is getting some key backing in Albany.

Legislative leaders said Tuesday they would press for New York to join other large states in holding their 2008 presidential primaries on Feb. 5, a move that could aid the candidacies of Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Without a Legislature-approved change, which is expected to be supported by Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, New York's primary would be March 4.

State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, said he would introduce legislation later Tuesday to shift the primary date.

"An earlier primary will link us with other influential states that have demographic, as well as public-policy issues and needs similar to New York state's," Silver said.

State Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said he would also introduce legislation shortly to move the New York primary, a plan being contemplated by other states including California, Florida and New Jersey.

The so-called "Super-Duper Tuesday" lineup could give the states extra clout, coming on the heels of the leadoff Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.

"New Yorkers should have an early voice in the selection of presidential candidates in order to have the appropriate input," Silver said.

The Assembly leader, noting the possibility that New York and New Jersey could hold primaries the same day, said, "presidential candidates could realize a more effective use of advertising dollars in the large metropolitan media market."

The shift, in other words, could mean a big influx of ad dollars for New York's TV stations.

Giuliani, New York City's former mayor, and Clinton, New York's junior senator, are leading national polls for their respective parties' 2008 nominations. New York polls show them both also well ahead in their home state.

[Livin_large]

If this keeps up we'll soon be holding primaries as soon as the general elections are over!

[conservative in nyc]

The Assembly leader, noting the possibility that New York and New Jersey could hold primaries the same day, said, "presidential candidates could realize a more effective use of advertising dollars in the large metropolitan media market."

Maybe the already well-financed and well-known candidates, but given New York's restrictive ballot access laws, it's unlikely that all candidates will get on the ballot here through the normal petition process. Some of those candidates might still be on the ballot in New Jersey.

Does any New Yorker think we're going to have a choice between anyone but Giuliani, McCain and maybe Romney? Will more socially conservative candidates like Hunter and Brownback even attempt to get on the ballot? Or will it take another federal judge to force that, like in 2000?

[Bigg Red]

Maybe I just don't know enough, but I want to know why we can't have all of the primaries on the same day for all of the states just as we have election day on the same day. I guess all of the people who make oodles of money from the process that we currently have would be ticked off if we switched to something that makes more sense.

[Livin_large]

Makes sense to me.

[neverdem]

Sorry I mssed this. bfl