S. Carolina Pushes Primary Up to Jan. 19 [chain reaction begins - Iowa Caucus in December]

Associated Press ^ | August 9, 2007 | New Hampshire

[EternalVigilance]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - South Carolina Republicans on Thursday moved their 2008 presidential primary to Jan. 19, triggering a chain reaction among Iowa, New Hampshire and other early voting states that could push the first presidential balloting into December 2007. South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson made the announcement with officials from New Hampshire, whom he called allies in protecting the traditional early states' voting order.

"We are here to stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends in New Hampshire to reaffirm the important role that both of our states play in presidential politics," Dawson said.

South Carolina had scheduled its Republican primary for Feb. 2, but at a news conference with New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, Dawson said the change to Jan. 19 was needed to protect South Carolina's first-primary-in-the-South tradition.

Given the change, Gardner will be forced by state law to move the New Hampshire primary to at least Jan. 12. Iowa then probably would move up its traditional leadoff caucuses, perhaps to as early as mid- December.

"If they move, we will move," Iowa Republican Chairman Ray Hoffmann said before Dawson's announcement.

[Red Badger]

Well, hells bells! Why don’t we just start NEXT TUESDAY and get it over with!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[EternalVigilance]

Important news...

[Between the Lines]

Fred better hurry and declare, or it might be too late to get on the ballot.

[EternalVigilance]

Shhh...they might hear ya...

;-)

[wastedyears]

So are we going to hold the election in Feb. of 2008? Or is the election process going to hold?

Then again, if we don’t like the outcome we can always push the reset button.

[lilylangtree]

January 3? Going once, going twice, gone and no takers yet.

[Bogey78O]

This is retarded. We ought to have a national day for primaries. Fighting for dates is just retarded.

[EternalVigilance]

A large proportion of the delegates will be chosen by February.

What remains to be seen is what the Law of Unintended Consequences has in store for the political establishment.

[EternalVigilance]

Can’t say I disagree with you. But, it’s reality.

[mefistofelerevised]

Moving primares ahead is not in the interest in the American people. Americans will have less choice and it will give opponents time to dig up dirt. Again it’s party and politics over the people.

[A. Morgan]

Indiana state senate meets to move primary to September.... next month. /sarcasm

[hunter112]

What remains to be seen is what the Law of Unintended Consequences has in store for the political establishment.

And what makes this experimenting interesting is the fact that neither party has an incumbent President or VP to run. Those unintended consequences might really make for some wacky results!

[EternalVigilance]

Heh...

On January 3rd, most of the political hacks probably won’t be recovered from New Years Eve...

[BMC1]

The demoncrats are so anxious to get their hands on the White House and both branches of Congress.

The problem is that by the time the election actually gets here, everyone will be sick of the candidates.

Are we going to start the run for the 20012 election the day after the inauguration January 2009?

This is sheer stupidity.

[EternalVigilance]

Sure could!

[EternalVigilance]

I agree. But, here we are.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yep, it’s possible that both nominees will be known by Feb. 5th, when many states have primaries, and after whatever happens in N.H., Iowa, etc. has influenced those primaries. If Hillary rolls to victory in Iowa and NH, and a Republican does the same, we could know in early January who the nominees will be, a full 7 months before the conventions and 10 months before the general election. Geez, this sure sounds like we live in a permanent campaign season.

[EternalVigilance]

Yep.