 September 4, 2007
Posted: 12:10 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) — As many as seven states are expected to flout Republican rules Tuesday and schedule their presidential primaries or caucuses before Feb. 5, establishing an unprecedented early start to the nominating process. The early voting states risk losing half their delegates to the Republican convention next summer, though some are banking that whoever wins the GOP nomination will eventually restore the delegates. Tuesday is the deadline for states to submit to the Republican National Committee the date and format of their primaries or caucuses. But it might not turn out to be much of a deadline because some states could continue jockeying for earlier votes. South Carolina submitted its plan to hold a Jan. 19 Republican primary several days ago. But state GOP Chairman Katon Dawson said he won't hesitate to move the vote even earlier if another Southern state jumps ahead — regardless of how many delegates South Carolina loses. "I can assure you South Carolina will the first in the South, no matter what happens," Dawson said in a telephone interview. "If I have to watch (the GOP convention) on TV, then so be it." GOP rules call for states that schedule their nominating contests before Feb. 5 to lose half their delegates to the convention, though the national party is not expected to take any action Tuesday. That will come later when RNC Chairman Mike Duncan formally invites states to the nominating convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul next summer and declares how many delegates each state gets. He must issue the invitation, or call, to the convention by Dec. 31. If states reschedule their primaries after the call is issued, RNC rules call for them to lose 90 percent of their delegates. Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida, Wyoming and Michigan are expected to vote in January. On Tuesday, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation moving Michigan's primary to Jan. 15. Dates and delegate allotments are in flux as states jockey for earlier contests.
The Democrats have similar issues with their nominating calendar. On Aug. 25, a national Democratic rules committee voted to strip Florida of all its delegates to the Democratic convention unless it reschedules its planned Jan. 29 primary. Michigan is risking its delegates as well with its move to January. Granholm stood by her decision, saying the earlier date will put greater emphasis on issues related to the Midwest state. "We want candidates to talk about how they plan to enforce trade policies that are so critical to our manufacturers, the need for universal access to affordable health care and how they plan to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil," Granholm said in statement. Her action came despite the fact that the top Democratic candidates all have signed pledges not to campaign in Florida or Michigan if they do not reschedule their primaries to later dates. Under the Democratic rules, the only states that may hold a primary before Feb. 5 are New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, and Nevada. Iowa is slated for Jan. 14, Nevada on Jan. 19, New Hampshire on Jan. 22 and South Carolina on Jan. 29. GOP rules have no exceptions to the Feb. 5 requirement. Related: Florida, Michigan play chicken with Democrats over primaries Related: Early 2008 primary calendar beginning to look overbooked Filed under: Florida • Iowa • Michigan • Nevada • New Hampshire • Primary Calendar • South Carolina • Wyoming
|
 
About The Ticker
The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.  CNN=Politics Screensaver
New in the Ticker
Follow us on Twitter
Categories
Popular Posts
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
