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Watch Bill Richardson discuss his presidential campaign.

(CNN) – Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson sought to lower expectations Tuesday as New Hampshire primary voters headed to the polls.

Just a few days after he told reporters he was looking for a third-place finish in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary, the New Mexico governor told CNN’s Heidi Collins that “a respectable fourth” would also be a kind of victory for his underdog campaign. No matter where he finishes, Richardson is looking forward to Nevada’s caucuses, and to a number of western states that hold their primaries on February 5.

Watch Richardson discuss his rivals for the Democratic nomination, why he does not engage in negative campaigning, and whether he’s interested in being a vice presidential candidate.

–CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Carol Costello reports on criticism of Iowa's role in the 2008 presidential race. (Photo Credit: CNN)

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Caucus-goers in Iowa soon will cast the first - and perhaps the most influential - votes in the 2008 presidential race. In this report, Carol Costello looks at whether the small state has too much influence in the presidential election process.

A flood of campaign-related materials is hitting Iowa households around the Christmas holiday.

(CNN) - On the eve of Christmas, most Americans are spending time with their friends and families. But, residents of Iowa have been inundated with phone calls, direct mail, and television ads relating to the tight presidential race.

Dana Bash reports from Newton, Iowa about how one family is coping with the flood of materials intended to influence them before Iowa's January 3 caucuses.

In this podcast, a Vice-Chairman of the DNC discusses the sanctions imposed by the national party on Michigan and Florida.

(CNN) - The Democratic National Committee continues to try to rein in the chaotic 2008 primary calendar.

Over the weekend, the DNC announced that it will strip the Michigan Democratic Party of all of its delegates to the 2008 nominating convention if Michigan Democrats hold their primary on January 15 as planned.

In Monday's Race to '08 podcast, CNN's Bob Costantini chats with Linda Chavez-Thompson, one of the DNC's Vice-Chairs, about the primary calendar and how the Democratic Party has responded to the primary dates sets by Michigan and Florida.

VIENNA, Virginia (CNN) – The presidential primary calendar was finalized Saturday, after months of uncertainty and just 33 days before the first votes are cast in Iowa.

The Democratic National Committee approved requests by Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to reschedule their nominating contests to earlier dates in January, while denying Michigan the right to hold its primary January 15. Michigan Democratic leaders vowed to move forward with the primary, even though none of its delegates will count towards the nominating convention and several Democratic contenders will not appear on the state ballot.

The votes by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee were the final dominos to drop in what has been a contentious battle pitting state political parties against national party leaders over control of the presidential nominating calendar. Traditionally, Iowa and New Hampshire have held the first caucuses and primary in the race for the White House. But Democrats and Republicans in others states tried to deemphasize the influence of Iowa and New Hampshire in the 2008 election at the same time elevating their own states into more prominent positions. State Republicans were successful, while efforts by their Democratic counterparts failed.

The DNC invoked a death penalty on any renegade Democratic state party that violated its rules by holding a nominating contest before February 5. The Republican National Committee, too, imposed sanctions on GOP state parties that held contests before February 5, but the penalties amounted to the loss of only half of the state’s delegates.

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Listen to this Race to '08 podcast about the front loaded primary calendar.

(CNN) - In this Race to '08 podcast, CNN Political Editor Mark Preston speaks with CNN Radio's John Lisk about the 2008 presidential primary calendar now that New Hampshire has announced it will hold its primary on January 8, 2008.

Listen to Preston explain why a lot will likely be decided by the end of the voting day on February 5, 2008 and why the field may narrow even before "Super Duper Tuesday."  Preston and Lisk also discuss the presidential candidates' different strategies for making the most of 2008's unprecedented primary calendar.

Related: Primary calendar comes into focus

New Hampshire's presidential primary date is now set.

(CNN) - A major piece of the 2008 presidential nominating schedule fell into place Wednesday, when New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner announced that his state's first-in-the-nation primary will be held Jan. 8, just five days after the Iowa caucuses.

Gardner moved the primary up two weeks, from its initial tentative date of Jan. 22, to put New Hampshire ahead of other states that decided to hold primaries earlier to bolster their influence on the nominating process.

"I'm pleased to announce that another important American tradition will endure," Gardner said. "First and foremost, we were going to preserve the New Hampshire tradition, and this will let us do that."

New Hampshire has held the first spot in the presidential primary calendar since 1920. The distinction is enshrined in state law, and Gardner was authorized to change the date to preserve the Granite State's place at the head of the line.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – The New Hampshire presidential primary will be held January 8, 2008, New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner announced Wednesday.

– CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

The date of the New Hampshire primary is still in limbo. Secretary of State, Bill Gardner, is still waiting for Michigan to resolve its legal disputes before he can set a date.

Two big heavyweights, Al Gore and Arnold Schwarzenegger, are scheduled to discuss energy policy and climate change in the Granite state this month. Details are still in the works, but here is a sneak preview.

Mitt Romney is the frontrunner in New Hampshire, with the latest CBS/New York Times poll showing a 18 point lead over John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. Perhaps this is why.

Former Sen. John Edwards is a different candidate from 2004. Check out the Boston Globe's examination of the former North Carolina Senator.

And President Bill Clinton is campaigning in the state Friday. He has events scheduled in Gorham, Whitefield and Manchester.

–CNN New Hampshire Producer Sareena Dalla

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) –Secretary of State, William Gardner, is waiting on Michigan to cement a primary date before picking one for New Hampshire. Michigan has until November 14 to make its decision.

Did you notice if anyone was absent at the Democratic debate in Philadelphia? Click here to see former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel’s interview with the Nashua Telegraph. He talks about the need for a different debate format.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, spent time in the North country over the weekend, taking shots at the Democratic frontrunner, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Last week, Mitt Romney followed in the path of his father, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, by signing his name on the New Hampshire primary. AP’s Steve LeBlanc takes a look at Romney’s family ties.

And he’s baaack. Fred Thompson said he’d spend more time in the Granite state—and he’s sticking to his word. He’ll be in Bedford bright and early Monday morning for Politics and Eggs.

–CNN New Hampshire Producer Sareena Dalla

Watch the latest on the unsettled presidential primary calendar.

(CNN) - The race for the 2008 Democratic and Republican presidential nominations started earlier than any other nomination race has in recent memory. Tom Foreman reports that it will also likely end earlier than any other nomination race has. But, the exact dates of voting in the early states is still not settled.  Watch this report about the primary calendar's chaos.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Iowa Republican Party voted Tuesday to hold its caucus on January 3, 2008.

– CNN's Mark Preston and Chris Welch

Watch Bill Schneider's report on why several Democrats removed their names from the ballot in Michigan's presidential primary.

(CNN) - Is it just an effort to honor the Democratic National Committee's rules or a veiled effort to undermine Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York? Or, maybe a little bit of both? CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider reports.

Related: Democrats withdraw from Michigan 'beauty contest'

Click here to CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The GOP presidential debate wasn’t the only political headline in Michigan Tuesday. While the Republicans faced off against each other in Michigan, five of the Democratic presidential hopefuls announced they were taking their names off the ballot in Michigan, to protest the state’s moving of its primary up to January 15, violating Democratic Party rules.

The family feud between the Democratic White House hopefuls and the Michigan Democratic Party is an illustration of the hole the Democrats could be digging for themselves in Michigan and Florida come the general election. None of the top six Democratic candidates are campaigning in either state, and that could give Republicans an advantage.

Florida plays a crucial role in presidential elections. The Florida recount and the ensuing Supreme Court decision decided the 2000 election. But Michigan shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s an important large state that the Democrats don’t take for granted. Al Gore won the state by only five points in 2000, and John Kerry took the state by only three points in the last election.

– CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinahuser

Rep. Jim Clyburn said Florida was trying to steal South Carolina's thunder by moving up their primary date.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn accused the Florida state legislature of "mischief" in moving up their state's primary date to Jan. 29, the same day that South Carolina Democrats are currently scheduled to hold their primary vote.

But Clyburn, the House Majority Whip and South Carolina's most powerful Democrat in Congress, said the Democratic National Committee should not punish Florida's Democratic voters for the date change. The DNC has threatened to strip Florida of its Democratic presidential delegates for violating party rules.

"I don't believe we ought to be punishing Democratic voters in Florida for what the Republican controlled legislature did down there," Clyburn said in an interview with CNN in his Columbia, South Carolina office. "I said at the time that they were doing mischief. I think they did it."

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson and Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings have filed a lawsuit challenging the DNC penalties.

"I don't ever agree with anybody suing my party," Clyburn said. "But I understand it."

Still, Clyburn was wary of Florida's motives. In moving their primary date to Jan. 29, the same day of the South Carolina Democratic primary, Clyburn said Florida was trying to steal South Carolina's thunder.

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Watch Frank Sesno's latest "What if ?" report about a possible solution to the crowded 2008 presidential primary calendar.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - What if the United States had a regional, rotating calendar for holding presidential primaries? Frank Sesno reports on a proposal by three U.S. senators to do just that.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

Watch Tom Foreman's report about the dispute between Florida Democrats and the national Democratic Party.

(CNN) - The accelerated primary calendar of the 2008 presidential race has yielded its first lawsuit. Tom Foreman reports on the legal action taken by two leading Florida Democrats to try to stop the Democratic National Committee from punishing Florida Democrats for holding their presidential primary before February 5, 2008.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Here's a quick look at what's making political news in South Carolina today:

The Florida Democratic party is standing firm and will hold their primary on January 29. Will South Carolina Democrats move their primary date up as a result?

After netting just 14 votes at the Palmetto Family Council straw poll last week, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will hit the state this coming weekend, September 29 and 30, highlighted by an appearance at the Irmo Okra Strut Parade on Saturday morning.

Speaking of Romney: Is South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint flip-flopping over his presidential endorsement?

With only a few months left until the primary, Sen. Barack Obama has some work to do to unseat Sen. Hillary Clinton from her strong lead in the state. Here's a map of where Obama supporters will be canvassing in South Carolina this Saturday.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

WASHINGTON (CNN) – As the deadline approached Tuesday for state Republican parties to submit delegate selection plans to the Republican National Committee, a GOP official warned that any state disregarding party rules would face severe penalties.

If a state party does not hold its primary or caucus contest between Feb. 5 and July 28, then half of that state’s delegates will not be invited to the presidential nominating convention scheduled for Sept. 2008 in Minneapolis, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. If a state party announces its primary or caucus date after the RNC issues its “Call to the Convention” - invitations to Minneapolis - then the penalty increases to 90 percent of its delegates. The call can be made at anytime before Dec. 31.

The GOP official noted the rules and penalties governing the nominating calendar were approved at the 2004 convention. So far several states are disregarding them. Florida, Michigan, Nevada and South Carolina have all announced primary and caucus dates in January in an effort to gain significant influence on the nominating process that historically belonged solely to Iowa and New Hampshire.

The Republican official did acknowledge that the eventual Republican nominee for president could intervene to help restore the stripped delegates to these renegade states. But the official added that because of the complexity in doing so, it is more likely the nominee would probably seek other accommodations to allow the disqualified delegates to attend the convention in an unofficial capacity.

– CNN Political Editor Mark Preston

Related: Chaotic, defiant calendar about to hit RNC

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says her state's new primary date is 'final.'

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation moving her state’s 2008 presidential primary to January 15, temporarily placing it ahead of New Hampshire in the heavily front-loaded nominating calendar. The law went into effect Tuesday morning.

“While political maneuvering will no doubt continue, our move to January 15th is final,” Granholm, a Democrat, said in a statement.

The move to mid-January violates both national Democratic and Republican party rules. In August, a Democratic National Committee panel voted almost unanimously to strip the state of Florida of its say in the nomination process unless it delays its primary, currently scheduled for January 29. The DNC is likely to impose similar penalties on Michigan.

New Hampshire, which has written its first-in-the-nation primary status into state law, was tentatively scheduled for January 22, but now is expected to move earlier. Iowa, with its first-in-the-nation caucuses tentatively slated for January 14, is expected to make a similar move.

Related: Florida, Michigan play chicken with Democrats over primaries

Related: Early 2008 primary calendar beginning to look overbooked