Primary Leapfrog, redux. Everyone's looking at a New Hampshire Primary date of Feb. 14, 2012, but does anyone really think Cupid's Day would be the first presidential primary? No, and certainly not New Hampshire Secretary of State William M. Gardner, who is statutorily charged with making sure the state's primary election comes at least seven days before a similar contest.
Enter the Republican Party, which wants a reasonable schedule so that the eventual nominee will be ideally positioned to challenge President Obama. Jeff Zeleny writes in today's Times that the calendar is creating some anxiety for the GOP. An excerpt from his story:
"At the same time, the rush toward the front of the calendar by Florida, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Missouri is accompanied by another trend: several states are pushing back their presidential primaries — or canceling them entirely — because of tight state budgets."
Thanks to NH Law, the tools are in the hands of the Secretary of State to make sure we're first. That other states or the national parties play this game is unbelievable. Well, it is believable I guess, because they just can't stomach New Hampshire being first.
Posted by: Jim Splaine | July 27, 2011 at 09:14 PM