NH enacted a 'Primary Pledge' - should Iowa follow?

[Debi]

http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=The+primary+pledge&articleId=89e68b08-01ab-4e68-a917-5ed5994066e7

The primary pledge

The New Hampshire Union Leader's editorial page advocates that all potential 2008 Presidential candidates sign a general pledge of support for New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation status.

The pledge reads as follows:

“I recognize the New Hampshire Presidential primary’s historic importance in putting issues, ideas and the candidates themselves directly before the voters and will do all in my power to protect the primary in accordance with the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s charge under New Hampshire law"


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you think Iowa should request the same from Presidential candidates? Keeping Iowa as the First Caucus in the nation with New Hampshire having the First Primary eight days later?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Iowa has held a treasured tradition that has brought our state not only a financial boost, but the opportunity to influence the national platform. If Iowa were to lose this honored position we would also lose the opportunity to compete on a national scale for the time and attention of our Federal elected officials.

By turning our back on New Hampshire (and the over twenty-year partnereship we held with that state) in the last two rounds of voting at the DNC for a new calendar, Iowa has endangered our position as First in the Nation. If Iowans don't press our elected officials and DNC members now we will forever lose this gift and our place in history.

[Counciltucky]

1. In a word...

Yes.

[Broke Dad]

2. I see Sally didn't participate in the vote . . .

The Democratic Party voted yesterday to insert another caucus between Iowa and New Hampshire and Sally Pedersen was not available to participate in the conference call and vote.

I hope New Hampshire Democrats connect the dots and decide they are not available to vote for Tom Vilsack.

[Debi]

4. Worse than that

Sally not only didn't have 'time' to be involved (Then why the hell is she CHAIR?) she stated that she would have voted to shaft NH if she would have been there! :wow:

<snip>

Iowa Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson, a member of the panel, was unable to participate in the call, but would have voted for the expanded calendar, said Iowa Democratic Party spokeswoman Erin Seidler. Pederson is traveling across Iowa to promote tourist attractions.

"We're still number one," Seidler said, noting that the action Thursday doesn't change Iowa's place on the calendar.

<snip>

What the IDP doesn't tell you is that New Hampshire will MOVE IN FRONT OF IOWA if the DNC puts a caucus in between the two states - then Iowa won't be first, will we?

http://www.politicsnh.com/?q=node/305

(NH Governor)Lynch On DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Vote

<snip>

I fully expect that Secretary of State Bill Gardner will consider the actions of the DNC, and others, such as the West Virginia Republican Party effort to move up its nomination event, to determine whether they infringe on New Hampshire's primary tradition. And I will support fully any decision he makes to protect New Hampshire's primary, including moving up the date.

"This fight isn't over. In the end, I am confident that New Hampshire and its first-in-the-nation tradition will prevail. The DNC did not give New Hampshire its primary, and it will not take it away."

<snip>

[Debi]

3. Thank you!

Now we need to get on our newspapers and our Central Committee members and our elected officials. :bounce:

[jf24]

5. Greetings from NH

I'm happy to see that some people in Iowa support New Hampshire! There is a lot of anger toward Lt. Gov. Pederson not supporting Nh on the Rules Committee. Now, unfortunately, there is a column floating around by Rep. Jim Splaine stating that NH may jump over Iowa, which would be really too bad. I also heard a rumor that the reason Gov. Dean is pushing this new proposal is that he hopes NH does jump Iowa, because he is still mad at Iowa. I think that is far fetched, but this whole thing is a mess.

[Debi]

7. Hello!

:hi:

Yes, there are some of us in Iowa that WANT the partnership that Iowa/New Hampshire created (through Dave Nagle and George Bruno) twenty-some years ago to remain. Iowa's recent votes (and non-attendance at meetings) have broken down what was a VERY strong alliance. Shame!

I disagree with any rumors being passed around about Chairman Dean. He is in a tough spot. Had John Kerry pushed to have the calendar set at the National Convention in July of 2004 (rather than the calendar committee created) we wouldn't even be having this discussion (and Kerry should be VERY grateful to IA/NH). Dean is trying to please 50 state representatives at once and fighting this false 'diversity' charge against Iowa and New Hampshire.

I find it interesting that Levin and Grandholm (that started this whole calendar commission debacle) are now on the outside of the voting (MI and NH were the only rules committee members to vote against the new proposed calendar) since MI is now not seen as a strong contender for the spot between IA and NH.

I just hope when New Hampshire moves that Iowa is smart enough to move as well!!

[Debi]

9. New Hampshire's not too happy with Iowa!!

http://www.wmur.com/news/9428307/detail.html

<snip>

"If the DNC tries to put another caucus ... before New Hampshire, our secretary of state will have little choice than to set our primary ... six days before Iowa," Splaine wrote.

The idea is the result of frustration with the Democratic Party and New Hampshire's longtime ally, Iowa. Democrats in that state have repeatedly voted in favor of a new lineup, straining a 34-year tradition of standing with New Hampshire against change.


"I was disturbed they seemed to sell out New Hampshire at the DNC and went along with other guys," said Joseph McQuaid, president of the Union Leader Corp. "It looked like, 'As long as you don't kill us, you can kill off New Hampshire.'"

Media observers said that a New Hampshire-Iowa divorce could mean major and painful fallout. Some experts said that if the DNC promotes another caucus, candidates could skip Iowa's caucus to save precious time and money.

"They've been looking out for themselves, which one can understand, but they have not been team players, and at the end of the day, I think Iowa could be the big loser in the entire presidential process," said James Pindell of PoliticsNH.com.

<snip>

[LincolnMcGrath]

6. One of the Iowa DNC delegates spoke at the 1st District Cent Comm

gathering this past weekend.

He spoke on the Iowa / NH affair. He stated that Iowa was saved this round by Mr Tully. He also said Iowa's 1st status is in serious doubt.

[Debi]

8. My faith in MR. Tully is thin as he almost lost Iowa's First Status

in 1999 when NH moved and (as Iowa's Chair) he refused to move

SOMEBODY talked some sense into him....:7

and got banned from the JJ that year!!! :bounce:

(Once again, thank you for the JJ tickets, Gore 2000 Campaign :P)


As for Iowa's position right now - we are in serious jeopardy if our Chair is not prepared to move (and suffer whatever consequesnes) when NH moves. In 1984 the DNC actually sued Iowa for moving and threatened to not seat Iowa's delegates at the National Convention. But Iowa stood strong and we've remained 1st for the last 20 years.