Florida moves 2008 presidential primary to January

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Yet another reason for a national primary.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSB61725820070503?src=050307_1544_TOPSTORY_gop_preps_for_debate

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Florida lawmakers, hoping to give their state even more influence in U.S. politics, on Thursday moved up the state's presidential primary to the last Tuesday in January.

Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican who has been building a reputation as a moderate in the mold of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said he would sign the measure, which also orders most touch-screen voting machines to be replaced with equipment that will produce a paper trail.

The January 29 primary date aims to give an even larger role on the national stage to the state that decided the 2000 U.S. presidential election and put George W. Bush in the White House following a five-week legal battle over vote recounts that was ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Moving the primary, in which parties select their presidential candidates through open votes, would put Florida ahead of about a dozen states that have presidential primaries scheduled for February 5.

The rescheduling to earlier dates could wrap up the nominating races early and favor well-known, well-financed candidates.

[WCGreen]

1. That's what it will do for the Dem's...

But there seem to be more well financed GOP'ers gathered around the twenty percent range and coud indeed muck things up...

If McCain wins Iowa, NH and SC while Rudy Takes FLA, what does that signify...

[SCantiGOP]

2. probably won't happen

The DNC has already approved the primary schedule, and the rule is that if a state moves off of that date the delegates elected won't be seated by the convention. Washington DC, objecting in 2004 that Iowa and NH had so few minority voters, moved their primary earlier. The DNC considered that vote to be a straw poll, and they had to rerun the primary on the original date to select delegates. This is just some more dirty politics by the GOP in Florida; the Democrats in the legislature opposed the bill.
And I agree this is reason to get rid of this ridiculous process. Iowa, NH, SC and Nevada are some of the most atypical states in the nation, yet they may likely select both candidates. I would like to see a lottery, with 10 states having their primaries together, then 4 weeks later another 10, etc. The states that go first would then drop back to last in the next election.

[qdemn7]

3. Why

Not have a National Primary Day, preferably on a Saturday? Having every Primary / Caucus on one single day would allow for a much more varied field of candidates going into the Conventions instead what is now nothing but a Coronation process.

[AllegroRondo]

4. doing a few states at a time helps candidates with less money

the second and third tier candidates could never hope to raise enough cash to have a chance in a national primary. but in just iowa and new hampshire they can manage. Look at what Edwards was able to do 4 years ago. He was able to build up momentum from decent showings in the early states, and use those to get enough money to run in the later states.