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Presidential Calendar Mess Gets Messier
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ShareSeptember 11, 2007 6:24 PM
ABC News' Rick Klein reports: The presidential calendar mess is getting messier.
The Democratic congressional delegations from Florida and Michigan are now asking the Democratic National Committee to threaten New Hampshire with the same kind of sanctions -- the loss of convention delegates -- that a DNC panel said it would impose on Florida if the state pushes forward with its plan to hold a presidential primary in January.
New Hampshire's secretary of state, William Gardner, has indicated that he is likely to move the Granite State’s primary up by perhaps two weeks from Jan. 22 -- the date designated by the DNC for the New Hampshire primary.
"To date, we have heard no criticism by the DNC of the New Hampshire decision, nor any threat to impose the 'automatic' sanctions referred to by your spokesman upon New Hampshire Democrats if their delegates are selected at a primary earlier than the date provided for in the DNC Rules," said the letter sent to DNC Chairman Howard Dean on Tuesday.
"The DNC's silence about New Hampshire contrasts markedly with the repeated warnings delivered to Florida over a six-month period before Florida even submitted its delegate selection plan to the Rules and Bylaws Committee," continues the letter, which was signed by senators Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., as well as 13 Democratic House members from Florida and Michigan.
The letter is the latest volley in a battle between the national parties -- which are trying to maintain a rational, coherent voting schedule for their presidential candidates -- and officials in a range of states who are trying to secure a larger role for their voters in picking presidential candidates.
Last month, the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee said it would strip Florida of its Democratic National Convention delegates if the state holds its primary on Jan. 29 -- a date that falls inside the early-voting window the DNC wants held open for New Hampshire and three other states.
Though Michigan has not yet faced any formal threats from the DNC, the state's recent move to schedule its primary Jan. 15 means the state is likely to risk the loss of convention delegates, just like Florida.
Under pressure from officials in New Hampshire, Iowa, Nevada, and South Carolina, the major Democratic candidates for president have committed to not campaign in any state that is found by the DNC to have broken party rules in setting its primary date.
A DNC spokeswoman declined to comment on Tuesday, saying that the letter was under review. But one party official said the DNC is unlikely to issue formal threats against any state based only on possible scheduling changes, given the dozens of states that have discussed new dates.
September 11, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (1)
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In my opinion even though I am a Republican I find this to be outrageous that the DNC is taking away these delegates from the states.
What makes them think that the National Party is better than the state parties? I say let the states have the right to call their primaries or cacuses at anytime they want.
This campaign has already drained americans because we are sick and tired of seeing the politicians running for president talk and talk but when it comes time for them to deliver, they do not. The campaign has honestly started too early so I see why americans are ready to just nominate a leader from each party and then get on with their life.
Posted by: Shawn | Sep 11, 2007 10:14:40 PM
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