Iowa Caucus: First No More?
Baltimoresun.com
Democrats consider shifting their primaries; proposals focus on fixing 'front-loading' of contests
The
three major proposals before the Democratic Party's Commission on
Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling [focus] on regional
primaries. Two proposals would allow Iowa and New Hampshire to retain
their leadoff roles in the candidate selection process.
A third
plan, offered by Michigan Democrats, would create a rotating series of
six regional primaries: a different region would launch each
presidential nominating season. It would allow single-state contests to
begin the process, but those states would be rotated. “Share the
wealth,” said Michigan Sen. Carl Levin. “I would not lock in specific
states.”
Activists
from Iowa and New Hampshire vowed to defend their leadoff status and
said the problem the party faces is excessive “front-loading.” In 2004,
30 states had held delegate selection contests by mid-March.
…Backers
of the status of Iowa and New Hampshire argue that those states have
traditionally opened the nominating season and that voters there take
their politics seriously.
…Leslie
Reynolds of the National Association of Secretaries of State said her
group favored a plan dividing the country into four regions that would
hold rotating primaries. Those elections would follow Iowa's leadoff
caucuses and New Hampshire's opening primary.
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