Georgia Lawmaker Introduces Bill To Move State's Presidential Primary

Here's the thing on this bill and the triggering convention resolution... (0.00 / 0)

This closing of the window sets up a conflict if the Republicans don't follow suit and eliminate February contests as well. The Democratic Party's task of getting states into compliance with that March call would be complicated in Republican-controlled states by the fact that those Republicans may have no desire to move unless compelled to by the national party. I'm assuming this idea will be discussed at some point during the Democratic Change Commission's meetings because it is a problem in February (2008) states like Arizona*, Florida, Georgia and Utah, where the state government is controlled by Republicans, or in Alabama (governor), California (governor), Connecticut (governor), Louisiana (governor), Michigan (Senate), Missouri (House and Senate), Oklahoma (House and Senate), Tennessee (House and Senate) and Virginia (House), where some portion of the government is Republican-controlled. That's an extensive list of states where partisanship could prove preventative to presidential primary date shifts that would bring a state into compliance with just one party's rules.

The Democratic Change Commission does have some wiggle room on this. The resolution (the one linked in the original post) that created the body states:

   "...and that in making its recommendations, the Commission consider any revision of the Rules of the Republican Party of the United States adopted by the 2008 Republican National Convention regarding the scheduling and sequence of presidential nominating events."

Some of this, then, rests with the as yet unfilled Temporary Delegate Selection Committee that is charged with a similar task to the DCC's for the GOP. But if that group only offers up minimal alterations, the DCC will have to seriously consider dropping the "no February contests" portion of that resolution. And the commission can change the rules. That ability to change the rules mid-cycle is what has separated the Democrats from Republicans in this regard in past cycles.

*In Arizona, the governor -- currently a Republican -- can set the date of the presidential primary by proclamation if the set late February date is deemed to be too late to have an impact on the nomination process.

If you're really bored and/or interested you can look at my extended comments on the the Georgia bill in the context of other primary date changing legislation over at FHQ.

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by: Josh Putnam @ Fri Apr 03, 2009 at 17:34:28 PM CDT