Exclusive: Arnold's Primary Plan (Feb. CA Primary)

[mikelgb]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16498074/site/newsweek/

The U.S. Constitution prevents Austria-born Arnold Schwarzenegger from running for president. But California's GOP governor, sworn in last week for a second term, still plans on influencing the 2008 election. Schwarzenegger says he'd like to move the California primary from June—when both parties have all but picked their nominees—to a much earlier date, in February. "We shouldn't be treated as a leftover," Schwarzenegger told NEWSWEEK while at home in Los Angeles, where he was recovering from a broken leg after a skiing accident. "We will go and make a lot of noise about the issues." The governor hopes the change will encourage candidates to spend more time talking to voters in the nation's most populous state, instead of "sucking us dry for money" at fund-raisers. "We don't want to sit back and let this whole thing go by and have California not be a player," he says.

[Greeby]

1. This could work to our advantage

The more progressive candidates in the Democratic running could have a better chance at the nomination if California was bumped up earlier.

Or is that wishful thinking? :shrug:

[mikelgb]

3. not sure

he is a republic so there must be some alterior motive

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Earth to Arnold

We tried this before and it didn't work.

So this means we would have TWO primary elections?? One for the presidential race and another for the state and federal offices?

[Mz Pip]

4. I agree with him

By time we get our primary, the race has been decided.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[KingofNewOrleans]

5. California is too big

It would favor big money and big name recogniton because the only way to campaign there is thru mass media. They would just "suck" the money from you even earlier.

[Taverner]

6. Not a bad idea

It's one of the few thing CA Dems and Repubs agree on...

[Cleita]

7. For once he's doing something useful.

I always thought the California primary should be closer to the ones back east that pretty much determine the candidate.

[Taverner]

10. Not to be an Arnold fan, but he also got the Green Homes bill through

[mitchtv]

8. Regional , rotating primaries would be more fair

but at least we'll get a chance to influence the affair. I am so sick of RW states having all the say.. and all the Calif donations being used out of state. Good for groper, I have never supported any of his initiatives before. This one, yes

[Raine]

9. I agree with Arnie

I'm sick of being treated like a leftover and just being sucked dry for money and having no really input in the nominee. Something certainly needs to be changed so Californians have a say.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. The new Speaker of the FL House has similar plans

http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061224/OPINION/212240342/1183/OPINION01