Richardson: 4 States Will Decide Nominee (Iowa, Nevada, N.H., South Carolina)

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070304/D8NLI7PO0.html

Richardson: 4 States Will Decide Nominee
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Mar 4, 2:53 PM (ET)

By HENRY C. JACKSON

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson thinks the race for his party's nomination will be all but over by the end of next January after the first four contests.

The Democrats' tentative nominating schedule begins in January, with caucuses in Iowa and then in Nevada, followed by the New Hampshire primary and then South Carolina's, Jan. 29.

"I believe the first four states, with Iowa and New Hampshire being the top ones, will determine who the president is. I always felt that way," Richardson said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Iowa.


Democratic presidential hopeful New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson listens to a question at a breakfast with union leaders Saturday, March 3, 2007, at a hotel in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Kevin Sanders)

The New Mexico governor defended his push to move up Western states in the election calendar, saying the new schedule would not diminish the role that Iowa and New Hampshire play in picking a nominee.

FULL story at link.

[mitchtv]

1. The Calif primary is being moved

to Jan. that could effect things, too.

[tblue]

2. Is that for certain?

[mitchtv]

6. more certain every day

still not cast in stone, tho. It's moving through channels.

[Hawaii Hiker]

3. Primaries

I don't understand how the primaries work enough...How come such weight is placed on these smaller states, as opposed to CA, NY, IL, etc?...

I remember in 2004 when Dick Gebhardt didn't do well in the first primary, he dropped out right away...Kerry had the nomination all but sealed after the first couple primaries...

Richardson will probably do well in Nevada, Edwards in SC...I think Clinton & Obama should push to move up their respective states, so the nominee isn't decided after NH & Iowa...

[MaineDem]

4. I totally agree with him

I said the same thing when the DNC approved the "pre-window" primaries/caucus schedule.

[Diane R]

5. Why don't other states ever get a say? I'm tired of Iowa and N.H. getting to choose.

I live in Washington State. We have NO impact, and I don't think many other states do, either. I've read that people in Iowa just yawn when they see a Presidential candidate. We would be honored and thrilled if one ever came to our town (Spokane). Howard Dean came in August of '03 and he had an overflow crowd.

Enough about Iowa. It's time to give other states a voice.

[mitchtv]

7. it has annoyed the shit out of me

for quite a while. We need revolving regional(5) primaries

[dkofos]

8. That might be OK

[brentspeak]

11. Agreed. Nothing against Iowa or New Hampshire, but even they have to admit

that they have way too much say over who gets the nomination.

[beltanefauve]

13. A friend of mine

went to Iowa and canvassed door-to-door for Howard Dean. The number one objection he heard: Where was Judy Dean? Why wasn't his wife there? Granted, this may simply be my friend's particular experience, but my point is, can we really say these small rural states reflect the tastes, concerns and values of the rest of America? Of course not! Bugs me to no end that Iowa and New Hampshire have so much sway so early in the game!

[high density]

9. Let's have all primaries on the same day

This focus on Iowa and NH is crazy.

[depakid]

10. That is just insane

and one of the many reasons why America is in such sorry shape- and why it will continue its slow and inexorable decline.

[lastknowngood]

12. And not a Democratic state among them. Another repug lite to

a sure looser