New.Jersey. moves toward earlier primary (early feb 2008)

[Herman Munster]

The primaries keep getting front-loaded. That means established candidates like Hillary, Gore, Kerry, Edwards who have name recognition and a vast network of donors are at a huge advantage compared to others.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060926/NEWS01/60926011/1006

Though New Jersey has yet to experience a February presidential primary under a law signed last year, lawmakers have already begun a push for an even earlier vote.

Last year, New Jersey's presidential primary was moved from June to the last Tuesday in February, seeking to boost New Jersey's voice in selecting presidential candidates. But several states have moved ahead of New Jersey's new date, prompting state Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-West Orange, to begin a push to move the primary to the beginning of February.

The Senate State Government Committee approved a bill Monday sponsored by Codey and state Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Marlboro, that would make the new presidential primary date the Tuesday after the first Monday in February -- Feb. 5 in 2008 and Feb. 7 in 2012.

"We are clearly a microcosm of the rest of the country," Codey said. "And New Jersey voters deserve to be more than just an ATM machine for presidential candidates."

[pinto]

1. I still favor a reverse electoral vote, 3 tiered order for primaries.

Small electoral states first, middle next, followed by the big electoral states to conclude the primary process.