Florida Legislature leaders discuss moving 2008 Primary to January 29th

[Herman Munster]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16430886.htm

A plan to give Florida voters more say in the 2008 presidential race will get its first hearing today, signaling that legislative leaders are eager to jump-start the campaign.

The bill would move up Florida's presidential primary from March to possibly Jan. 29, making it the fifth contest in the nation. Typically, presidential nominees are well established by the time Florida voters go to the polls.

Two South Florida sponsors -- Republican Rep. David Rivera of Miami and Democratic Sen. Jeremy Ring of Parkland -- will present the proposal to the House Ethics and Elections Committee. The scheduling of the hearing at a time when legislators are consumed with preparing for next week's special session on the insurance crisis reflects the bill's fast-track status.

There is a potential hitch. Recognizing New Hampshire's tradition of hosting the first primary, the bill says Florida will hold its primary Feb. 5 or one week after New Hampshire -- whichever come first.

New Hampshire is currently scheduled to vote Jan. 22, so under the bill, Florida would vote on Jan. 29. The national parties' rules say that any state that jumps before Feb. 5 forfeits as many as half of its convention seats. Sending delegates to the conventions allows party leaders to reward activists and donors.

[madfloridian]

1. Dean on a local channel here Dec. 10, made it clear...

that any state that moved into January would not have their delegates counted.

"Florida Democrats have generally embraced the push by state GOP leaders to move Florida's March presidential primary earlier in 2008 to increase the Sunshine State's influence in picking presidential nominees. But Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean recommends caution.

"If they move it into January, their delegates won't count in the Democratic convention, so I wouldn't advise that," Dean said in a Political Connections interview airing at 11 a.m. today on Bay News 9.

Florida would risk losing at least half its 208 delegates if it violated the party primary schedule rules by scheduling a primary before Feb. 5. But Dean noted that any candidate who campaigned in a state violating the schedule rules would forfeit any delegates won."

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/10/State/Moving_primary_earlie.shtml