DNC approves 2012 primary rules

[eridani]

Still too early, IMO, but it beats the bejeezus out of starting in 2011.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2012678508_apusdemocrats2012.html?syndication=rss

The Democratic National Committee has approved a 2012 presidential primary nominating calendar that pushes back the start of the voting by one month.

Democrats will hold the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 6, 2012, and the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 14. Nevada caucuses will be Feb. 18 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 28. Other states will go on March 6 or later.

States holding their contests later will get anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent more delegates to the convention.

The party also is reducing the number of independent superdelegates from 20 percent of the total number of delegates to 15 percent.

Obama is the likely nominee but Democrats wanted to change the process anyway after the 2008 protracted primary fight.

[PBS Poll-435]

1. February? Is this Russia?

:P

[bluestateguy]

2. THIS time around I like Obama's chances in the New Hampshire primary

nt

[Syrinx]

3. I think they should eliminate "superdelegates" entirely

[Lasher]

4. Presidential primaries are a bad joke.

Caucuses look more like cattle auctions than elections. The same states go first year after year, and if you live in one of the states to vote last, your vote doesn't count.

[napi21]

5. Is that much of a change? I know the Iowa & NH primaries are always in the winter.

I live in the south now, but I remember thinkig how dedicated theose people must be to go caucus in the middle of snow & ice and COLD!

[FBaggins]

6. A little better

Let's just hope it doesn't matter this time.

[bemildred]

7. Have them all on the same day in May or June, some Saturday in June.

All this tweaking and dithering is aimed at manipulating the results.