Republicans Consider Changing 2012 Presidential Primary Schedule

VIA HOT AIR:

Republicans Consider Shaking Up Primary Schedule

Iowa has long held the nation's first presidential caucuses, followed by New Hampshire's leadoff primary, but the two, smaller states have been criticized for wielding outsized influence in presidential nominations .

... Republicans from Iowa and New Hampshire defended their coveted early spots in presidential nominating contests Friday, as national party leaders consider recommending a new pathway to the White House for the 2012 election.

Iowa has long held the nation's first presidential caucuses, followed by New Hampshire's leadoff primary. But the two, smaller states have been criticized for wielding outsized influence in presidential nominations, and the 2008 election created a virtual stampede as states jostled for early dates on the political calendar.

A panel of the Republican National Committee, meeting in San Diego, began hearings Friday evaluating the sequence of contests, although a recommendation is not expected from the group until next year.

Under an RNC change last year, most states are barred from holding primaries before the first Tuesday in February 2012. New Hampshire and South Carolina cannot vote before the last two weeks of January 2012. The rule is silent on Iowa, though party officials expect it to kick off the selections with party caucuses in the first two weeks of January.

With those dates set, the issue is where other states eager to influence the nomination will fit in. Several plans have been proposed to rearrange the calendar, including grouping states in regions and rotating the order every four years.

I SUGGEST THEY DO IT EVEN MORE CREATIVELY AND STRATEGICALLY:

1 - WHY NOT TINKER WITH THE STATEWIDE ASPECT: HAVE AN EARLY TEST BE AN NATIONAL URBAN COUNTIES PRIMARY: FEBRUARY 1ST IN NY, L.A.; ATLANTA; DALLAS; CHICAGO; ST. LOUIS; NEW ORLEANS; MIAMI; ETC.

• THE GOP HAS TO RUN BETTER IN URBAN COUNTIES TO WIN.

• SO WHY NOT GET AN EARLY INDICATION OF WHICH CANDIDATE CAN DO THAT!?!?

IT MAKES SENSE.

2 - HERE'S A MUST CHANGE - AND I MEAN MUST: THE GOP MUST END OPEN PRIMARIES.

• MCCAIN WON BECAUSE HE GOT DEMOCRAT VOTERS TO CROSSOVER IN THE PRIMARY IN NH AND FLA.

• WITHOUT THIS, MITT WOULD HAVE WON.
  

• A MORE CONSERVATIVE NOMINEE WOULD HAVE WON.

CONTINUING WITH OPEN PRIMARIES GUARANTEES A LESS CONSERVATIVE NOMINEE.

WE NEED ANOTHER REAGAN, NOT ANOTHER MCCAIN!