03/07: Challenge, NH primary status

[Freakapotimus]

WASHINGTON TODAY: States challenge New Hampshire's primary status
By WILL LESTER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, March 6 — For half a century, New Hampshire's status as the first-in-the-nation primary was sacrosanct. In no small part, this was due to the Granite State's track record: Every four years it picked the eventual White House winner.

That perfect string was broken in 1992 when Bill Clinton finished second to Paul Tsongas, and in 2000 when John McCain stunned George W. Bush. While those results smudged New Hampshire's image, a greater threat is coming from Democrats in Michigan and the District of Columbia which are determined to grab the leadoff role.

These rivals to New Hampshire believe their rebellion, frowned upon by the Democratic National Committee, gives them a share of the national spotlight while forcing the candidates to focus on their local concerns.

Full story at http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/ap03-06-231721.asp

[karasz]

Although it would be nice for michigan, a state with 18 or so electoral votes and one that the parties actually care about winningwould start the races and would show that big states do matter in the primaries... since california's 55 EV's go to the already announced winner BUT the party bi-laws are set up so that the primaries will always be the way they are...

Remember their are actually 102 political parties... each state has a DEM and REP party... and then the National DEM and REP parties...

[TheEvilOne]

Just have all of the primaries on the same day. There. Problem solved.

[JMHX]

At 3/7/03 04:32 PM, TheEvilOne wrote: Just have all of the primaries on the same day. There. Problem solved.

If only it were so simple.