Illinois wins voice early on
Illinois wins voice early on
Comments (0)Illinois is considering moving up its 2008 primary from March 18 to Feb. 5 to give any Barack Obama presidential campaign a lift.
The change would give Illinois a spot earlier in the primary season and make the state more relevant in the selection of presidential candidates. Unfortunately, the reasoning put forth by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones is flawed. The date of a primary should not be shifted simply to help one political candidate.
Even if Obama decides against a presidential run, the primary date should be moved up. A March 18 primary makes Illinois irrelevant because the candidates usually are determined by then.
Iowa begins the nation’s selection process Jan. 14, 2008. In 2004, Iowa’s caucus was on Jan. 19. In 2008, four states will host primaries or caucuses before February: Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Every four years, presidential primaries and caucuses are moved up on the calendar as states jockey for position. It is quite likely that the campaigns will be decided on Feb. 5.
At the risk of sounding Howard Deanesque, eight states are conducting Feb. 5 primaries or caucuses: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and Utah. The date also is being considered by California, Michigan and New Jersey. Illinois might as well join the party.
In the long-run, this trend has the potential to fundamentally change the selection of presidential candidates. We are approaching a point where the country essentially will have a national primary day. The first so-called Super Tuesday primary was in March 1988 and included nine states. In 2000 Super Tuesday included 16 states, and in 2004, 11 states.
Whether such a trend is good or bad is debatable. A more spread-out schedule would seem to give outsiders and long shots a better chance to build momentum and campaign funds. A more concentrated primary system would appear to play to favorites with lots of cash.
Regardless, Illinois voters deserve to be relevant in the process
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/01/13/opinion/editorials/doc45a8a01c3a920897402356.txt
Comments (0)Illinois is considering moving up its 2008 primary from March 18 to Feb. 5 to give any Barack Obama presidential campaign a lift.
The change would give Illinois a spot earlier in the primary season and make the state more relevant in the selection of presidential candidates. Unfortunately, the reasoning put forth by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones is flawed. The date of a primary should not be shifted simply to help one political candidate.
Even if Obama decides against a presidential run, the primary date should be moved up. A March 18 primary makes Illinois irrelevant because the candidates usually are determined by then.
Iowa begins the nation’s selection process Jan. 14, 2008. In 2004, Iowa’s caucus was on Jan. 19. In 2008, four states will host primaries or caucuses before February: Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Every four years, presidential primaries and caucuses are moved up on the calendar as states jockey for position. It is quite likely that the campaigns will be decided on Feb. 5.
At the risk of sounding Howard Deanesque, eight states are conducting Feb. 5 primaries or caucuses: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and Utah. The date also is being considered by California, Michigan and New Jersey. Illinois might as well join the party.
In the long-run, this trend has the potential to fundamentally change the selection of presidential candidates. We are approaching a point where the country essentially will have a national primary day. The first so-called Super Tuesday primary was in March 1988 and included nine states. In 2000 Super Tuesday included 16 states, and in 2004, 11 states.
Whether such a trend is good or bad is debatable. A more spread-out schedule would seem to give outsiders and long shots a better chance to build momentum and campaign funds. A more concentrated primary system would appear to play to favorites with lots of cash.
Regardless, Illinois voters deserve to be relevant in the process
http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/01/13/opinion/editorials/doc45a8a01c3a920897402356.txt
posted by presgore19 at 3:04 AM
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