Madigan: Move primary to help Obama
Madigan: Move primary to help Obama
By John Chase and Rick PearsonTribune staff reporterPublished January 10, 2007, 10:09 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD -- House Speaker Michael Madigan on Wednesday proposed advancing Illinois' 2008 presidential primary to Feb. 5, a move aimed at bolstering a potential White House bid by potential home-state candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
Madigan, also the state's Democratic chairman, said advancing the primary from its scheduled March 18 date would inject a large, more diverse and representative state into the front end of the presidential nominating process—and a state more beneficial to an Obama candidacy.
"Obviously Sen. Obama is working through his decision on whether or not to run for president," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "But he's proud that Illinois could play a larger role in determining the nominee in 2008."
Obama has said he would make a decision on a presidential run within the next few weeks.
Madigan said he had not consulted Obama about a primary date change. But the speaker said, "I expect he's going to run so we're going to move the bill."
The move by Madigan, requiring legislative approval, would place Illinois at the earliest available date in the Democratic nomination process under a revamped political calendar that begins next January with caucuses in Iowa and Nevada and primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Other states also are eyeing the Feb. 5 date.
"It's a selection process where there are early primaries and caucuses which have an undue effect upon the end result," Madigan said. The states with January primaries or caucuses are "not as representative of America as Illinois would be."
"If Barack is a candidate, recent history tells us that the selection process may be finished before it reaches the Illinois primary," Madigan said.
Though such a move would help an Obama candidacy, rival Democratic contenders would probably do little campaigning in Illinois, devoting their time and resources to more competitive states.
Madigan said his proposal would also move the state's Republican presidential primary to Feb. 5. GOP leaders had not been consulted about the date change.
Madigan also said it was not decided whether primary contests for state offices, such as the legislature, would be held on the earlier date.
As states have worked to speed up the presidential primary calendar, Illinois' mid-March primary election has had a smaller impact on the nominating process for both Democrats and Republicans. The last time the state was a major factor was in 1988, when Illinois Republicans effectively ended Bob Dole's rival candidacy to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Madigan's proposal represents a political shift after the veteran Illinois lawmaker had displayed dissatisfaction with Obama over the senator's decision to buck the party's slated candidate for state treasurer in favor of Chicago banker Alexi Giannoulias, a friend and fundraiser. Giannoulias went on to win the March Democratic primary and November election and was inaugurated treasurer on Monday.
jchase@tribune.com
rap30@aol.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-070110obama-primary,1,4298082.story?track=rss
By John Chase and Rick PearsonTribune staff reporterPublished January 10, 2007, 10:09 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD -- House Speaker Michael Madigan on Wednesday proposed advancing Illinois' 2008 presidential primary to Feb. 5, a move aimed at bolstering a potential White House bid by potential home-state candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
Madigan, also the state's Democratic chairman, said advancing the primary from its scheduled March 18 date would inject a large, more diverse and representative state into the front end of the presidential nominating process—and a state more beneficial to an Obama candidacy.
"Obviously Sen. Obama is working through his decision on whether or not to run for president," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "But he's proud that Illinois could play a larger role in determining the nominee in 2008."
Obama has said he would make a decision on a presidential run within the next few weeks.
Madigan said he had not consulted Obama about a primary date change. But the speaker said, "I expect he's going to run so we're going to move the bill."
The move by Madigan, requiring legislative approval, would place Illinois at the earliest available date in the Democratic nomination process under a revamped political calendar that begins next January with caucuses in Iowa and Nevada and primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Other states also are eyeing the Feb. 5 date.
"It's a selection process where there are early primaries and caucuses which have an undue effect upon the end result," Madigan said. The states with January primaries or caucuses are "not as representative of America as Illinois would be."
"If Barack is a candidate, recent history tells us that the selection process may be finished before it reaches the Illinois primary," Madigan said.
Though such a move would help an Obama candidacy, rival Democratic contenders would probably do little campaigning in Illinois, devoting their time and resources to more competitive states.
Madigan said his proposal would also move the state's Republican presidential primary to Feb. 5. GOP leaders had not been consulted about the date change.
Madigan also said it was not decided whether primary contests for state offices, such as the legislature, would be held on the earlier date.
As states have worked to speed up the presidential primary calendar, Illinois' mid-March primary election has had a smaller impact on the nominating process for both Democrats and Republicans. The last time the state was a major factor was in 1988, when Illinois Republicans effectively ended Bob Dole's rival candidacy to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.
Madigan's proposal represents a political shift after the veteran Illinois lawmaker had displayed dissatisfaction with Obama over the senator's decision to buck the party's slated candidate for state treasurer in favor of Chicago banker Alexi Giannoulias, a friend and fundraiser. Giannoulias went on to win the March Democratic primary and November election and was inaugurated treasurer on Monday.
jchase@tribune.com
rap30@aol.com
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-070110obama-primary,1,4298082.story?track=rss
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