Alaska parties move their caucuses up for 2008 presidential race

[AnOhioan]

Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Hoping for a bigger say in the 2008 presidential race, Alaska Republicans and Democrats have pushed their caucuses up to Feb. 5, 2008, the earliest date allowed.

“We just want to make sure we’re early enough to be relevant,” said Randy Ruedrich, chairman of the Republican Party of Alaska.

In 2004, Democrats held their caucus in March. Republicans waited until almost the end of May.

But 2008 is different. Twenty or more states will hold primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5, including heavy-hitters such as New York, Texas and California, and only 15 states will do anything after February, according to the Pew Research Center’s Stateline.org.



Read more: http://newsminer.com/2007/05/29/7219

[Greeby]

1. Just cut to the chase and have a National Primary Day

Judging by the schedule as it is, we're halfway there already

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29_presidential_primaries%2C_2008

[Divernan]

2. February in Alaska - great way to suppress voter turnout!

I have been thinking as to all the northern states in the lower 48, that the earlier in the year the primaries are held, the greater the chance that the narrow 12 hour-or-so voting window will coincide with weather so cold, icy, snowy, etc., that many people will not go to the risk or great inconvenience of voting. Both personal experience (working the polls all day on election days) and statistical data confirm that the worse the weather, the lower the turnout - and particularly for the elderly, frail and less affluent, i.e., voters more likely to be Dems. It's one thing to drive your own car to the polls - another if you have to take public transportation (and come to think of it, the nearest bus stop to my polling place is 1/2 a mile on a busy road with no sidewalks!). So the cold weather depresses more Dem voters than GOPs.

But Alaska in February!?!?!? Gimme a break! Alaska should have primaries in July, and all states should provide a several day period for voting in each election, along with unrestricted mail-in ballots (in my state you have to be physically incapacitated or out of the district on election day to use a mail-in ballot).

[MaineDem]

3. I agree with you re mail-in ballots

Here in Maine it's very easy to do and one doesn't need a reason to vote by mail - or in person before election day.

That should be part of every state's Democratic platform and we should get those states that have Dem majorities to pass something like this immediately.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Alaska thinks their caucuses will make them relevant?