The second tier says "Whoa!" to other states trying to bump up their primaries

[jillan]

http://www.wfsb.com/politics/14023153/detail.html?rss=hart&psp=nationalnews

CONCORD, N.H. -- Some Democratic candidates have agreed to not campaign in states that move their primaries earlier in the year, leapfrogging the traditional first-in-the-nation states.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said that the parties in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada urged the candidates to call on other states to stop moving their contests earlier.

"It's time to stand up and say enough is enough," Buckley said.

The move is aimed at states such as Florida and Michigan, which are in the process of scheduling primaries earlier than the dates set by the Democratic National Committee. Buckley said that the traditionally early states want to open a dialogue with the other states to solve the problem
--------------
DoddChris Dodd, touring in New Hampshire, said that he would do whatever he could to protect New Hampshire's leadoff primary status and would not campaign in any state other than New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada that schedules a contest before Feb. 5, 2008.

"I believe that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada offer a cross section of America and allow for voters to probe the experience and vision of candidates in a meaningful way," Dodd said.

RichardsonBill Richardson signed the pledge Friday afternoon.

"This process is completely out of control, and only an agreement by the candidates can restore sanity," Richardson said in a written statement. "I hope no candidate tries to manipulate this situation for his or her own purposes."
----------------------
BidenSen. Joe Biden became the third candidate to sign on Friday afternoon.

"It is time to end all the maneuvering around the dates of the early primaries and caucuses," said Luis Navarro, Biden campaign manager. "We intend not only to sign the pledge, but to honor our pledge to Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina to respect their primacy to the process."
-------------------------------

Wonder if Dennis will sign too:shrug:

I'm glad - My biggest fear is a long General Election season, and there is no going back on who we elect.

[Adelante]

1. I am glad, too

Thanks very much for posting this. The whole thing is way out of whack. Just what need, this chaos, right?

[MaineDem]

2. Thank you, Raymond Buckley! n/t

[madfloridian]

3. Good.

It's a start. The 3 so-called leading candidates are here often though, and several of the others have been here.

[left is right]

4. I don't get any of this

Indiana's primary is always the first Tuesday in May. I don't think either party has any say in the date, but I could be wrong. By the time we get to vote it is all over, the nominee has already been selected and my vote for the Democratic candidate does not count at all. If Indiana wanted to move the primary date forward I would be thrilled. I don't think it is fair that NH and IA is always first, I also don't think their votes are particularly indicative of what the nation wants in a candidate--they are too small, too conservative and way, way too rural. So someone please explain to me why MI and FA moving their dates ahead of NH and IA is a bad thing--at least they have large urban areas.

[madfloridian]

5. It's a power play.

I will leave the rest to your imagination.

[jmp]

6. Dodd, Richardson & Biden to skip Florida ...

23 Dem voters heartbroken.

[AZBlue]

7. We should all hold our primary on the same day.

Otherwise a few states get to choose the nominee and the rest don't.

[Norrin Radd]

8. Good idea.

[More Than A Feeling]

9. That isn't the fault of the candidates or the first states.

(Disclosure: I will be participating in the Iowa Caucus this year.)

If you want to fix that, talk to the media that breathlessly trumpets the results far and wide. The problems of your suggestion are that it makes it impossible for all but the biggest money-grabbers to campaign effectively. That's why small states go first.