Attempting to Upstage New Hampshire, Iowa, Michigan Sets Jan. 15 Primary
Party Sanctions Likely and Other States May Trump the Move
September 9, 2007
By: Dave Rogers
The political tug of war is on over which state will be first to hold a Presidential primary election.
Michigan's recent attempt to influence Presidential politics and seize more of the national spotlight is likely to draw countering moves from New Hampshire and Iowa.
The move by Michigan also opens it to possible sanctions from one or more of the political parties.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm Tuesday signed Senate Bill 624 moving the Michigan Presidential primary to Jan. 15.
In rare bipartisan agreement, Republican state chair Saul Anuzis said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for our state and for Republicans and Democrats to educate the next President of the United States about what is unique and special about Michigan."
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"Nobody needs a friend in the White House more than Michigan," aide Liz Boyd said on behalf of Gov. Granholm.
Last Thursday a bi-partisan agreement passed the House and the Senate to set Michigan's presidential primary for Tuesday, January 15, 2008.
The past several years the Democrats have held a caucus election administered by the Democratic Party. The Republican Party has used a nominating system through their convention to allocate delegation votes.
Eliminating confusion from the past, next year voters will be able to cast a ballot at their usual voting location. Previously, special voting places were used which caused voter confusion.
New Hampshire immediately said it would likely move its primary to Jan. 8 and Iowa sources said that state is determined to have its caucuses Jan. 1 or earlier.
Last Saturday the Democratic National Committee (DNC) barred all Florida delegates from next year's national convention as a penalty for a move by the Sunshine State to hold a Presidential Primary Jan. 29.
The DNC will not be lenient on Michigan and the mitten state may face similar penalties, though not as severe, from the Republicans, according to reports in the Boston Globe and The Hill, newspaper of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.###