Now Wyoming Republicans have voted to move their delegate-selection conventions to Jan. 5 before even Iowa or New Hampshire vote.
In another sign the presidential selection process may be headed for 2007, Wyoming Republicans voted to move their conventions to Jan. 5, leapfrogging Iowa and New Hampshire."We're first in the nation," State party County Convention Coordinator Tom Sansonetti told the AP. "At least for the next couple, three weeks until New Hampshire and Iowa move, which I expect they will."
"We're first in the nation," said Tom Sansonetti, the state party's 2008 county convention coordinator. "At least for the next couple, three weeks until New Hampshire and Iowa move, which I expect they will."
Wyoming Republicans made the decision Saturday and announced it late Tuesday.
The ever-changing contest schedule _ and the earlier start to the balloting _ has created an enormous level of discomfort for national parties trying to impose discipline on the states as well as presidential campaigns trying to figure out strategies when voting could begin in just four months.
As a deterrence, the Republican National Committee insists they will penalize states that schedule nominating contests before Feb. 5 by withholding half of their delegates to the conventions next summer.
Wyoming doesn't have caucuses or primaries. Instead, the state's Democratic and Republican parties select some of their delegates at county conventions and the rest at statewide conventions.
After choosing 12 delegates in the county convention, the state GOP will select 16 more at-large delegates at a statewide convention May 30 in Rock Springs.
The state's Democrats still plan to hold their county conventions March 8 and their statewide convention May 24 in Jackson, Wyo.
Even as they moved up their county conventions, Wyoming's Republicans said they wanted a solution to the leapfrogging.
"Ultimately the goal here is to look beyond 2008 and fix the system, because the system is broken," Sansonetti said. "All this jumping around is because the states feel disenfranchised by letting Iowa and New Hampshire call the shots." (Source)
This is seriously getting out of control and making a mockery of our primary selection process.
Florida Democrats were yesterday warned by the national party that it would lose its 210 delegates to the nominating convention next summer unless it delays its newly planned January 29 by at least a week. The Republican National Committee insists it will penalise states that schedule nominating contests before February 5 by withholding half of their delegates to its party convention next summer.
More moves by other states are expected in the coming weeks. South Carolina Republicans moved their primary to January 19, forcing Iowa and New Hampshire to reconsider their dates to maintain their early status.
Iowa caucuses had been scheduled for January 14 and New Hampshire's primary was tentatively set for January 22. Nevada is scheduled to vote on January 19.
At this rate we may just have some moved to Christmas...Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
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Wyoming to move delegate convention to Jan 5 from Stix Blog...
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