President 2012: GOP Primary Calendar Set as Florida Deadline Passes?
The way is clearing for Iowa’s caucuses to remain the first contest of the 2012 Republican presidential campaign, although the date they will be held remains uncertain.
Key Republicans in Florida, a powerful swing state, now say they are willing to move their primary out of the way of the penciled Feb. 6, 2012, date for the Iowa caucuses. But the Florida GOP still seeks an early stamp on the nomination.
The Republican National Committee has been working with party leaders in most states to realign a nominating calendar left over from the 2008 campaign, when dozens of states pushed forward to grab a share of the early spotlight.
While national GOP leaders expect the calendar to be settled by October, New Hampshire’s secretary of state, William Gardner, again will have an outsized say about when the 2012 opening bell rings.
Leaders in Florida recently signaled they are willing to move the primary from Jan. 31, six days ahead of the Feb. 6 date reserved by the RNC last year for the Iowa caucuses.
“This is not a hostage situation. Our goal is not to go No. 1. We think that is historically Iowa’s,” Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos said last week. “Our goal is to be in a spot where we would have a real say in the primary process, not to move ahead of Iowa or New Hampshire.”
The deadline for new legislation in Florida passed last week without a bill to reschedule the primary, set ahead of the 2008 campaign for late January. Haridopolos said he was planning to introduce an amendment to existing legislation that would move the date to mid- to late February.
So, what is the tentative calendar?
- February 6 – Iowa
- February 14 – New Hampshire
- February 18 – Nevada
- February 28 – South Carolina
- March 6 – First day for proportionally-awarded delegate contests
- April 1 – First day for winner-take-all contests
And, what about Florida? If they decide to move their primary up before March, they will be out of compliance with the RNC rules.
But, it is doubtful the RNC would sanction them.
If and when the Florida GOP decides to move up their primary, Iowa and New Hampshire will make their moves —> earlier.