Republicans From Iowa, New Hampshire Defend Coveted Early Places In Presidential Contests
Iowa has long held the nations first presidential caucuses, followed by New Hampshires leadoff primary. But the two, smaller states have been criticized for wielding outsized influence in presidential nominations, and the 2008 election created a virtual stampede as states jostled for early dates on the political calendar.
A panel of the Republican National Committee, meeting in San Diego, began hearings Friday evaluating the sequence of contests, although a recommendation is not expected from the group until next year.
Under an RNC change last year, most states are barred from holding primaries before the first Tuesday in February 2012. New Hampshire and South Carolina cannot vote before the last two weeks of January 2012. The rule is silent on Iowa, though party officials expect it to kick off the selections with party caucuses in the first two weeks of January.
With those dates set, the issue is where other states eager to influence the nomination will fit in. Several plans have been proposed to rearrange the calendar, including grouping states in regions and rotating the order every four years.
California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring told the panel the nation needs a presidential calendar “that looks like it was designed on purpose, which currently is not the case.”
Nehring warned that the nation is drifting toward a national primary day, which he said would inevitably favor better-known and better-financed candidates. He noted California moved its presidential primary to February from June last year, triggering other states to leapfrog forward.
Former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu, who chairs the states Republican Party, told the panel the Granite States historically strong primary turnout and deeply engaged voters provide a tough vetting for potential nominees. He argued that the face-to-face contact with voters creates an ideal testing ground for candidates.
He said it would be a mistake to assign an early contest to a state with a low turnout, where a well-financed candidate could buy enough advertising to tilt the outcome of an election.
“In New Hampshire, they take their politics seriously and they make a serious commitment to it,” Sununu said.
New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary is part of the nations political fabric, he said. “We are comfortable where we are,” he said.
The first contests in Iowa and New Hampshire bring those states enormous attention from presidential candidates and the media. Jealous of all that attention, others states contend they better represent the nation than the two states with smaller populations and little racial or ethnic diversity.
The Iowa Republican Party Chairman, Matt Strawn, said in April that hes confident the state will retain its leadoff role. Since the 1970s, Iowas precinct caucuses have been the first step in the presidential nominating march, followed by the New Hampshire primary.
But Texas national committeeman Bill Crocker told the panel, “I dont think Iowa ought to have a disproportionate influence” because of its calendar spot.
“In Texas, we think we are the best possible cross section of the county,” Crocker said.