Reply #2: It's Ironic, Really [View All]

[SanchoPanza]

Everyone outside NH and Iowa desperately wants a rotating schedule for primaries and caucuses, differing only in the details. But because NH and Iowa have laws governing their place on the calendar, it will take more than simple decisions within their respective state parties to agree to no longer be first. It will take votes in their respective legislatures to ensure a rotating schedule, or else Iowa and New Hampshire will always be first (which sort of defeats the purpose). This is going to take some pressure from the DNC/RNC and other state parties to implement.

But because of the Florida and Michigan "messes", first-in-the-nation loyalists will be able to point to both those states as an excuse not to change their laws, as there will be some doubt as to the effectiveness of the DNC and State Parties to not only agree upon a schedule, but actually follow through on it. This is the reason South Carolina moved their own primary up three days to the 26th, so that they could be absolutely certain that their newly won designation as "First in the South" will be honored regardless of what finally happens regarding Florida.

It may become the case that, in desiring to upset the early primaries, Florida may make it harder in the long run to effect meaningful change in the calendar.

To further twist the knife, the RNC has already ruled that its moving towards a rotating schedule starting in 2012. Kinda sad that people may have to rely on the GOP to further democratize the nominating process.