Premium Sponsor


Featured Sponsor


Our Sponsors


Syndicated Feeds

Subscribe via FeedBurner

Subscribe via Google

Subscribe via Newsburst

Subscribe via Bloglines

Subscribe via NewsGator

Subscribe via Pluck

Subscribe via FeedLounge

Subscribe via Netvibes

Subscribe via My Yahoo

Subscribe via The Free Dictionary

Subscribe via Bitty Browser

Subscribe via NewsAlloy

Subscribe via InClue

Subscribe via My MSN

Subscribe via My AOL

Subscribe via Rojo


Ad Networks

Advertise Liberally

Buy an ad on all of the top liberal blogs with just one click.

A Member Of

The FeedBurner

Liberal Blog Network

Advertise on This Network


Site Stats

« AL-Gov: An Interesting Test-Case | Main | WI-Gov: GOP Campaign Manager on Abramoff Gravy Train »

Monday, October 10, 2005

2008: Western Primary

Posted by Bob Brigham

Swing State Project has written before of the need to let western states be involved with Presidental politics. However, tomorrow's breaking announcement about a 2008 "Western States" presidential primary could change everyone's calculations.

There is a DNC Commission that wants to let two states front-load with Iowa and New Hampshire. But what if instead of two "states" -- it were two elections, including a Western States Primary.

In discussing the new plan to diffuse the early strength, Jerome Armstrong suggests:

So I'd bet that the states that will be added in between, and if I had to guess, I'd go with New Mexico and Nevada as being the two states leading for the southwestern slot, and South Carolina and Alabama for the southern slot.

Solid analysis, but what if the "southwestern spot" was actually one big Western Primary?

Something to think about considerring the following announcement (via email):

Governor Richardson, Utah Governor Huntsman to Make Announcement Concerning Western Primary TUESDAY

SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman will hold a press conference at 11:30 am, Tuesday, October 11th, in the Governor’s cabinet room to discuss bipartisan Western Governor’s support for creating a “Western States” Presidential Primary in 2008.

Governor Huntsman is leading a bipartisan delegation of Utah legislators and party leaders to Santa Fe. Accompanying Governor Huntsman are Utah Senate President John Valentine, Utah Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, Utah House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander, Utah House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, Utah Democratic Party Chair Wayne Holland, Utah Republican Party Chair Joe Cannon.

The Utah delegation will meet with their New Mexico counterparts to discuss the Western Primary and immigration issues.

The Utah delegation will depart Santa Fe in the afternoon.

These two events could come together in a way that would turn conventional wisdom about presidential primaries on it's head.

I'm a big fan of some the Western Strategy: straight talk, bold action, populist, and authentic. In short, four qualities we were missing in 2004.

Could a western primary help bridge this gap? What about the talk of a western 2008 Democratic National Convention? What about both?

Posted at 04:38 PM in 2008 Election - President, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah | Technorati

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.swingstateproject.com/mt/mt-track-ssp.cgi/1804

Comments

Man, I hope so. I think an early mountain west primary could push Democratic message strategy in the correct direction. These folks need someone to give them a hint of social-issue libertarianism while being reminded that it is "responisble government" (i.e. big government) that keeps the farm subsidy checks in the mail.

Posted by: KansasNate [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 10, 2005 05:35 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment