The Daily Background

Another day, another leapfrog in the primary process:

Michigan leaped to the head of the presidential primary lineup Thursday, setting a Jan. 15 election that could become the biggest primary in state history and a key battleground for the Republican and Democratic nominations.
[…]
Assuming [Michigan’s Democratic Governor Jennifer] Granholm approves the measure as expected, Michigan — for now — would have the first primary and third nominating contest, behind caucuses for Wyoming Republicans on Jan. 5 and for both parties Jan. 14 in Iowa.

The problem is, IA and NH state laws already require them to go first anyways. So Michigan already knows they won’t actually be first, they’ll just be shoving everybody else up. It’s like a giant game of chicken with December (and both Iowan officials and NH officials have made it very clear they really don’t want to hold their respective primary and caucus in 2006). Here’s a list of how the primaries and caucuses stand at the moment up until Tsunami Tuesday, although it’ll probably be outdated in a few minutes anyway:

Still undecided
Iowa caucuses are set for Jan. 14, but by state law must be eight days before voting elsewhere, which would put them Jan. 4 or earlier.

New Hampshire’s primary was expected to be Jan. 22, but by state law it must be seven days before any other primary, putting it Jan. 12 or earlier.

Dates set
Jan. 15: Michigan primary (if Gov. Jennifer Granholm approves it).

Jan. 19: Nevada caucuses, South Carolina Republican primary

Jan. 22: Wyoming Republican conventions

Jan. 29: Florida primary, South Carolina Democratic primary

Feb. 1-3: Maine Republican caucuses

Feb. 5: Alabama primary, Alaska caucuses, Arizona primary, Arkansas primary, California primary, Colorado Democratic caucuses, Connecticut primary, Delaware primary, Georgia primary, Idaho Democratic caucuses, Illinois primary, Kansas Democratic conventions, Missouri primary, New Jersey primary, New Mexico Democratic primary, New York primary, North Dakota caucuses, Oklahoma primary, Tennessee primary, Utah primary, West Virginia Republican convention

The rest of the states trickle off after that, and the whole thing will likely be decided on both sides by then anyways.

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog