RNC looks to fix 2012 primaries

[Wretched Excess]

RNC looks to fix 2012 primaries

Republicans yesterday took the first step in trying to prevent a front-loaded, de facto national primary in 2012, but big-state dissent surfaced immediately to preference given to smaller states.

The Republican National Committee's rules panel yesterday voted 28-12 for a plan that preserves desirable early slots for smaller states, including Iowa and New Hampshire, and rotates "pods" of larger states quadrennially in later slots.

"The impetus for change we made today is the foolishness of state after state competing to get to the head of the line, resulting in most cases in their getting less attention than they would ordinarily get," said Virginia's Rules Committee member, Morton Blackwell.

The "Ohio Plan," which will be considered by the full RNC in August, calls for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to hold their contests in mid-February.

Next comes a several-day "window" for 19 other small states to hold contests. The remaining states would then vote by region in three groups, or "pods," in March and April. The three groups would rotate every four years.

Some competing plans to Ohio GOP Chairman Robert Bennett's creation had pointedly eliminated the privileged first-in-the-nation status of Iowa and New Hampshire, arguing that neither is representative of the average Republican voter in America. It also has angered some chairmen from large-population states.

Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis said his state's influence in determining the GOP's nominee is likely to be minimal at best.

"The plan says our vote will always come after 23 other states and territories, making us probably irrelevant ...," he said.

California GOP Chairman Ron Nehring said he will not support the plan because "the net effect is that large states like California will never be among the first states voting."

With virtually every state wanting to hold its contest early enough to help determine the nominee, the current system was heading toward a national primary, dreaded by most Republicans because it would give insufficient time to vet nomination competitors.

The plan includes a mechanism to ensure Republicans — not Democrats — in control of state legislatures, which often set primary dates, decide their process.

GOP leaders in states with Democrat-controlled legislatures would go along with primary dates lawmakers set and possibly lose half their delegates, but they could hold party-funded conventions or caucuses within the party's schedule to get the remaining delegates seated.

Conventions and caucuses are less expensive than primaries and have the added advantage that only Republicans could participate — no independents or crossover Democrats, as permitted in some state primaries.

A similar plan to slow the trend toward a national primary failed at the 2000 Republican National Convention.

linky

it's a sticky problem, admittedly.  but ultimately it's probably about getting enough support to get it passed,
knowing full well that several "big states" are going to be unhappy.

but at least we are working on the problem before we had a train wreck like the democrats.

[DixieBelle]

Yes, it does need to be addressed and at least the GOP tries to handle things unlike the whiny Dems.

[Chris_]

Unfortunately they are working on the wrong "end" of the problem.....a better first cut at reforming the process would be holding a national Republican "caucus" attended by two deligates from each state who would decide WHO were and were NOT acceptable candidates.  Once a slate of potential candidates was decided, then the primary process could commence, and it would make no difference where or when they were held.  Any "Republican" that did not make the cut would be told in no uncertain terms, that they are free to run as an independent if desired, but they would not receive the backing of the national party.

Any other process will not insure that we do not end up with another RINO, selected either by the media (in McCain's case) or by crossover Dems in states where they both predominate, and are allowed to participate in our primaries (These would be states on either of the coasts).

YMMV

doc

[Lord Undies]

It should be done like "American Idol".  Every four years Fox could do a show called "American Eyeful" to run January through April.   

[DixieBelle]

^LOL! Only if they have talent. Oh wait....