Caucus Leapfrog: Happy New Year

Caucus Date Leapfrog Update: Happy New Year!

Marc Ambinder at the Atlantic says South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson will “definitely” move the party’s primary from January 29. SC Republicans believe he could choose Jan. 15. That's a week before the currently date for New Hampshire, and NH Secretary of State Bill Gardner would almost certainly react.

And he can, reports Ron Gunzburger at Politics1:

Governor John Lynch (D) signed a law this week that gives Gardner virtually unfettered discretion to set the primary date, along with the candidate filing period, absentee ballot mailing date, and so on. The move is intended to enable the Granite State to outmaneuver all other states. This mean the NH primary could be in November if Gardner wants -- but look for him to keep it in the early January period barring unforeseen moves by states he sees as encroaching on their coveted status.

The South Carolina move would put New Hampshire, which demands a week before any other primary, on January 8. And if Iowa sticks with eight days before New Hampshire... New Year's Eve, folks. Calendar Year 2007 and the national parties and pundits will have kittens.

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Rahm Emanuel calls Dick Cheney on his claim that he's not part of the executive branch and proposes defunding the office of the Vice President. Almost pulls it off, too, losing only 209-217. Iowans vote on party lines; Ron Paul one of only two Republicans in support.

Williamsburg's parade organizer is now saying candidates weren't asked to stay away and that one parade committee member simply "indicated" they "should" stay away. Which may scratch the free speech issue but doesn't change the negative attitude. The Des Moines Register, in its initial article, played into that attitude as well with this graphic taking up most of the front page above the fold:



Displaying your support for the candidate of your choice is as all-American as it gets and should be welcomed, not discouraged, on the 4th of July and every day.