Saturday, June 09, 2007
Whither New Hampshire?
Chuck Todd answers the question, "Does the New Hampshire Primary still matter?"
"Frankly, I have my doubts. It’s all in the hands of their Secretary of State Bill Gardner. When he decides to hold the primary will determine the fate of New Hampshire’s significance in the process.
"The joke among most insiders is they half expect Gardner to move the primary to the week after Thanksgiving, therefore guaranteeing that the state stays first.
"Frankly, if New Hampshire did announce this move and Iowa did NOT follow, then, maybe, it would become influential. Then again, the media and candidate backlash on moving a primary for a 2008 campaign to 2007 might be enough to cause major candidates to decide to skip the state.
"Frankly, moving into 2007, while comically interesting, is riskier than holding their primary a few days after a Nevada caucus that many candidates aren’t going to take that seriously.
"So what should Gardner do?
"I think the best chance New Hampshire has to stay relevant is to move up a bit but do so in conjunction with Iowa. Move up a week to Jan. 15 and then hope Iowa moves from Jan. 14 to Jan. 7. Then the spacing of the calendar, at least in January, has some sanity to it."
"Frankly, I have my doubts. It’s all in the hands of their Secretary of State Bill Gardner. When he decides to hold the primary will determine the fate of New Hampshire’s significance in the process.
"The joke among most insiders is they half expect Gardner to move the primary to the week after Thanksgiving, therefore guaranteeing that the state stays first.
"Frankly, if New Hampshire did announce this move and Iowa did NOT follow, then, maybe, it would become influential. Then again, the media and candidate backlash on moving a primary for a 2008 campaign to 2007 might be enough to cause major candidates to decide to skip the state.
"Frankly, moving into 2007, while comically interesting, is riskier than holding their primary a few days after a Nevada caucus that many candidates aren’t going to take that seriously.
"So what should Gardner do?
"I think the best chance New Hampshire has to stay relevant is to move up a bit but do so in conjunction with Iowa. Move up a week to Jan. 15 and then hope Iowa moves from Jan. 14 to Jan. 7. Then the spacing of the calendar, at least in January, has some sanity to it."
# posted by Joltin' Django @ Saturday, June 09, 2007 
