Primary chaos and the sunshine state
Updated on 28 August 2007
"It's like a banana republic - we don't know which states, which dates, what rules." Felicity Spector blogs on the latest problem to hit the US electoral process.
"It's like a banana republic - we don't know which states, which dates, what rules" - Barack Obama's campaign manager, clearly frustrated at the chaos surrounding the selection of presidential nominees.
The traditional calendar for party primaries is in tatters as states desperate for more influence over the process demand earlier and earlier votes.
Now it's developed into a full-blown confrontation over Florida's decision to bump its primary up to 29 January.
Democrats have been told they'll lose ALL their delegates to next summer's convention unless they revoke the plan. The Republicans have threatened less drastic sanctions as they also struggle to keep control over the schedule.
The bigger states - and Florida is the fourth largest in the Union - have long been jealous over what they see as New Hampshire and Iowa's undue influence.
The 2008 election has already broken all records: the earliest to start, the most money raised and spent, and in some ways the most interactive. Barely a week goes by without some kind of candidate forum or debate.
The problem now is that the early primary stampede has left the contenders uncertain about where and when to concentrate their campaigns. If Florida were to move up its primary, so too would Michigan.
New Hampshire, determined to preserve its "first in the nation" status, could hold its vote in 2007 - unprecedented - and almost a full calendar year before the presidential vote itself.
Of course the bigger states - and Florida is the fourth largest in the Union - have long been jealous over what they see as New Hampshire and Iowa's undue influence, that these tiny maverick states with their unrepresentative populations should have so much say over who becomes the eventual nominee.
But there's a real sense of history for anyone who's campaigned here, especially for underdogs - memories of McGovern, Nixon and Clinton the comeback kid echo across those Granite State streets.
The retail politicking for which it's famous means candidates have to walk the streets, make the calls, speak at those town hall meetings in church halls and old folks' homes and school back yards. T
he volunteers, the canvassers and the crowds of real voters are about the only chance they get to keep it real in these days of mass media, image management and the heavy hand of spin.
The party hierarchies have made some effort to broaden diversity, allowing Nevada and South Carolina to pick earlier dates, but they're drawing the line at Florida joining the rush. DNC officials have given them 30 days to sort out the mess - or forget any convention delegates.
So far Hillary Clinton says she'll still go to Florida. Barack Obama's ducked the controversy, insisting it's not his job to set the rules. Meanwhile, back in Miami they're pleading for "mercy, not judgement".
Hmm. Seven years after the hanging chad fiasco - the primary calendar chaos. Looks like the good old Sunshine State has done it again.
