The Great Primary Calendar re-shuffle Megathread

[cavalcade]

Supposedly Nevada has indeed picked the 14th- not confirmed yet though.

[cavalcade]

Supposedly Nevada has indeed picked the 14th- not confirmed yet though.

John Ralston, top political reporter in the state, tweeted that Nevada is indeed going on the 14th.

Then I believe that NH can legally go on the 10th and be satisfied that they are special.  Depending on the exact wording of the law, however, they might push the primary forward to the 7th (which would be 7 days before, but not a Tuesday), or the 3rd (which would be both).  Calculate the date of the Iowa caucus accordingly...

[cavalcade]

It now sounds (via Chuck Todd) like Iowa will set their date soon (before NH announces), and would prefer to go in January.

That makes it sound like NH is leaning towards the 7th or 10th.

[cavalcade]

Iowa just picked January 3 for their caucus:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111007/NEWS09/111007011/1056/

That gives NH a pretty nice window.  Seeing how it won't really be relevant this year anyway, they might as well take the 7th, or even the 10th.

[cavalcade]

Maybe they'd both go January 3.  But to clarify: Iowa is not locked in by the date they choose next Sunday, no?  They can move the caucus date after New Hampshire sets its date?

I think I had previously mentioned that the federal MOVE Act required them to set a date something like two months in advance, but apparently that's not an issue if they're willing to pay a fine for violating it.

You're talking about a state that forgoes millions of dollars each year in federal transportation funding rather than require adults to wear a seatbelt.

[cavalcade]

Assuming that Nevada moves to Feb. 4 and NH moves to Jan. 10 as expected, the early primary calendar will then look like this:

Tue, Jan. 3: IA caucus
Tue, Jan. 10: NH primary
Sat, Jan. 21: SC primary
Tue, Jan. 31: FL primary

Sat, Feb. 4: NV caucus
Sat, Feb. 4 - Sat, Feb. 11: ME caucus
Tue, Feb. 7: CO and MN caucuses
Tue, Feb. 28: AZ and MI primaries

Sat, Mar. 3: WA caucus
Tue, Mar. 6: Super Tuesday

I would rather see NV and FL switched, and obviously everything shifted back a couple weeks, but this would be a pretty good calendar considering the crazy alternatives that have been made possible.

[cavalcade]

Nevada GOP moves caucuses to Feb. 4:

Don't mess with New Hampshire.