The 4 early states will be much more important in 2016 than 2012

[Keith and stuff]

Will Florida jump this time? It seems the GOP party elites are trying very hard to stop states like FL from becoming early states. I'm sure Paul's folks are already aware of this. Planning SC at the last minute will not work this time. Rand will need millions in the bank before the IA caucus even happens. February will be very busy and very important!

January 25. 2014 10:07PM
National GOP vote bolsters NH primary hold
By TIM BUCKLAND
New Hampshire Union Leader
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140125/NEWS06/140129498


New Hampshire's place in the primary election season got additional protection in an overwhelming vote by the Republican National Committee on Friday, according to national Committeeman Steve Duprey of Concord.

Duprey said Saturday that the 153-9 vote effectively shortens the GOP's primary season to four months and permits just four states - New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada - to hold a primary or caucus in February 2016.

Duprey said the rule change was deemed necessary after the 2012 primary season, in which Florida broke party rules and held an early primary, forcing other states to move up their primaries to historically early dates.

New Hamsphire, which historically has held the nation's first primary election, held its primary on Jan. 10, 2012, though Secretary of State William Gardner, who selects the primary date, had hinted he could set a date as early as in December.

In 2016, any state that tries to jump the calendar would be "punished" by losing all but nine of its delegates, Duprey said. Florida, for example, has 90 delegates, meaning its place of importance in the primary season would be diminished by 90 percent.

"It's like a death sentence in politics," Duprey said.

He said the calendar requires states to hold proportional elections after March 1, so the primary season isn't swamped by several large states effectively deciding the election on a single night, and be finished by the end of May.

This way, he said, "the voters aren't subjected to 10 months" of primary elections.

[Keith and stuff]

Here is a SC article from before the vote with additional details.

GOP plans shorter primary process
Changes would keep SC's first-in-the-South status
Jan. 24, 2014
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20140124/NEWS03/301230071


WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee is on track to compress the party’s nomination process for a presidential candidate in 2016, though Iowa and New Hampshire will still be the first states to cast votes in the process.

The rules changes are likely to be approved Thursday and ratified by the full committee gathered at the RNC winter meeting in Washington.

The three rules changes have the net effect of truncating the 2016 presidential primary process from Feb. 1 to mid-May, and could result in a nominee being selected by mid-March. In 2012, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney did not become the party’s presumptive nominee until late April and did not lock up a majority of delegates until May.

The proposed rules changes would establish tough delegate penalties for states that hold contests before March 1, in order to preserve the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada contests, which will take place in February.

The second rules change would require states holding contests between March 1-14 to award delegates proportionally. After March 14, states could award delegates however they choose, including winner-take-all.

A third change would require delegate selection to be complete 45 days before the official nominating convention, 10 days earlier than current rules.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has advocated moving the convention between June 27-July 18, in contrast to the late summer conventions held in recent years. An official announcement is not likely until spring, but if it is moved up, all delegates would need to be chosen by mid-May.

Politically, a shortened primary battle would reduce the threat of a drawn-out nomination fight that could bruise the eventual nominee ahead of a general election. There is a common view among Republicans gathered here that the 2012 nomination process was a drag on Romney’s campaign and weakened him going in to the general election facing President Obama.

“It dragged, and that wasn’t helpful to us,” said Henry Barbour, an RNC member from Mississippi. “It’s going to make it better.”

The RNC will also elect at the winter meeting the committee that will make the official recommendation for where the 2016 convention should be held. Potential cities include Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas and Phoenix.

[bunklocoempire]

I saw this "strategy" Friday and over the weekend and the how they're selling it.

From what I (Captain Obvious lol) got out of skimming the channels:

Less debate is better for the RNC. Resources are wasted when GOP candidates are examined too closely by the party. Only msm labeled moderate candidates must be considered -trying to sell a "whacko bird" is cost prohibitive and will only result in a loss anyway.


“It dragged, and that wasn’t helpful to us,” said Henry Barbour, an RNC member from Mississippi. “It’s going to make it better.”

Weaken the swim team and lower the bar. Again. A bunch of affirmative action mofos if I've ever seen them. :mad:

What a surprise.:rolleyes:

Fear, fear, fear.

[Keith and stuff]

Yeah. I see it as having at least to purposes.
1. This helps the big named candidates with a lot of money and support in the media.
2. This might increase the chances of a Republican winning the White House because less money from Republican donors will be spent on the primary and the winning candidate will have more time to put a team in place in the swing states.

[tangent4ronpaul]

March 1 - 15th is an improvement, IMNSHO.

-t

[Keith and stuff]

Here is an interview with the Republican National Committeewoman from New Hampshire on this issue. So makes the point that the media markets are less expensive in states like NH/IA than in states like NY, TX and CA so preserving NH as the most important primary state helps the grassroots. Well, those aren't the exact words she used, but that's what I think she might of meant. Either way, 100 years later, NH still has the most important primary in the nation.
http://www.wmur.com/political-scoop/Extended-Interview-Juliana-Bergeron/-/16254890/24219138/-/14051ppz/-/index.html