Mountain West Rises as Political Power

For the past couple of election cycles, two trinities have dominated America's political universe. In the primaries: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. In the general: Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania.

In 2008, two realignments of the political stars are likely to lead to the upstaging of both.

In early '08, a big-state primary seems more and more certain by the day to overshadow its small-state counterpart. California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida have all expressed strong interest in moving their primary dates up to February 5 (California is all-but-committed), just days after the traditional early three — creating what CNN political commentator Bill Schneider has dubbed a "Super Duper Tuesday" contest.

In late '08, the action seems destined to migrate significantly westward — away from some of the traditional battlegrounds and toward an emerging new one: the interior West. Here, then, is a roundup of what to watch in the West as Election Day — still so very far away — approaches.

Read all about it at NYSunPolitics.com: Watching the West.