S. Carolina Set To Hold GOP Primary Earlier
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WASHINGTON — South Carolina is poised to hold its Republican presidential primary earlier than February 2, 2008, likely in mid-January, a move that is expected to push New Hampshire and Iowa to follow suit. Such shifts could mean the first GOP nominating contest could take place in December of 2007, in just four months.
South Carolina GOP Chairman Katon Dawson will announce the earlier date today during a joint news conference with New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner in Concord, N.H.
“We’re going to protect this battleground,” Mr. Dawson said of South Carolina’s historic first-in-the-South primary status.
He and his aides declined to disclose the date. But several Republican officials with knowledge of probable scenarios say the most likely option is for South Carolina to hold its primary on January 19, a change they say would lead New Hampshire to schedule its first-in-the-nation primary on January 7 or 8, and Iowa to hold its leadoff caucuses as early as mid-December, perhaps on the 17th.
But these Republicans also say Dawson may choose to hold the primary on January 22. That’s considered the less likely scenario because it’s a Tuesday and South Carolina has historically held its contest on a Saturday to ensure higher turnout.
“If they move, we will move. We’ll have to see what happens,” said Ray Hoffmann, Iowa Republican Party chairman.
Unlike in South Carolina, state laws in Iowa and New Hampshire require officials there to hold the first caucus and primary in the nation, respectively. As a result, those two states are expected to schedule their contests even sooner than planned with South Carolina’s move. Iowa and New Hampshire long have sought to protect their status as other states moved their primaries earlier.
As of Tuesday, Iowa is slated to hold its contest January 14, with New Hampshire on January 22 and South Carolina on February 2. Nevada’s GOP caucuses are scheduled for January 19, and there are no indications that date would change.
In May, Florida scheduled its presidential primary for January 29, infuriating the South Carolina GOP and prompting Mr. Dawson to maneuver to change the date in concert with Mr. Gardner.
