Early Races in Iowa, New Hampshire May Get Competition From Michigan
By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 3, 2003; Page A04
URL:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39879-2003Mar4.html
Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) and Democratic National Committee member Debbie Dingell of Michigan have put their party's presidential candidates on notice: Don't show excessive loyalty to the privileged positions of Iowa and New Hampshire in the 2004 calendar of primaries and caucuses.
Levin and Dingell sent a letter to the candidates signaling that they will seek to move Michigan's presidential caucuses to Jan. 27, the same day as the hallowed New Hampshire primary. Levin long has objected to the special status accorded Iowa and New Hampshire, which conduct the nation's first presidential caucuses and primary, respectively. He says it makes contests in many other states virtually irrelevant. This year, he has decided to fight.
Reluctant to antagonize New Hampshire party activists, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terence R. McAuliffe opposes the move, and he could invoke sanctions against the Michigan delegation to the national party convention if it holds its caucuses that early without the DNC's approval.
The Levin-Dingell letter asked the candidates to reject requests from the other two states to refrain from campaigning in Michigan if the Wolverine state reschedules its caucuses to coincide with New Hampshire's primary. "Michigan has just as much right as any other state to determine the appropriate date for our delegate selection caucuses and to hear the views of the candidates," the letter said.
So far, the presidential candidates are trying to stay out of the spat, waiting to see what happens this spring. Nothing will happen soon, said Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer, who added that he is neutral on Levin's proposal.
The Michigan Democratic state central committee will meet April 26 to schedule its caucus, leaving lots of time for intrigue and jockeying. "I've been saying to people, 'Slow down,' " Brewer said. "I think people are overreacting, and Carl and Debbie may not prevail."
© 2003 The Washington Post Company |
