August 19, 2006
DNC In Chicago: It's Official... NH's 3rd
Manchester and Des Moines, meet Vegas and Charleston
Following a brief but angry speech from a top NH Dem, the DNC formally ratified a plan to add NV and SC to the list of early-voting states for the '08 presidential campaign. The schedule, previously approved by the DNC's rules and bylaws cmte, is as follows: IA caucus on 1/14, NV caucus on 1/19, NH primary on 1/22 and SC primary on 1/29.
Concluding its summer meeting in Chicago, DNCers approved the plan over the fierce objections of NH Dem Chair Kathy Sullivan, who called it a "hurried and band-aid approach" to the real issue of "front-loading" presidential primaries.
Sullivan opened her remarks this morning by wishing Bill Clinton, who has backed NH in this debate, a happy 60 birthday, which is today. "And frankly, it's a little ironic we're considering this rule today because had this been in effect in 1992, I do not believe he would have been president of the United States."
Sullivan said Dems, facing a "historic opportunity to take back Congress and the White House," is instead "tinkering with the calendar. ... If I truly thought this plan would win us the White House in '08, I would support it and face the wrath of friends back in New Hampshire. But it won't. The continued compressing of this calendar is goign to rob candidates of the process they need to put together a winning campaign."
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) strongly backed the plan. She said it goes a long way to achieve "rich diversity," on many levels, that the party needs in its nominating process. "We are, thank God, an evolving party. Our rules aren't stagnant. They aren't meant to be."
Tubbs-Jones, who is African-American, drew parallels between the new calendar and the civil-rights battle dating back to the 1960s. "This is another link in that unfolding chain that began in 1964 and lives on today," she said to raucous applause from DNCers. "Together, these states add rich diversity."
The vote paves the way for '08 Dems to start lavishing attention -- and money -- on party activists in NV and SC as they seek to build their bases. With that in mind, NV GOV nominee Dina Titus (D) was in Chicago this weekend helping to raise her state's profile. "Let the parade of presidential hopefuls into the state begin!" wrote NV political analyst Jon Ralston in a RalstonFlash sent minutes after the DNC vote. [JOHN MERCURIO]
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