South Dakota Straight Talk has reignited the debate over moving up South Dakota's presidential primary (a topic we've discussed often on this blog). I know my colleague Prof. Schaff disagrees, but I think moving forward would be a good idea. Joel Rosenthal concludes that moving the primary forward will help establish a relationship between national political leaders and political leaders in South Dakota:
Because 2008 is an open election, an early Presidential Primary would ensure that the next president of the United States would visit South Dakota before he or she is elected. The unsuccessful candidates in what promises to be a crowded and colorful field will not leave the national stage; they will continue to be opinion leaders for their parties and champions for their causes. The real benefit to an early Presidential Primary would be establishing a close-up and personal friendship with these powerful people. National political leaders would develop both personal and professional working relationships with the leaders of our state. Rather than read one-page position papers about issues crucial to South Dakota, political leaders would have first-hand knowledge. They would understand the real people and real needs behind rural water systems, renewable fuels, farm-to-market highways, our growing financial services industry, Missouri River management, tribal-state relations, drought relief, and the challenges of our “donut demographics”—with increasing numbers of the elderly and the very young. Further, an early Presidential Primary would encourage more young South Dakotans to become active in all political parties—and in public service.
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