Professor Schaff and I have frequently argued against front-loading, the practice of states moving their primaries and caucus to earlier in the election year. The Democratic Party is actually doing something about it, to their credit. They are trying to enforce rules that two important states have apparently violated. From USAToday:
A federal judge refused Wednesday to make the Democratic National Committee seat Florida's 210-member delegation to next summer's nominating convention... [Judge] Hinkle ruled that the national party has a First Amendment "associational right" to set a primary schedule and enforce its rules. He noted that the national party let Iowa and New Hampshire go first and second, by tradition, and took 11 applications for the two other January slots. Florida didn't apply to do so.
The DNC has also imposed what amounts to a ban on Presidential candidates campaigning in Florida, which the candidates are apparently honoring. The same story is playing out in Michigan. This means that two of the most important states in the electoral college will have no role in choosing the Democratic nominee for President. Wow!
I would like to tell you that Republicans are showing similar gumption, but I can't.
The Republican National Committee also punished Florida for jumping the Feb. 5 date. But the GOP has taken away only half the state's delegation — 57 votes — and has not banned candidate campaigning in the state.
In this case the Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. What is at stake here is not only the nomination process, but the integrity of national parties. Of course the Republicans may benefit from their cowardice. Florida effectively decided the 2000 election, as Ohio did the 2004 election. How it will affect Florida's voters if the candidates do not appear in their state until after the convention is anyone's guess.
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