Add Tennessee to the list of states that are contemplating moving their 2008 presidential primary closer to the start of the primary season. The Nashville City Paper reports:
Tennessee Democrats and Republicans are working together on a political topic they actually agree on – moving the state’s presidential primary up on the calendar so Tennessee can be a factor in the 2008 election. Chairmen of both the state Democratic and Republican parties want to move the primary up one week so the state will play a bigger role in who receives their party’s nomination, joining a national growing trend among U.S. states.
Currently, Tennessee’s presidential primary is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2008. Bob Davis, the chairman of the state Republican Party, and Gray Sasser, the chairman of the state Democratic Party, would like it held Feb. 5 instead.
"It’s just another way to be in the mix," Davis said. "I mean, by the time they get to Tennessee, as it's set right now, this thing could be over with. By moving our primary up, we'd be in the mix with everybody else and be able to play a role in who the nominee will be."
If Tennessee moved its primary up to Feb. 5, it would join a growing list of nine states – including neighboring Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and North Carolina - having their primary on that date. Joining those states would place Tennessee within the second wave of primary elections, right after the Iowa Caucuses on Jan. 14 and the Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, respectively, that follow later in January.
I understand the rush to the front, but, really, it would be better for all concerned if more states would move their primaries later rather than earlier. Here's why: it would give voters more time to hear from and learn about all of the myriad of candidates running for the Democratic and Republican nominations. If every state that is considering moving its primary to early February actually does so, the race will essentially be over on Feb. 6, and the presumptive nominees will immediately launch the general-election campaign that traditionally doesn't begin until after the summer conventions rather than five months before.
More later primaries would benefit each party by putting a premium on platforms and positions rather than who can raise the most cash to buy TV ads to raise name recognition. More later primaries would also benefit the campaign advisers, ad firms, consultants and strategists, most of whom will be at least temporarily out of of job on Feb. 6 if so many states front-load the primary calender and the race is effectively when the sun rises that morning.
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