NJ Senate votes to give NJ early 2008 Presidential primary....

[Gloria]

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-23/116525164554740.xml&storylist=jersey

Senate moves toward giving NJ early 2008 presidential primary
12/4/2006, 3:04 p.m. ET
By TOM HESTER Jr.
The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers on Monday approved a plan that would move the state near the front of the presidential primary lineup in a bid to give the Garden State more influence in selecting candidates.

Proponents of the move say it's needed because presidential candidates often visit New Jersey to raise money but don't court votes because the state's primary has been scheduled well after races were decided.

The state Senate voted 33-5 to move the state's presidential primary to the first Tuesday in February. That would place it on Feb. 5 in 2008, making New Jersey among the first states to hold a presidential primary that year.

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[oberliner]

1. What about having all the primaries on the same day?

Or at least over one week?

Why does it need to be spread out like this?

[Liberal Veteran]

3. I don't mind them being spread out a bit.

The whole New Hampshire primary always being the first primary is load of crap, however.

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

4. I too would love to have primaries all on the same day....

Democrats have there primaries one week and Repugs have theirs the next or visa versa. I don't like the fact that primaries in April and May mean nothing. After Iowa and New Hampshire half of the candidates have dropped out. This will never happen however because Iowa and New Hampshire would throw a shit fit. I'd also like to have conventions mean something like they used to. Not knowing who the candidate was going in.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Personally, I'd like to see them do something different with the primaries

One thing I'd like to see is maybe 5 sets of primaries randomly selected the year before.

This notion that any one state gets to always get to be the one that decides for the rest of the nation who is the strongest or best candidate for each party has always bugged the shit out of me.

[David Dunham]

5. This will help Hillary who is popular in NJ.

[mitchtv]

6. Heresy! a NE blue state having a say?

Good for them, but I would rather see 5 regional primaries dates rotated, giving all a shot.

[bklyncowgirl]

7. Yeaaaaaayyyy, we're gonna actually count.

The last time I cast a meaningful vote in a presidential primary was in 1992 when I proudly cast a vote for Jerry Brown in the New York Primary. Since moving to New Jersey I've had a choice of either ratifying the party's choice, casting protest vote for the guy I really liked if he was still on the ballot or not voting at all.

This is gonna be fun. Can you wait for the press of politicians debasing themselves as they seek the elusive but oh so meaninful Bruce Springsteen endorsement.

[tritsofme]

8. This is a good thing for a candidate like Hillary

Many lesser known candidates will be shut out of the expensive NYC media market.