Earlier Calif. primary has hidden motive

[MaineDem]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. --California politicians say they want an early presidential primary so the nation's most populous state can play a greater role in the nominating contest.

But it's no secret here that what many also want is to keep their jobs a little longer.

An early primary election, which could scramble the dynamics of the presidential race, is the fulcrum of a complicated deal between Democratic leaders and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Moving California's presidential primary from June to February next year would give lame duck legislators, including the Democratic leaders of both houses, a chance to extend their terms before they are ousted from office.

The deal became clearer in mid-February when the top consultant to the Assembly Democratic leader and a strategist who has worked with Schwarzenegger said they would place a measure on the ballot to revise California's term limits law.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/28/earlier_calif_primary_has_hidden_motive/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

Ahhhhhhh.

[Le Taz Hot]

1. I don't really care what their motivations are.

The nation's most populous state SHOULD play a greater role. Oooh! Backroom deals! You mean like the one they played in Iowa in 2004? I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked! :sarcasm: