E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe Republican National Committee is asking Nevada to move its primary to Feb. 4 from Jan. 14.
Ahead of the Nevada Republican Party's Central Committee meeting tomorrow, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus wrote a letter to the Nevada GOP Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian, requesting the change.
It's an effort to end the standoff between New Hampshire -- which hasn't set its primary date and has threatened to go as early as December -- and Nevada.
"After much consideration and many conversations with you and other Republican stakeholders," Priebus wrote in a letter dated Oct. 20, 2011, "I hope you will consider holding the Nevada Republican Party caucuses on Saturday, February 4th."
Priebus notes that he was in Las Vegas this week speaking with Tarkanian. And he takes a swipe at New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, who has unilateral control over moving the Granite State's date, as well as the Florida GOP.
"I realize you were put in this position because of the actions of other states, and I fully appreciate you consideration of abiding by the Rules put in place by the RNC as they relate to the four carveout states. A February 4th caucus date will eliminate the uncertainty caused by Florida's actions and the posturing of New Hampshire's secretary of state...."
Priebus argues that Feb. 4 "would be a far more prominent place on the primary calendar." He argues that while Wyoming went early in 2008, Jan. 5, they "went largely unnoticed."
He continued, "It seems unlikely that Nevada will get the attention it deserves if it is wedged in between the states that historically have been first. ... For a period of four weeks, Nevada will be the only game in town."
Priebus also wrote, "I believe that the uncertainty of the calendar and related drama is tainting all of the carveout states. The only way to end this uncertainty and drama is for Nevada to move to February 4th and restore the orderliness of the calendar."
We noted that something was afoot in First Thoughts this morning:
The Las Vegas Sun: “National Republicans … have been trying to strike a deal with Nevada. In exchange for moving its caucuses back to early February, it would be assured to be third in the nation in 2016 — even though that’s what Nevada was supposed to be guaranteed in the 2012 cycle. At first, state officials and top GOP brass bristled at the idea that Nevada accommodate the vagaries of New Hampshire state law. But now the tone is decidedly different. ‘I hope we reach a resolution that’s mutually beneficial to the candidates, the state of Nevada and the Republican Party,’ [Gov. Brian] Sandoval said, intimating that he trusted the RNC to do right by Nevada in the future.’” The Nevada GOP is set to meet to discuss this issue, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Leave a Comment:
Domenico,
This nonsense has got to be reeking havoc on you & Mark's travel itinerary's... ;o)
Feisty, good observation.
And the entire, ridiculous squabble over electoral precedence is wrecking caelndars everywhere. If New Hampshire sets its election in December, then there are really some problems because of the lead time required by law to do so many things. Just consider this - a primary, between Christmas and New Year's? Might happen .... and what a mess that would create.
I've been meaning to ask, however, about Ms. Tarkanian. Is she a relative of the late, great basketball coach?
John A.:
I'd really like to hear your take on why taxpayers are footing the bill for a private party - the G.O.P. - election. Why shouldn't the parties pay their own way? Taxpayers pick up the cost of the General Election, but not private party elections.
Anybody else got an answer?
Tarkanian? Is she related to Tark the Shark?
Paul, that's what i was wondering. Last time I saw him was at the funeral of a (former) girlfriend's father. Guy literally dropped dead on the court while attending a game at Tark's invitation. His daughter, while distressed and grieving, always later felt her Dad had gone out happy.
Can we just bring Billy Back!!! He is the only one strong enough to deal with this. I like Obama, but he is just too soft and placating to do this!!
Jean Sanders
Goodness gracious, whatever are YOU talking about - aside, that is, from a backhanded and ridiculous slap at the President?
The scheduling of these elections is at the sole discretion of each state's Republican party apparatus - which, had you read the story, means that even the national party can't make the decisions.
WHY would ANY President be able to, or wish to, get caught in that kind of meat grinder?
Might better move it to 2016 -- with their impressive slate of can't-do-its the R's have already cooked their goose for '12.
ATTENTION RNC & DNC:
Parties who tolerate nonsense, get more nonsense. Time to announce the policy first, and strip delegates if the one-up-man-ship continues. Nip it in the bud.