GOP Panel Urges Giving Small States Early Shot at Primaries

Republicans proposed a presidential primary schedule Tuesday that would let small states vote first in early March, with clusters of larger states voting later through June.

The plan, recommended by a Republican advisory committee, did not address the tradition of Iowa and New Hampshire going first. The issue of early small states that allow “retail politics” is to be discussed later.

“We’re concerned that too few people have a say in the process,” said Jim Nicholson, chairman of the Republican National Committee. While GOP leaders say they are happy with their presumptive nominee this year, George W. Bush, Nicholson said “the wheels are coming off fast” in the nominating system.

The subject gained urgency this year after both parties’ winners were decided by early March, before half the states had held primaries or caucuses.

Leaders of both parties believe the current system has resulted in primaries starting too early in the year and then concluding too quickly, with the general election nine months away.

The current system is driving the nominating process toward a national primary day somewhat like Super Tuesday, when all states crowd up to a starting line, like the March 7 date imposed by the Democrats this year.

Under the GOP plan proposed Tuesday, the smallest states would vote on the first Tuesday in March, with three more groups voting in subsequent months, ending in June.

The plan will be considered by the party’s rules committee in Indianapolis next week--and, if endorsed, by the entire RNC at the party’s convention in Philadelphia in August. Democrats have elected to stay with their current system for now.