Florida poised to move Republican primary forward to late January

UPDATED 1:45 p.m. ET

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in this file photo

/ Bizuayehu Tesfaye

Florida appears poised to schedule its Republican primary in late January, earlier than national party officials want, setting off a chain reaction that would send Iowa voters to make their choice for president the first week of 2012.

A spokesperson for Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon tells CBS News that the commission appointed to select the state's presidential primary date is expected to announce on Friday that the Florida primary will be January 31, 2012.

The commission had been looking at a February 21 date, but Florida officials moved their target date forward this week after reports over the weekend that Missouri, Colorado and Georgia were looking to get a headstart on Florida.

The staff of the Florida governor, Senate president and House speaker, all Republicans, who each appointed 3 of the 9 members on the panel, have been discussing the move and are pushing for the January 31 timetable, the earliest possible date that the commission could pick for the primary, aides said.

But Florida Democrats say not so fast. "In my opinion, this is a game of Republican Party chicken between states," said Scott Arceneaux, the Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party. Arceneaux told CBS News that the move is a bluff and ultimately the commission will come to an agreement on the February date. The primary date game is "a detriment to the voters and taxpayers of Florida who want to know their election will be," he said.

Sources say this is a late in the game move between states to settle the primary calendar. States have until this Saturday, October 1 to get their planned primary dates submitted to the RNC. Florida officials are particularly worried Georgia, where the secretary of state, Republican Brian Kemp, has the sole authority to select that state's primary date, will move up ahead of Florida. Kemp plans to make his announcement for Georgia's preference on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. ET.

The goal of the commission, and the Florida elected officials, all along was to ensure that Florida had the fifth primary, behind Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The Republican National Committee had been pushing Florida for a date later in February or even March, to keep the first four primaries in February to avoid what happened in 2008, when Florida moved its primary up causing an early push of primary contests with the Iowa caucuses being held the first week of January. It appears that the exact situation that the Republican Party was hoping to avoid, if the January date is selected, is likely to happen again in 2012.

The Republican National Committee has tried to keep its preferred calendar by threatening not to seat delegates of states that jumped the calendar at the Republican convention that will be held in Tampa. That threat apparently hasn't swayed Florida officials, who cited the "impact" and "momentum" that a candidate would get by winning such a large swing state primary that early in the process, as the basis for their decision. Officials said they were "looking out for the voters of Florida" to make sure Florida had a significant role in the nomination process. They also didn't believe the threat of not seating delegates as a serious concern, as they noted that there hasn't been a contested Republican nomination contest in some time.

"There's no way to win the White House without Florida," said Brian Hughes, the Communications Director of the Republican Party of Florida, citing the importance of having Florida have a sizeable role in the nominating process. Having campaigns be "put through the paces" in Florida is "good for our eventual nominee" he said.

A state like Florida, large as it is, tests the fundraising mettle of those who want to compete in its multiple, expensive media markets, and can be a make or break state for upstarts who use grassroots efforts in smaller contests. The cost of competing in Florida makes the investment there that much more perilous, as failing to win after spending a lot to compete could break a campaign. Florida also boasts a larger percentage of senior voters, those over 65, than other early states, highlighting the already growing rift between front runners Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney over Social Security.

[carolo43]

Why does FL do this? The last election they changed their primary date forcing all others to change their dates. What's the problem they can't have their primary when they are expected to?

[Zann-Zel]

All the primaries should be at exactly the same time, so no state is more important than another.

I've run across another good idea too.
http://www.getmoneyout.com/

From our Washington Insider, Jimmy Williams, here is our Constitutional Amendment:
"No person, corporation or business entity of any type, domestic or foreign, shall be allowed to contribute money, directly or indirectly, to any candidate for Federal office or to contribute money on behalf of or opposed to any type of campaign for Federal office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, campaign contributions to candidates for Federal office shall not constitute speech of any kind as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or any amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Congress shall set forth a federal holiday for the purposes of voting for candidates for Federal office."

[ky1946]

I think we should have all the primaries done in january. Then move up the election to february. It would save billions and we would get to watch real tv. the rest of the year. Need to add a waiver clause. You get three months in office to start making some positive changes or the second best candidate gets his turn. Give the 2nd choice the same time frame and go on down the list. It would prove to the voting public one clear conclusion. Either one of these candidates can get something done or worst case senario, NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING. Include the congress in this same program and watch something start happening.

[ky1946]

At my present employment, I have to go thru a yearly evaluation, on my hire-in-date. If I am being productive, don't miss work, and am doing what is expected, I can expect an increase in pay. If on the other hand, I am not meeting expectations, I can continue at my present pay scale, but, I have been given the reasons for the bad evaluation and what I must do to improve or I can be terminated.
I think voters should have the same right. After a year in office, the pres., congress and all other elected offices get an evaluation.
Do something positive, at-a-boy, do nothing or the same ole, same ole and we can show you to the door.

[credibility2]

When our president was running for the office, Illinois, where I reside, changed its primary to accommodate a more favorable voting situation for then U.S. Senator Obama. The IL primary used to be in March, but was changed to February. The Dems thought voters would have not voted for Obama given all of the other primaries in other states prior to a March date. Point is, states change to try and get the advantage for their preferred candidates on their ballots.

[credibility2]

I think caucuses should be banned. These are not like real primaries or general elections. Here's how Iowa conducts its hallowed caucus: 1) allows non-resident college students to cast their vote; 2) allows under-age voting by individuals who are 17 years old, but who turn 18 years old during the actual election year they're voting in; 3) individuals are allowed to vote multiple times for multiple candidates in order to get a single candidate selected...if a person votes for a candidate and they don't get the majority of votes, they get to vote until one candidate gets the majority. This is a goofy way to generate votes for a candidate..real or pretend, which is what the caucuses are.

[notyrants]

Florida must be one of the most corrupt states in the union.

[Progress4USA]

I'm STILL not over what Florida did to us in 2000.

[larry2012]

Primaries are a joke anyway and nothing more than an excuse to party. Besides, the whole idea that our votes mean anything whatsoever has become a fallacy. Corporations, banks, unions and other BIG MONEY interests are the ones who actually put politicians in office. Don't look now buy our republic is in danger of collapse unless WE THE PEOPLE start fighting back.

[Zann-Zel]

http://www.getmoneyout.com/

From our Washington Insider, Jimmy Williams, here is our Constitutional Amendment:
"No person, corporation or business entity of any type, domestic or foreign, shall be allowed to contribute money, directly or indirectly, to any candidate for Federal office or to contribute money on behalf of or opposed to any type of campaign for Federal office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, campaign contributions to candidates for Federal office shall not constitute speech of any kind as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or any amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Congress shall set forth a federal holiday for the purposes of voting for candidates for Federal office."

[realist51]

Man! they can't even govern there own primaries And people actually want to put more of these baggers, birthers, buffoon right wing nuts in office to further trash the country. like a bunch of little kids fighting about who gets to pick who for the game of dodge ball. LMAO!!

[jimbom121]

The whole primary process has gotten ridiculous. We saw both sides do it 2008, and now Repubs doing it again this year.