The GOP Enveloped By Campaign Calendar Sanity

Townhall.com ^ | January 26, 2014 | Hugh Hewitt

[Kaslin]

This week past, the Republican National Committee, ably led by its chairman, Wisconsin's Reince Priebus, put into effect reforms of the presidential nominating process that greatly simplify and shorten the primary season and, when combined with the two others reforms that are coming --an early convention in June or early July, and a coherent, purpose-driven debate system and schedule--will greatly enhance the prospects for a November win by the eventual GOP nominee.

The possible GOP field* is large, and it needs information now to plan campaigns then. Geraghty the Indisensable has more commentary, and Zeke Miller has additional details, but the new calendar is likely this:

The Iowa caucuses on Monday, February 1, 2016;

The New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, February 9, 2016;

The South Carolina primary on Tuesday, February 16, 2016;

and the Nevada caucuses on Tuesday, February 23.

Expect a new "Super Tuesday" on Tuesday March 1, as would-be early state players rush to attract all the money and attention left after South Carolina, but note the two week gap between South Carolina's voting and the expected new Super Tuesday. Suddenly the Palmetto State has a a lot of leverage as the winner of its 2016 brawl will have a fortnight of momentum on which to build headed into the day which is expected to be crowded with early primaries, all required by the RNC to divide their delegates proportionally.

Big states that want "winner-take-all"drama and "knock-out" potential (and dollars) should angle for Tuesday, March 15, which is the earliest such a contest can be held, and if Ohio wants clout (and maybe a leg up in the hunt of the convention) its GOP dominated legislature should move the primary to that day. I doubt Governor Kasich would object.

Whatever shakes out, the madness is out of the system, so all hail Reince. If he can pull an eight-to-ten debate schedule out of his hat --say, one the week after New Hampshire, and one the week after South Carolina, and the other six spaced from September of 2015 through January 2016 --with blackout days from Friday December 18 through the end of the year-- he may be carried around the eventual convention site of the convention hall by journalists who spent Christmas 2011 in Iowa and New Hampshire. (Cities wishing to bid for the early GOP 2016 convention must do so by the end of next month with a site selection recommendation coming from this group and a decision in August of this year.) With a rational calendar, the allure of early debates just isn't going to be there for most would-be presidents, but I don't think I'll have much trouble booking the field* when their media teams figure out that 94.5 Conservative Talk covers upstate South Carolina in a blaze of 100,000 wonder, while other affiliates like WJXY-FM 93.9/93.7 in Myrtle Beach cover the coast.

South Carolina is the real winner in all of this, but there is no big loser, which is why the Priebus-led diplomacy pays off big. It is a level playing field. It is a rational one as well, and the candidates who aspire to lead the party and eventually the nation have to nod in agreement that this makes sense.

Now if the selection committee would just hold on to the common sense theme and pick Cleveland with its new convention hall, excellent mass transit from outlying areas, and the expected trifecta of the 2o15 World Series, 2016 Super Bowl, and 2016 NBA Finals appearances of its three major professional franchises providing a tailwind to the convention that summer. (Columbus will counter, of course, that Urban nation will have triumphed in early 2016, and that is most likely right, but it is still 1 versus 3 in the momentum-generating events. And Columbus does not have a beautiful lake or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)

A very good week for the GOP indeed. If there had been such a meeting in January 2010, President Romney might well be clamping down sanctions harder on Iran and markets steadier under a budget accord negotiated by Vice President Ryan.

*The GOP Field (potential candidates who have declared, hinted, or been tipped as candidates, or for whom there is not insignificant acclaim from fervent supporters outside of their families and state): Amb. John Bolton, Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov. Bobby Jindal, Gov. John Kasich, Rep. Peter King, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Mike Pence, Sen. Rand Paul, Gov. Sarah Palin, Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Paul Ryan, Gov. Rick Snyder, Sen. John Thune, Gov. Scott Walker.

[1010RD]

That’s perfect and the correct response. Don’t forget the statehouse elections either. We need to hold those for a generation. Right now we have to hold and expand our control over states. That’s where the next fight is.

http://www.statescape.com/resources/partysplits/partysplits.aspx

[Kaslin]

Yes he has. As a matter of fact (I think it was Bret Baier) who was asking him on Friday evening if he was going to run and he said that he would leave the running to others, but that he would support the candidate 100 percent.

I found out in the 2008 it was a waste to make Fred Thompson run for president, because his heart wasn't in it. He was my first choice. I will not make the same mistake again.

[MuttTheHoople]

First off, the GOP should begin their primary season in Texas. Instead of having to answer questions like, "What will you do for the Cheeeel-dren", you'll get questions like, "What will you do to stop illegal alien invaders from crossing the border" or "what will you do to ensure the 2nd Amendment will never be repealed?"

Second, NO OPEN PRIMARIES. I don't want Democrats choosing our nominee.

Finally, NO DEBATES FROM MAINSTREAM NETWORKS. I'm tired of hearing questions about abortion, and want to hear more about how the candidate will restore America from the disaster it is now. I want Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Dennis Miller, Brit Hume, etc. moderating our debates....NO MORE FAT ANN CROWLEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kaslin]

blah, blah, blah.

[G Larry]

Grow up!

Hugh is trying ensure the lame stream media isn’t dictating our Primary and Debate schedule.

Would YOU like to debate the subject or take swipes at the author?

[maine yankee]

The ‘leading’ candidate will get to pick the delegates from ech state regardless of that stat’e convention or caucus.
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Willard did that in 2012 because he was afraid of Governor Sarah Palin..

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He (they) did that because they were afraid of Ron Paul.

[G Larry]

Another FReeper vote for Hillary and the destruction of America.

Because YOU are going to teach the GOP a lesson.

Gee Thanks.....

[G Larry]

No, he’s actively campaigning.

Just not dynamic enough to get a GOP nomination.

I’m guessing he’ll run 3rd Party.

He really focuses on shedding labels and addressing solutions.

Great idea if we had time to transition. But these bastards on the left are trying to kill us (America).

He won’t gain enough national attention, as the MSM will ignore him.

He’s a Black Conservative....Why would the cover him?

[Tupelo]

Gee, another GOP vote. Party unity trumps all.

[G Larry]

Here’s how the real world works.

You fight your butt off to nominate the most conservative candidate possible.

That means starting early and know who you’re backing.

In the end, if you don’t get the results you wanted, you don’t through a tantrum and give the advantage to the folks trying to destroy America.

Do you think the 3% who boycotted Romney are going to “teach the GOP a lesson” before the left destroys America?

[gusopol3]

Thanks

[staytrue]

"South Carolina is the real winner in all of this, but there is no big loser, "

Ok, conservatives, what more do you want ? SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE BIG WINNER.

If you conservatives can't get your man elected with SOUTH CAROLINA BEING THE BIG WINNER, you guys don't deserve to win. Frankly, if it were me, I would have the same plan as Priebus except the March 1 super Tuesday would have only 4 states. They would be Nevada, Ohio, Florida, Virginia.

The bottom line is we need to win all those states or we don't win.

You take the Romney states and add those 4 to it and you get victory and those 4 states are the easiest to flip to our side.

[staytrue]

“South Carolina is the real winner in all of this, but there is no big loser, “

“Conservatives and TEA Party need not apply”

Did you read the article ?

“South Carolina is the real winner in all of this, but there is no big loser, “

“SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE BIG WINNER”

If you tea party/conservatives don’t like South Carolina being very important, then YOU ARE IDIOTS.

[staytrue]

“Willard did that in 2012 because he was afraid of Governor Sarah Palin..”

Palin was too much of chicken to run in 2012. Who the heck is afraid of someone afraid to run.

[Tennessee Nana]

Meanwhile Hugh Hewitt still gets a tingle over your boy Willard...

[staytrue]

“Aiken would remember how the Romney boys treated them in 2008 also”

Aiken lost in 2012 and he needed no help from Romney in losing. He achieved that all by himself and he lost a seat that should have been a sure thing because McCaskill is a crook.

[staytrue]

“First off, the GOP should begin their primary season in Texas.”

Wrong. The gop can not win with Texas alone.

The first states should be Nevada, Ohio, Florida, and Virginia.

We lose any one of those and we have almost certainly lost in 2016.

[Tennessee Nana]

I think you are confusing Congressman Todd Akin with the city of Aiken, South Carolina...

[Tennessee Nana]

However if it hadn’t been for the big ugly mouth of your boy Willard, Todd Akin would have had a chance to win..

[Kevmo]

from my home page

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Here’s how I think primaries should be organized:

My suggestion is basically to hold the first primary in the state that has the highest percentage of GOP votes in the last election, the 2nd primary in the 2nd highest, and so on. 2 primaries a week for 25 weeks, with the last primaries being the suckup-to-the-democrats. And the democrats could easily have their primary schedule the same way, if they wanted.

This way, if a state is 60% republican, there is still incentive for them to get out the vote for 61% republican so they can bump up their state in the primary schedule.

Also: Rotate all the states (even the big ones) through an early schedule so that everyone gets access at some point to the front line.

OR

Let each state bid when they want their primary to take place. The earlier the primary, the fewer the delegates they control according to some logarithmic or steep curve formula.

18 posted on Thursday, January 31, 2008 9:55:08 AM by Kevmo (We need to get rid of the Kennedy Wing of the Republican Party. ~Duncan Hunter) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962610/posts?page=18#18

Second thing is the order of the primaries should be determined by the percentage of republicans in the last vote. The higher the %pubbie, the sooner the state appears on the primary schedule, with a mix of big & little states and our staunchest republican states get to go FIRST. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965735/posts?page=862#862

24 posted on Friday, September 04, 2009 8:52:29 PM by Kevmo (So America gets what America deserves - the destruction of its Constitution. ~Leo Donofrio, 6/1/09)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse] http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2332420/posts?page=24#24

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