Florida Primary Dates Still Up For Grabs
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - We won't know until the end of the month when Floridians can vote for their choice among the GOP candidates for President. A special committee decided Friday to wait until Sept. 30 to decide when to schedule the state's 2012 presidential primary.
The state wants to be sure Florida is among the first states to weigh in, and panelists appointed to set a date say they don't want to usurp primaries and caucuses in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, which traditionally kick off the primary season.
That said, members of the Florida Presidential Preference Primary Date Selection Committee say the state has earned the right to become one of the first to vet national candidates. With 29 electoral votes up for grabs, Florida would be a critical bellwether state as the parties choose their candidates. This is especially true for Republicans, who are being asked to choose from a wide slate of candidates.
States must announce their dates by October 1. Florida is waiting to see what other states do, and will decide at the last moment.
"Florida should maintain its position among the early primaries," said former Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. "It is the largest swing state and most diverse state in the country."
Democrats and Republicans on the 10-member committee, most of whom called into the meeting, were in apparent agreement that they want Florida to follow South Carolina, which now plans to hold its primary Feb. 28, but is likely to push up that date following recent developments in other states.
"My preference would be (to go) immediately after South Carolina or as close to South Carolina as we could," said Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine and former Republican Party of Florida chairman.
In 2008, Florida's decision to hold its preference primary Jan. 31, resulted in both parties being at least temporarily sanctioned by their respective national committees for holding their contests too early. This time around, political leaders plan to honor the wishes of other states that have traditionally led the way.
"In order for Florida to make a difference, I think we should go right after South Carolina," said Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami. " Ideally, I would like to be fifth."
Prior to the 2008 election, Florida's traditional March primary meany major decision in the race were made without input from Florida voters.
The panel plans to reconvene at 11 a.m. on Sept. 30 to make its final decision. States are required to lock in their primary and caucus dates by Oct. 1.
