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Florida Moves Primary To January 29

Rescheduling sets off race for first place

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted May 4, 2007 10:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – The state's historic election difficulties notwithstanding, Florida's presidential primaries will be among the earliest in the nation. Yesterday's legislative approval of the January 29 date is already provoking other states into maneuvering for the first spot. Said the Massachusetts secretary of state: "The idea that this election could begin in 2007 may come true."

Both national parties impose stiff penalties on states that schedule primaries before February 5, but New Hampshire and South Carolina vowed to reclaim their traditional precedence. Florida, where chaos reigned after the 2000 presidential general election, may lose half of its convention delegates. Republicans control the state legislature, but the sanctions would apply to both parties.

Florida Primary Election Kicks Off With New Machines
Florida Primary Election Kicks Off With New Machines   (Getty Images)
Floridians Go To The Polls For Early Voting in West Palm Beach
Floridians Go To The Polls For Early Voting in West Palm Beach   (Getty Images)
Floridians Continue Early Voting
Floridians Continue Early Voting   (Getty Images)
Calendar Choice #2
Calendar Choice #2   ((c) Aunt Owwee)
Mayor Nicole Rivoire' s hand shows how to use an electronic voting machine, at the town hall in Noisy-le-Sec, outside Paris, Tuesday April 17, 2007. With electoral glitches in Florida high in mind, some French presidential candidates and other critics don't trust new electronic voting machines available to more than...
Mayor Nicole Rivoire' s hand shows how to use an electronic voting machine, at the town hall in Noisy-le-Sec, outside Paris, Tuesday April 17, 2007. With electoral glitches in Florida high in mind, some...   (Associated Press)
A Broward county election official holds
A Broward county election official holds   (Getty Images)
A man casts his ballot at a polling stat
A man casts his ballot at a polling stat   (Getty Images)
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