Primary Madness: NH Joins The Shuffle

AP tells us that New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is charged -- by state law -- with scheduling the NH primary at least a week before any "similar election." Historically, the Presidential race officially kicks off with Iowa caucuses (right now, 14 January 2008) and the New Hampshire primary (22 January 2008).

Any move to shoehorn a Nevada primary into the gap would require Gardner to change the date of the New Hampshire primary. This is the latest news in what I'm calling the 2008 primary shuffle. Every state wants to be relevant -- so that means every state wants to be an early participant in the process.

New Hampshire is unique among the 50 states: it has managed to retain both direct government and a (relatively) small ratio of citizens-to-state-representative (about 3,000). Moreover, NH helped give birth to both the primary and convention processes in 1832.

One of the reasons that the 2008 presidential race is generating so much attention is because no party has an incumbent running. However, Vice President Cheney has ongoing health issues related to his heart: is his health a sufficient justification for resignation? If so, the Bush Administration would be able to appoint* a favorite son (or daughter) to the vice presidency. Would that change the complexion of the Republican race? You bet! It helped put President Ford in the White House.

^{* Under the Presidential Succession Act (pdf), subject to Congressional approval}