Primary News: It's Been 80 Years ...

The state of Washington is joining presidential primary madness. Secretary of State Sam Reed says the primary will probably be either 12 or 18 February, both after the "Mega-Super Tuesday" -- 5 February (as of this writing).

The cost to Washington State taxpayers? About $10 million -- and only for Republicans. (pdf) The state Democrats plan to select their delegates in caucuses, like they did in 2004. Utah, one of the "Super Tuesday" states, has budgeted $3.5 million for its primary, and California's may cost $90 million. Illinois is considering joining the 5 February pack.

I knew it had been a long time ... but I didn't know how long.

Jim Allen, Communications Director for the Chicago Board of Elections, tells me that 1928 was the last presidential election where neither an incumbent president nor an incumbent vice president was seeking the party nomination. Allen says that "President Truman did toss his hat in the ring briefly in 1952 before withdrawing."

No wonder we're having primary madness!

Also see:

• 2008 Presidential Primary Calendar
• 2008 Presidential Straw Poll
• Primary Madness: NH Joins The Shuffle

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