Election Competition

The DNC is holding their spring meeting (in New Orleans, becoming one of the first major conventions to take place in the Crescent City since Katrina. A key issue is the primary election debate:

In 2008, Iowa will still have the first caucus and New Hampshire the first primary. But as many as four other states will be added to early weeks of the season -- one or two between Iowa and New Hampshire, and one or two immediately after. On Thursday, Democratic leaders from 11 states and the District began bidding for the available slots.

Everyone claimed an early contest in their state holds the key to winning back the White House.

Southerners said Democratic presidential candidates must relearn how to campaign in states where faith and family values have given Republicans the advantage. "I believe South Carolina is the perfect laboratory to confront ethnic and racial issues, to confront faith issues, to confront economic issues," said Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.). "If you prove your mettle in South Carolina, you will be successful in the United States of America."

Westerners said the future hopes of the Democratic Party lie in their region, where the growing Hispanic population is changing the politics of many states. Mark Brewer, the Michigan state chairman, said Democrats need a big Great Lakes state at the front of the calendar because that region remains the most important battleground in the general election. "If you want to ignore one-third of the [electoral] votes necessary to win the presidency, you take a risk," he said as ominously as he could make it sound.

While on one level this is kind of a political version of attracting tourism dollars, it's a very good thing that the state Democratic parties are fighting to have a voice in the Presidential primary season. We need a 50-state strategy if we're ever going to return to prominence. These states are clamoring for a voice, and I think that Howard Dean's insistence on empowering the state party structures is a major factor. The more broad-based the primary season is, the better. Iowa and New Hampshire's privileged status means that narrow issues get national importance once every four years. I feel that a longer primary season will only help candidates become battle-tested as they move into the fall. In recent years the DNC has seemed like they've wanted to have a nominee by the 1st of February. I don't think that's wide, as it paints a target on your candidate's back for an extended period.

I'm all for this effort.