PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DEBATE

by Steve Fair

At the Winter meeting of the Republican National Committee in Washington today, the Standing Committee on Rules is considering five(5) proposals that would alter the way the Republican nominee for President is selected. The five proposals entitled- The Modified NASS Plan, The Texas Plan, The Dingell-Anuzis Modified Plan, The Delaware Plan and The Ohio Plan vary in their approach, but their objective is the same- to allow for more states participation in the selection process. Because several states moved up their primaries in order to at least have some say in the process, the RNC is debating wholesale changes to the entire process.

Several of the plans would rotate primaries by region or group states into 4-6 groups based on their allocated number of electoral votes. The rotation would change each presidential cycle, allowing each state or region to have more impact on the process. The recommendation of the Rules committee will be taken up at the upcoming Chairman's meeting in New Mexico. The rules change would have not impact on the 2008 convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul since the rules for that convention have already been approved by the Rules Committee.