S. Carolina GOP Bumps Up Primary

Published: Aug 10, 2007

WASHINGTON - South Carolina Republicans pushed up their 2008 presidential primary to Jan. 19, an earlier-than-planned date that provokes a dramatic shift in the nominating calendar and could mean the first votes are cast in December 2007.

New Hampshire is sure to follow suit to protect its first-in-the-nation primary status, and Iowa, home to the leadoff caucuses, left little doubt it would do whatever necessary to ensure it kicks off the nominating process as it has for three decades.

"Iowa will go first, that is the bottom line," Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, said Thursday in a written statement, vowing to do "everything in my power."

South Carolina's move - and the expected aftershocks in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early voting states - is the latest chapter in the extraordinary movement in the presidential primary calendar for Republicans and Democrats as states such as California and New York jockey for more power in choosing the party nominees.

Florida recently moved its primary for Republicans and Democrats to Jan. 29. That prompted the South Carolina GOP to maneuver for a date earlier than its originally scheduled Feb. 2. The South Carolina Democratic Party said it would stick with Jan. 29, consistent with Democratic National Committee rules.