Cost of the February 5 primary

It's been widely reported over the weekend that the cost to move up our 2008 presidential primary to February 5 has more than doubled from the estimated $1 million to $2.2 million. The move was authorized in 2005 as a way to position the state to (a) have more influence on the nomination process and (b) receive an economic benefit from increased advertising and attention from presidential candidates.

Since that time, several other states have moved their primaries up to February 5. 23 states are now part of the Fat Tuesday primary, which is widely being called "Super-Duper Tuesday." Much of the increased impact we were hoping for will be diluted by the sheer number of other states jockeying for the same advertising dollars and attention.

The increased cost of the earlier primary is being blamed on an increase in the cost for for programming electronic voting equipment and an increase in the minimum wage to pay poll workers. I'm not sure how the earlier primary date can be blamed on either of those items since they'd have to be dealt with had we left the primary date where it was.

Regardless, the front-loaded calendar will probably make the opening trio of states (Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina) more important than ever. Arizona may have the best idea. That state has given the governor the authority to set the primary date. In an effort to keep from getting lost in the Feb. 5 shuffle, Gov. Napolitano is considering a February 12 gamble in hopes that they could act as the tie-breaker.

Count me in as an advocate for the regional primary proposal. Every region gets to take a turn at weighing in early, and other than Texas and Florida, we'd be competing for money and attention among states of similar electoral stature.