Schedule: In 2012, should we have the last presidential primary earlier?

[Eric J in MN]

In 2008, the last presidential primary is June 3 (Montana and South Dakota).

In 2012, should we have the last primary sooner, and if so, when?

[jakem]

1. NATIONAL. PRIMARY.

[lapfog_1]

2. I oppose a national primary

As all that would happen is a popularity contest with the candidates with the highest name recognition.

The Primary season is about retail politics, building ground organizations, refining your message.

We may want to consider a rotating start schedule so that candidates who might not do well in Iowa and New Hampshire can do better, but I like the schedule.

The candidates are already exhausted by the current schedule, compressing it will make it even more grueling.

[scheming daemons]

3. I oppose it vehemently too.... only the richest candidates could compete.....

....

[totodeinhere]

4. The primaries should be later, not sooner.

The campaigning season has got much too long.

[blogslut]

5. I'm not thrilled they decided to start sooner

I don't like this extra long primary season. I think it tires the voting public.

I am for some sort of lottery or rotating schedule to pick the first primary states though.