The Republican National Committee has made plans to penalize at least five different states that are holding early primaries included in these are New Hampshire and Florida. The penalty is that they will refuse to seat half of their delegates during the national convention in 2008.
Much of the fighting over the primary has been focused on the Democratic National Committee’s move to penalize Florida by not seating convention delegates since Florida moved up its primary date. However, the Republican rules are just as strict and the national party added that they would not hesitate to enforce these rules.
As per the polls on USAElectionPolls.com, Mitt Romney is the leader in the early primaries but a shuffling of the primaries would give an advantage to the candidates with better name recognition such as Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson.
It is rare that the two parties would move in concert against states that are holding early contests. However, they are doing it this time to regain control over a rapidly evolving primary calendar that has created much uncertainty around the nominating system and with only months before it is to begin. The rules are very clear on the matter that states are not supposed to hold primaries until at least February 5.
The other three states that are facing sanctions for moving up their primaries are Wyoming, Michigan and South Carolina. While Iowa and Nevada have early nominations they are escaping Republican sanctions because they are holding nonbinding caucuses rather than primaries.
Banning half of the state delegation would be an huge move. While the impact has been down played, since the presidential candidates are often chosen before the convention, there is the chance that a party could broker a convention in which a delegates vote is prized.
For poll results update daily,
http://www.usaelectionpolls.com
