Sunday, March 20, 2011

Nebraska Dems Stick with Caucuses Over Primary but Move from February to April

Nebraska Democrats for the first time in 2008 abandoned the Cornhusker state's May presidential primary as a means of allocating national convention delegates and instead adopted a February caucus. The Nebraska Democratic Party will in 2012 again choose delegates to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte through a series of caucuses. Instead of February, however, the state Democrats will begin the process with precinct caucuses on April 14.

Thus far Democratic caucus states are using the freedom caucus states have in terms of scheduling their delegate selection events -- no partisan conflicts, no checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches, etc. -- to move to later dates. With the pressure of having to hold an early contest that may come from a contested nomination race, Democrats in some caucus states are opting instead to go later and take bonus delegates in the process. That is becoming clearer as more caucus states' Democrats submit draft delegate selection plans for public comment.

[Hat tip to The Green Papers for the link.]



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