DFL Party joins GOP, moves up caucuses to Feb. 5
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(AP) - Minnesota Democrats announced Tuesday they will join Republicans in moving their caucuses up to Feb. 5, when two dozen states are set to hold presidential preference contests.
In July, the state GOP authorized the switch from the previous date for both parties' contests, making Minnesota part of a movement nationwide to accelerate the presidential nominating process.
"Earlier caucuses will give Minnesotans a greater say in who will be the next president of the United States, and will hopefully engage more Minnesotans in grass-roots politics," said Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Chairman Brian Melendez.
Minnesota has held caucuses in March since 1991, but leaders of the two parties feared their respective nominees would be chosen well before then.
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"Earlier caucuses will give Minnesotans a greater say in who will be the next president of the United States."
State law designates the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March as the caucus date, although the parties say they don't believe they are bound by the statute.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said the shift will touch off negotiations with schools and libraries to free up meeting space and to make sure they don't schedule classes or events that would hinder attendance.
"There's a lot of scrambling that's needed," said Ritchie, a Democrat.
Leaders of the DFL Party overwhelmingly voted in a mail ballot to hold the caucuses earlier than usual. Eighty-nine percent of the party's central committee supported the change.
Seeking to leap to the front of the pack, Florida has moved its primary to Jan. 29 and Michigan is in the process of moving to January. Both risk punishment from the Democratic National Committee.
The DNC's rules panel voted last week to strip Florida of its convention delegates unless state Democrats move back the primary until Feb. 5 or later.
The rush to hold votes sooner has put pressure on Iowa and New Hampshire to adjust their political calendars in order to maintain their traditional status as the nation's earlybirds, raising the possibility that the Iowa caucuses could be held before New Year's.
The Nevada caucuses and South Carolina's GOP primary are also set for January.
Minnesota GOP Chairman Ron Carey said he expects his state to have a relevant voice in the process even though other states are pushing harder to get out front.
"There's still going to be a wide-open race for president come February 5th," he said. "That's going to be a motivation for people to come out and participate in precinct caucuses."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
