Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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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. 

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."
      

Gallery

The early states weigh in

Minn. Republicans move caucuses to Feb. 5; Democrats may follow

Brian Bakst, Associated Press

Author

Minnesota has held caucuses in March since 1991, but leaders of
the two parties feared their respective nominees would be chosen
well before then. 


DFL Party joins GOP, moves up caucuses to Feb. 5

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