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By Mike Coffman

It’s being called Tsunami Tuesday — Feb. 5, 2008 — when at least 18 states will hold their presidential primary to determine the nominees of both parties. Seven states will have already held primaries or caucuses before this tidal wave hits, and as the Rocky Mountain News warned
in a recent editorial, we could see New Hampshire’s primary in mid-December of this year.

Few political pundits argue that this race to be first is a good thing. Voters are likely to grow apathetic to the presidential contenders a full year before they go to the polls to elect the next leader of the free world. But state lawmakers all across the county can’t seem to help themselves; South Carolina was the latest to buckle to the pressure, moving its primary to Jan. 19.

I commend Colorado lawmakers, who acted a bit more rationally earlier this year when they passed legislation giving the major political parties the option of holding their caucuses on Feb. 5. The Democratic state party already took the bait, and the Republicans will likely follow suit soon.

One potential silver lining to the 2008 Mad Dash may be that the idea of a rotating regional primary will gain traction. Last month, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., introduced federal legislation that would create a rotating regional system.

Senate Bill 1905, the “Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act of 2007” divides the nation into four regions that will rotate holding their presidential primary or caucus during either the first week of March, April, May or June.

The U.S. Elections Assistance Commission would be required to hold a lottery to determine which region will hold their primary in March 2012. If Region Two is selected for the March primary, for example, then states of that region will hold their primary during the first week in March, Region Three states would hold their primaries or caucuses in April, Region Four states in May and Region One states in June. Regions would rotate in 2016.

Colorado, along with the other Western states, would be in Region Four. Visit my Web site, www.sos.state.co.us, and go to “Press Releases and Statements” under the “Press” page link for more information on the plan.

The legislation is not perfect. The bill carves out exceptions for New Hampshire and Iowa, allowing them to hold their primary prior to the first week in March; the rationale being that New Hampshire and Iowa have a long and rich tradition of holding their presidential contests first. That may be so, but opening the door for two states to operate outside the schedule will likely lead to other states clamoring to do the same. A rotating regional system will only work if it applies to every state in the union.

After we’ve dried off from Tsunami Tuesday and after we’ve suffered through 111/2 months from the first state primary to the final vote tally, it will be well worth taking a careful look at a rotating regional system.

Mike Coffman is the Colorado secretary of state.

READER COMMENTS

I would prefer that Coffman spent more time concentrating on my protections, afforded in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I had the audacity to ask (writing) Coffman, Arapahoe County Commissioners, County Clerk, and DA Chambers, to strike Tancredo and state rep. Balmer, from the '06' ballot. Coffman and the rest of his GOP posse, opted to ignore my constitutional request. This was my personal flash-back to "Bombingham", AL and Bull Connor. I wanted Balmer (carpetbagger)removed from the ballot because he lied (voter fraud) on his political resume, where he stated he had experience as a law clerk.

I wanted Tancredo removed from the ballot because he hired criminal illegal Mexicans, to do construction work at his primary residence. This act displaced qualified American workers. Tancredo further violated INS laws and he also comproimised our national security, because these "illegals" had unrestricted access to Tancredo's congressional personal computer.

Tancredo wouldn't help me, however, he jumped through hoops to help "Duane "Dog" Chapman (WHITE MAN). Dog is a draft-dodger like Tancredo and he is also a convicted felon, who resides in HONOLULU, HI. Dog was facing deportation to Mexico on kidnapping charges and Tancredo illegally intervened. It worked though. Dog wasn't deported.

Chambers was the only of these political hacks with ENUFF backbone, to respond to my voters request. She told me in an e-mail that "I" should contact USAG Gonzo (voter fraud). Why am I paying this cow's salary?

I served in 3 deployments to Vietnam and I didn't see Mitt, Rudy, Bush, Chambers, Huckabee, Allard, K. Salazar (refused me too), Tancredo, etc., in those friendly-confines. I asked Tancredo to help me in getting my social security disablity pay and a $150K vets' business loan, and I came away very empty. 55% of the "soldier-draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country), were black like me. I proudly join US Rep. John Murtha (USMC Vietnam War hero), "I wouldn't serve in today's armed forces with these guys and their draft-deferments".

I would prefer that Coffman spent more time concentrating on my protections, afforded in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I had the audacity to ask (writing) Coffman, Arapahoe County Commissioners, County Clerk, and DA Chambers, to strike Tancredo and state rep. Balmer, from the '06' ballot. Coffman and the rest of his GOP posse, opted to ignore my constitutional request. This was my personal flash-back to "Bombingham", AL and Bull Connor. I wanted Balmer (carpetbagger)removed from the ballot because he lied (voter fraud) on his political resume, where he stated he had experience as a law clerk.

I wanted Tancredo removed from the ballot because he hired criminal illegal Mexicans, to do construction work at his primary residence. This act displaced qualified American workers. Tancredo further violated INS laws and he also comproimised our national security, because these "illegals" had unrestricted access to Tancredo's congressional personal computer.

Tancredo wouldn't help me, however, he jumped through hoops to help "Duane "Dog" Chapman (WHITE MAN). Dog is a draft-dodger like Tancredo and he is also a convicted felon, who resides in HONOLULU, HI. Dog was facing deportation to Mexico on kidnapping charges and Tancredo illegally intervened. It worked though. Dog wasn't deported.

Chambers was the only of these political hacks with ENUFF backbone, to respond to my voters request. She told me in an e-mail that "I" should contact USAG Gonzo (voter fraud). Why am I paying this cow's salary?

I served in 3 deployments to Vietnam and I didn't see Mitt, Rudy, Bush, Chambers, Huckabee, Allard, K. Salazar (refused me too), Tancredo, etc., in those friendly-confines. I asked Tancredo to help me in getting my social security disablity pay and a $150K vets' business loan, and I came away very empty. 55% of the "soldier-draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country), were black like me. I proudly join US Rep. John Murtha (USMC Vietnam War hero), "I wouldn't serve in today's armed forces with these guys and their draft-deferments".

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