March 13, 2007
There is a lot of talk about moving the Texas primary from March 11 to February 5, 2008.
According to last Thursday’s Dallas Morning News “At least 19 states have moved or are considering moving their primaries to the first Tuesday in February – just after the traditional kick-off states of Iowa and New Hampshire…” 
The Morning News quoted Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Dallas "Right now, primary elections are like spectator sports in Texas," said. "Let's put Texas in the game, on the floor. It's the only way we can score." Other legislators voiced similar concerns that Texas needs to "have more sway in choosing presidential nominees.” In The Quorum Report buzz last Wednesday Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer D-San Antonio says "But when it comes to selecting the major parties’ nominees, the state does not have a prominent voice."
How can our state not have had a prominent voice in the selection of a President when a Texan has been in the presidency (including VP) for 35 out of the last 55 years? Only Virginia had a better run and that was when they had 1/4 of the US population! I just find it ironic that Texas has pretty much been running the world since 1952 and now our legislators think real power comes from being one of 19 early primary states.
The sudden move to a February 5 primary date shows that legislators have a strong herding instinct. There are several arguments against an early primary that need to be heard:
- Texas will have more influence with a March 11 primary. If the primary race remains close we are in the catbird seat on March 11. In negotiations as in poker you want to go last.
- A national primary is just flat a bad idea. Having one this early means that fundraising is the most important variable in determining election outcome. With an extended primary season we learn more about our candidates. We see how tired they get and how they react to adversity and the unexpected.
- Incumbents will be easier to defeat in the longer campaign season provided by an early primary. There is a reason that the Democrat Party and groups like the AFL-CIO favor an earlier primary. It isn’t to help Republicans.
- 99.99% of the candidates who run in primaries aren’t running for President. An early primary forces them to campaign one extra month. It puts the primary election smack dab in the middle of Christmas. An early primary will hurt family oriented candidates who do most of the real work of governing in our communities.
Royal Masset is one of a handful of people who built the Republican Party of Texas. Royal continues to serve Texas as a successful political consultant, author and speaker on policy issues.
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