Feinstein supports moving presidential primary
to February

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Jason Bennert, Bay City News Service

January 24, 2007

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., today announced her support for a proposal to move California's 2008 presidential primary election from its current June date up to February.

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic leaders of the Legislature have said they want to move the primary to the beginning of the year to give California more influence in the presidential selection process for both parties. Historically California has been largely irrelevant, except as a source for campaign contributions, in selection of both parties' presidential nominees because of its late primary date.

"California is the largest state in the nation and has 55 electoral votes -- far more than any other state. But ... because of the front-loaded presidential primaries, by the time Californians go to the polls

in June, the decision has already been made,'' Feinstein said. "California deserves to have a strong voice in selecting presidential nominees. For this reason, I support moving the primary to February.''

If California officials move the primary to February it could potentially set off a stampede by other states to move their presidential primaries even earlier. The last time California tried to become relevant in the presidential nominating process, in 1996 when its primary moved from June to March, numerous other states then moved their primaries to dates before California's.

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