Dem
51
GOP
49
We wrote an item yesterday about Democrats' plans for the 2024 primaries. As a reminder, the blue team wants to shift the order of the early states, and primarily in states (South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada and Georgia) where Republicans control most or all of the decision-making.
Yesterday afternoon, one of those decision-making Republicans spoke up. That would be Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) who, thanks to Donald Trump, is probably the only state secretary of state whose first name we don't have to put in headlines. Raffensperger, who is currently the decider in Georgia, said that moving the state up in line would be swell in 2028, but that it's already too late for 2024.
That would seem to throw a rather giant wrench into the works. The Democrats' plan is contingent on moving all of the early states around, not some of them. Unless they are willing to turn to blackmail (no delegates for you!), and that's enough to get Raffensperger to blink (not likely), then it sure looks like the DNC is back to the status quo for 2024.
Truth be told, we're a little mystified as to what the Democrats (starting with Joe Biden) were thinking here. They knew full well how the rules work in each state and, more importantly, who controls the levers of power therein. Why on earth didn't they choose states similar to the ones they actually picked, but where the Democrats run the show. For example, Rhode Island instead of New Hampshire. Arizona instead of Nevada. Ok, admittedly, the Democrats don't have a lot of Southern alternatives to Georgia, but still.
Maybe the goal was to get the ball rolling, with an eye toward 2028. If so, mission accomplished... maybe. But in the interim, Biden & Co. end up with some egg on their faces, while also aggravating voters in places that take their "us first" status seriously. Seems like a misfire to us. (Z)