“In a stunning blow to President Biden’s ambitious plan to reshape the Democratic primary process, state leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties have resoundingly rejected the proposal. The plan, unveiled last December, aimed to increase diversity in the early primaries by prioritizing South Carolina over traditionally influential states like New Hampshire and Iowa.
However, bipartisan hesitations and staunch opposition have cast a shadow over the feasibility of implementing this new calendar for the upcoming 2024 primaries.
While Democrats in South Carolina have rallied behind Biden’s proposal, the response from New Hampshire and Iowa has been far from enthusiastic. Over 20 prominent New Hampshire Democrat leaders warned the president that his plan could have dire consequences for their party’s performance in the next election.
They fear that relinquishing their state’s long-standing status as the first primary state might undermine their influence and compromise their chances in 2024. New Hampshire’s Republican Governor, Chris Sununu, has made it abundantly clear that he will staunchly oppose any attempt to move the state’s primary.
Furthermore, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, took matters into his own hands by scheduling the state’s primary for March 12, directly defying Biden’s call to move it up to February. Raffensperger’s firm action demonstrates the resistance that Republicans are mounting against the president’s proposed changes.
Iowa, another pivotal state in the primary process, is not exempt from the opposition either. Lawmakers in the state have been actively working to undermine Biden’s plan to delay their caucus.
A compromise was proposed by Democrats in Iowa, suggesting that the state could still hold its caucus first as usual but delay the announcement of vote results until May. However, a final decision has yet to be made on this matter.
Despite the setbacks and objections, Biden’s campaign remains undeterred. The Democratic National Committee, to which the campaign referred Fox News Digital for comment, did not respond. Jim Roosevelt, co-chairman of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, expressed confidence in the proposed changes, stating that having a sitting president provides a unique opportunity to make fundamental reforms to ensure a more representative process. Time is still on their side, Roosevelt believes.
While there is support for Biden’s plan among Democrats in South Carolina, Nevada, and Michigan, opposition from Republicans poses a significant obstacle that could potentially delay or even derail the proposed changes. The battle over the future of the primary calendar continues, and the outcome remains uncertain.
Stay tuned to Fox News for the latest updates on this story.”
Source Fox News
