Governor Chet Culver says he’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Iowa’s Caucuses are the first contest in the presidential nominating season, even if that means holding the Caucuses before Christmas. "I don’t think as long as we give appropriate notice in timing that the date matters a whole lot. We just need to get it set," Culver says.
The leader of South Carolina’s Republican Party reportedly intends to announce that state’s GOP caucuses will be moved forward, prompting New Hampshire to hold its primary earlier, too.
"Iowa will go first. That is the bottom line," Governor Culver says. "This is part of the process. There’s always a lot of jockeying. All’s I can tell you is as governor I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that Iowa has the first caucus in the nation and I’m confident that we will."
Iowa law requires Iowa’s Caucuses to be held eight days ahead of any other contest, and speculation indicates New Hampshire’s Primary may be set for January 15th. That would be the day after Iowa’s Caucuses, unless the Caucus date is moved.
"We’re all waiting to hear what exactly is the announcement…We’re continuing to work with the Republican National Party and the Democratic National Party and we will work together, hopefully, in a bipartisan way here in Iowa to make sure that we have the first caucus," Culver said.
South Carolina’s GOP leader plans to make his date-changing announcement tomorrow — in New Hampshire.
Whatever happens elsewhere, Culver says the Iowa GOP and Iowa Democratic Party will hold Caucuses on the same night. "It’s just not precisely clear on what date we will have it at this time," Culver says.