Lawmaker wants to cut the length of campaigns

One state lawmaker believes he has a way to “stop the agony” of long political campaigns.Senator Andy McKean, a republican from Anamosa, wants to move Iowa’s primary election date to September. Under present law, the primary’s held in June, and McKean says it makes the campaigns for governor and other state offices too long.McKean says by moving the primary back three months, the campaign season could be reduced.The general election battle between the republican and democrat candidates for Governor would be shortened from five months to two, and McKean says that’s plenty of time for a candidate to get his or her message out.McKean says moving the primary date and shortening the general election campaign might even reduce the cost of elections. McKean has tried to get his colleagues to endorse the idea before, but he says this year might be different because of the after-effects of the prolonged and agonizing presidential race.