The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee has dashed the hopes of Arizona Democratic leaders, selecting another state as the site of an early and influential part of the 2008 presidential nominating process.
Ten states and the District of Columbia had applied to hold nominating contests in a special period before other states are allowed to hold their elections, and going into the meeting held late in July, Arizona was seen as a front-runner. But, despite a concerted and highly organized lobbying effort by Grand Canyon state Democrats, the committee instead chose Nevada as the site of the early caucus.
That caucus will be held sometime in early January 2008 — most likely within just days of the Iowa caucus, which traditionally kicks off the nominating season, and before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary.
The Arizona Democratic Party, in bidding for the early caucus, put on the full-court press. The Rules and Bylaws Committee, in striving to add to the nominating process, which would have allowed racial minorities and union members more influence, received a packet from prominent members of the party outlining just what Arizona brought to
the table.
”Arizona’s electorate reflects the new face of America,” wrote Governor Napolitano, Attorney General Terry Goddard and U.S. Reps. Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva, pointing out the state’s large and growing Latino population and the increasing population of labor union members.
The four also noted that many national Democrats believe the Southwest is essential to their party’s hopes of winning back the White House, and an early nominating contest in the state would have given Democrats an added boost in achieving Arizona’s Electoral College votes.
But state Democrats didn’t end there. Rules and Bylaws Committee members said their cell phones, office and home lines were jammed in the weeks leading up to the debate with messages urging their support for one state or another. Ms. Napolitano, Mr. Grijalva and Mr. Pastor all called committee members, as did prominent members of Arizona’s business community, said to Arizona Democratic Party Chair David Waid.
Arizona’s powerful allies
To further convince the committee of its serious intentions to carry out a caucus, Arizona Democrats signed long-time political operative Steve Hildebrand to organize and run the event. Mr. Hildebrand is a nationally known South Dakota-based Democratic strategist who ran campaigns for former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a Democrat, and former Vice President Al Gore’s 2000 campaign in the Iowa caucuses.
Despite a lack of representation on the 30-member committee, Arizona found some powerful allies to speak out on its behalf. With Mr. Waid and Mr. Grijalva looking on, Harvard University professor and former Clinton Administration official Elaine Kamarck declared her support for the state, as did Democratic National Committee Women’s Caucus Chair Mame Reiley of Virginia.
Ms. Reiley, director of former Virginia Governor Mark Warner’s Forward Together political action committee, effusively praised each state’s bid. Her support of Arizona was seen by many as an indication that Mr. Warner, a Democrat, who is actively considering a presidential bid, believed he would find a more receptive audience for his centrist message in Arizona than in Nevada. In interviews, though, Ms. Reiley denied that her vote was influenced by Mr. Warner in any way.
2 factors favored Arizona
Ms. Kamarck said she supported Arizona because of two important factors. First, she says, the state offered better economic diversity than Nevada, a state that relies heavily on the casino and tourism industries for its tax base. Second, while the two states have a similar percentage of Hispanics, Arizona boasts many more elected officials of Hispanic origin. The politicians, she says, show evidence of a “more mature Hispanic political community.” That community would have given Hispanic voters a more influential say in the process than a less-well organized community in Nevada.
But the lobbying from prominent Arizona Democrats and committee members Ms. Reiley, Ms. Kamarck and former Democratic National Committee Chair Don Fowler of South Carolina failed to sway many additional committee members. Nevada was chosen, in a preliminary vote, with 22 votes to Arizona’s five. Two votes were cast for the District of Columbia, while the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party voted for his own state.
While many attributed Nevada’s win to its racial diversity, which rivals Arizona’s, as well as the state’s strong labor community, Mr. Waid saw another cause: Sen. Harry Reid, a Decmocrat from Nevada. “It turns out that being the Senate Democratic leader actually counts for something,” Mr. Waid said.
In a separate vote, the committee chose South Carolina over Alabama and several other states to hold a primary just a week after New Hampshire’s traditional first primary election.
The setback for Arizona Democrats means their nominating contest may be held as early as Feb. 5, when the official window for nominating contests opens, or as late as the last Tuesday in February, as state law requires. State law also allows the governor to issue a proclamation moving the contest to any date earlier than the latter date.