Race for DNC Chair Heats Up as Iowa’s First-in-the-nation Status Comes under FireClinton war-room veteran Simon Rosenberg built his [centrist] New Democrat Network into a formidable political operation with the help of financial backers in New York. Now he’s considering a dark-horse run for chair of the Democratic National Committee.
NewYorkMetro.com
But according to the Associated Press, a New Democrat victory would put the first-in-the-nation status of both Iowa and New Hampshire at risk.
"Iowa and New Hampshire should not go first in the primary calendar, and we need to create a system that allows other states to have equal footing," said Rosenberg….. "I have no problem with Iowa and New Hampshire being part of the early states, but their days as the sole arbiters of who our nominee is should come to an end," he said Friday.
The Democratic National Committee formed a 40-member panel a week ago to study whether to shake up the dominance that Iowa and New Hampshire hold in presidential nominations.
MercuryNews.com
However, two Iowans on the 40-member commission believe Iowa’s status is safe.
Des Moines lawyer Roxanne Conlin, a former Iowa Democratic Party chairman and the party's 1982 candidate for governor, says Iowa has earned the status through years of hard work. Des Moines lawyer and Democratic activist Jerry Crawford says Iowa activists have an edge in the debate because the caucuses have proven to be a positive force for the party.
WOI-TV.com