DNC Meets to Consider Sanctions in Primary Calendar Jumping.
Committee will review states' plans for the primaries.
August 24, 2007— -- What is harder these days - keeping track of the arrest records of Young Hollywood celebutantes or keeping track of the presidential primary calendar jumping?
This weekend, the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws committee may demonstrate that it can deliver harsher punishments than the Los Angeles County Superior Court when it meets on Saturday to discuss sanctions against Florida, the state that started the primary calendar free-for-all by moving its 2008 presidential primary to January 29.
On Saturday, the party's rules and bylaws committee will meet in Washington to review states' plans for the primaries -- and dole out punishment to states that are trying to jump the line. The DNC may consider reducing the number of Florida delegates allowed to attend the Democratic Party Convention in '08.
But it's not just Florida – Michigan had to go and try and top that by moving its primary to Jan. 15. (We'll deem Michigan the Lohan to Florida's Richie.)
This move could totally blow up the calendar since Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina are committed to keeping each of their unique historical positions in the nominating contest.
The shifting of dates has provoked a backlash and both parties are trying to reassert control of the primary calendars on behalf of their candidates.
The DNC will try and use of its influence to try to reclaim control of the calendar, but ABC News' Rick Klein reports that there's little the national parties can do to control when states hold primaries, since each state can hold such elections whenever it wants to.
Though each primary and caucus date is determined independently by each individual state, the state parties do have some leverage over the states since the contests are technically held to elect delegates to the national conventions, Klein reports.
Walking to New Orleans…
Next Wednesday is the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and several presidential candidates will be in New Orleans to mark the occasion with policy speeches and appearances.
Barack Obama is up first with remarks on his Gulf Coast rebuilding plan at 8:30 am ET at the First Emanuel Baptist Church in New Orleans before taking a press tour of the neighborhood affected by Katrina.
On Monday, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) hosts a summit to mark the Katrina anniversary - "Hope & Recovery Summit."
Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Huckabee and Duncan Hunter will all participate in the summit with remarks and a Q&A session. Every Democratic and Republican presidential candidate was invited, per Landrieu's office.
The summit features five panel discussions: Coastal Protection, Levees and Infrastructure; Education; Business Recovery; Rebuilding the Criminal Justice System; and Housing and Sustainable Community Recovery.
Edwards announced his presidential run in New Orleans last December and launched his July poverty bus tour from the city. (How much progress will Edwards be able to report in his effort to contact New Orleans residents who have been foreclosed on by a Fortress-related entity? LINK
Look for the Democratic presidential candidates to use Katrina as an example of the incompetence of the Bush White House and the federal government and an example of the need for change in Washington.
Roll out the schedule…
SATURDAY:DNC Rules and Bylaws committee holds a meeting to discuss sanctions against Florida.
Hillary and Bill Clinton are off to Martha's Vineyard to fundraise at an event hosted by former Viacom chief Frank Biondi and costing $2,300 per ticket.
Barack Obama is in Miami, at 3:00 pm ET he speaks to the Dade country democratic party, at 6:00 pm ET he attends a "Generation Obama" fundraiser.
John Edwards continues his "Fighting for One America" bus tour in New Hampshire with each stop followed by a media availability. First stop – Berlin Veterans memorial Park at 10:30 am ET followed by a 2:00 pm ET stop in Plymouth at the local elementary school, a 5:00 pm ET stop in Concord, and a 7:00 pm ET stop in Merrimack.
Bill Richardson attends a 9:00 am ET fundraiser in New York and two "Job Interview" events in New Hampshire. First up is Exeter at 6:15 pm ET and then on to Windham at 8:15 pm ET.
Dennis Kucinich attends a 1:00 pm ET Anti-War Rally in Kennebunkport Maine, but President Bush won't be there, he's still in Texas.
Rudy Giuliani hosts a conversation regarding taxes and fiscal discipline in Manchester at 10:00 am ET. He will unveil another one of his campaign's commitments, this time to "Cut Taxes and Reform the Tax Code." The Mayor will be joined by Steve Forbes and former Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci, who will MC the event.
Mike Huckabee speaks at the Southern Governors Association Plenary Session at 3:45 pm ET.
In Indianapolis, Ari Fleischer speaks at the Midwest Republican Leadership Conference at 4:00 pm ET and not-yet-a-candidate Fred Thompson speaks at 7:00 pm ET.
Ann Romney keynotes the National Republican Women's Network Summit 2007 in Orlando.
Mitt Romney has no public schedule this weekend.
Ditto John McCain.
SUNDAY: Hillary Clinton spends the day on the Vineyard with her husband.
Barack Obama speaks at 8:30 am ET in First Emanuel Baptist Church in New Orleans before taking a press tour of the neighborhood. At 5:30 pm ET he attends a Lexington Kick Off event in Kentucky.
John Edwards is still rolling around New Hampshire "Fighting For One America." On Sunday he stops off in Manchester at 10:45 am ET, ducks into Salem for a quick house party at 12:00 pm ET, attends a Democratic Picnic in Hampton Falls at 1:45 pm ET, hangs out in Rochester at 3:30 pm ET, and finally, finally calls it a day with a 5:30 pm ET rally in Portsmouth. (Phew…)
Bill Richardson hosts several "Job Interview" events in New Hampshire, in Manchester (10:30 am ET), Bow (3:15 pm ET), and Laconia (5:30 pm ET). At 1:30 pm ET Richardson participates in the Nashua Multicultural Festival.
Mike Huckabee attends a media availability at 5:15 pm ET in Great Falls Va., followed by a fundraiser at 5:30 pm ET.
Ron Paul attends a 2:00 pm ET rally in Texas City.
MONDAY:The Lance Armstrong Foundation hosts a Democratic presidential forum in Iowa with moderators Lance Armstrong and MSNBC's Chris Matthews at 11:00 am ET. Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Bill Richardson discuss policy plans to fight cancer. This is the first forum Barack Obama will not be attending due to his new debate/forum stance. The candidates will not appear on stage at the same time.
Edwards, Clinton, Huckabee and Hunter participate in the "Hope & Recovery Summit" on Monday in New Orleans
John McCain is in Puerto Rico speaking to the National Guard group stationed there.
Fred Thompson travels to the Minnesota State Fair, where he will presumably enjoy all manner of fried food on a stick. At 12:15 pm ET he joins Bob Davis for a live interview from the KSTP booth at the fair, after which he then walks over to the GOP booth (with stick food in hand) for a meet and greet with supporters at 12:45 pm ET, and a media availability at 1:20 pm ET.