The Democratic Party
The Democratic Party

The Democratic National Committee is in the midst of its Winter Meeting amid an historic snowstorm in Washington DC. In one of the highlights of the session the Rules and By-Laws Committee co-chaired by Jim Roosevelt - who is also chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Democratic Paty - received the final recommendations of the Change Commission. This commission was established after the brouhaha surrounding the 2008 presidential nominating process. With a focus on the timing of caucuses and primaries, the large number of unpledged ”super delegates” and the caucus process system - the commission was charged to find the best way to conduct the 2012 presidential nominating process in other words “to fix the problems.”

The recommendations - while still not approved by the DNC and its members - offer these solutions:

  • Timing of presidential primaries and caucuses: The Commission recommends pushing back the window of time during which primaries and caucuses may be held so that the pre-window could not begin until February 1st or thereafter, and the primary window could not begin until the second Tuesday in March or thereafter. Second, the Commission suggests an incentive system to encourage states to regionally cluster their contests and/or hold their contests later in the nominating calendar so as to avoid frontloading in the calendar.
  • To significantly reduce the number of unpledged delegates: The Commission recommends: 1) the category of unpledged add-on delegates will no longer be allocated and 2) converting unpledged delegates (DNC members, Democratic Members of the House and Senate, Democratic Governors and Distinguished Former Party Leaders) to a new category of pledged delegates called the National Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (NPLEO) delegates, which will be allocated to Presidential candidates based on the state-wide primary or caucus results. These individuals would also have the option of attending the convention as a non-voting delegate. (In either case, they would receive the same floor credentials and housing as others in their state delegation. The NPLEO designation continues to recognize the important role… party’s leaders play and will ensure that they continue to have a voice and role in the nominating process and at the convention.)
  •  To improve the caucus system: The Commission recommends establishing a “Best Practices” program to help states improve and strengthen their caucuses, keeping in mind that different types of caucuses are used within the Party and that state parties often have limited resources with which to work. The “Best Practices” program would help states adequately plan, organize, and staff caucuses and maximize the opportunity for full participation by all Democratic voters.

It will take a while for the DNC to fully review and vote on these recommendations. Rolling out the final version and selling the implimentation will be a longer more difficult process. State-by-state regulations, parochial concerns and local pride will still be factors, in my opinion. What will it mean for New Hampshire’s “first in the nation” presidential primary status? Will the two-part caucus/primary system in Texas be affected? Will Iowa still “rule” as the most significant caucus? Will new and significant regional primaries emerge in the process? What incentive would encourage a backloaded “cluster” of primaries? Is an NPLEO significant enough for those party seniors and stalwarts? Can this new approach be designed and implimented fast enough to really improve the presidential nomination process in the run-up to 2012?  Color me skeptical.

Go to The Democratic Party blog to read more about the process and weigh-in with your opinion at: http://www.democrats.org/blog.html

Disclosure: I am a member of the DSC representing the 2EM District, Vice-Chair of the Tewksbury DTC and Chair of Greater Lowell Area Democrats. mps