FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, December 9, 2005  sent Thursday, December 8, 2005 5:55 pm
CONTACT: NH Democratic Party,

Statement on Draft DNC Report to Frontload New Caucuses Ahead of the NH Primary

The following is a statement from New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan on the DNC Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling's Draft Report to jam new contests ahead of New Hampshire's first in the nation presidential primary:

"Unfortunately, the commission is limiting its usefulness by drafting a plan that chooses controversy over consensus.

Frontloading the calendar with new caucuses would make the process narrower and less democratic, and it would be a huge setback to Democrats' efforts to carry Iowa and New Hampshire in the future.  Additionally, this plan - which was leaked to the press before the commission ever had a chance to discuss it at Saturday's meeting - would clearly violate New Hampshire's state law.

By giving up on the search for compromise, this commission would open the door to a long, messy process that will damage key swing states, our national party as a whole, and our next nominee.  No one wants that, and we should look for every opportunity to avoid it.

We know that Democrats will not stand for any plan that takes power away from the grassroots, as this does. If the Commission passes this draft then we will look forward to working with the DNC and democratic activists to reverse the mistake."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   sent Friday, December 9, 2005 2:16 pm
CONTACT: Colin Van Ostern,

WHAT WOULD THE ACTUAL NOMINATION CALENDAR
LOOK LIKE UNDER THE DRAFT DNC PLAN?

CONCORD, NH --  The following is a statement by New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan about how the draft DNC nomination calendar (which was leaked to the national press before the commission ever had a chance to discuss it) would affect the actual nomination calendar, if adopted:
 

"If this calendar is adopted, consider what would happen:

Instead of two states in January of 2008, this calendar would frontload as many as SIX.

Instead of limiting early contests to small states where face-to-face, grassroots campaigning thrives, this plan allows large, "top-tier" states to dominate the beginning of the calendar for the first time ever.  That means more TV ads and less town hall meetings.  More staged rallies and less unscripted interaction with real people.

Finally, instead of highlighting an open New Hampshire primary that traditionally draws 75% of all Democratic voters, this plan would emphasize party-run caucuses, where the establishment often dominates and turnout is regularly under 10%.

We should be making the calendar better.  This makes it much, much worse."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, December 10, 2005  sent Saturday 12:40 pm
CONTACT: NH Democratic Party,

Statement on DNC Commission Vote to Frontload New Caucuses Ahead of the NH Primary

The following is a statement from New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan on the DNC Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling's vote to jam new contests ahead of New Hampshire's first in the nation presidential primary:

"Frontloading the calendar with new caucuses would make the process narrower and less democratic, and it would be a huge setback to Democrats' efforts to carry Iowa and New Hampshire in the future.

Specifically, starting the nomination calendar with a series of caucuses - which sometimes have total turnout of less than 1% of all voters - would be an unprecedented shift of power away from the grassroots and into the hands of the party establishment.

Adding new caucuses ahead of New Hampshire would diminish the  unscripted, face-to-face grassroots campaigning that has been the trademark of the first in the nation primary for generations.

Finally, Iowa and New Hampshire are two of the closest swing states in the country.  Frankly, the national Democratic Party would be crazy to try to strip key swing states of something that is so important to their heritage.

By failing to find consensus, this commission has opened the door to a long, messy process that will damage key swing states, our national party as a whole, and our next nominee.  We know that Democrats will not stand for any plan that takes power away from the grassroots, as this does, and we look forward to working with the DNC and democratic activists to reverse this mistake."

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