Iowa,  Nevada,  New Hampshire and  South  Carolina Call on
Democratic Presidential Candidates to Sign Campaign  Pledge

 

Des  Moines, Las Vegas, Concord, Columbia  – The Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina Democratic Parties joined  together today in releasing a pledge that calls on the Presidential candidates  to preserve the traditional role of retail politics, socioeconomic and ethnic  diversity early in the nominating process.

 

The pledge, a one-page document that the early states  are asking the Presidential candidates to sign, respects the work done by the  DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee in 2006. The Committee created a pre-window  allowing for early contests in only Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. This calendar was approved by the full DNC over a  year ago.

 

As Chairs of the four pre-window Democratic State  parties, we believe recent actions by a few states have sought to create  upheaval in the approved calendar and dismantle the thoughtful and deliberate  work previously agreed upon. As a party, we owe it to the people working  diligently to elect the next Democratic President of the  United  States  to conduct a sensible and timely nominating process, one that has already been  established.

 

“I believe the pledge we asked the Presidential  candidates to sign sends a strong message from  Iowa and our early-state companions that the pre-window  must be respected,” said Scott Brennan, Iowa Democratic Party State Chair. “We  need to bring order, predictability and common sense to the presidential  nominating calendar and focus on electing a President who will deal with the  ongoing war in Iraq, healthcare and renewable energy, instead of  focusing on selecting dates to hold our nominating  contests.”

 

Attached to this release is the letter sent to all  the Democratic Presidential candidates along with the pledge the  Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina Democratic Parties are asking the  candidates to sign.

 

Dear Democratic Presidential  Candidate:

 

 

 

Throughout 2005 and 2006, the  Democratic National Committee worked  diligently to establish a presidential nominating calendar that would ensure  victory for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee, preserve the traditional  role of retail politics early in the nominating process and to include the  socioeconomic and ethnic diversity that makes this Party  great.

 

 

 

In 2006, through a fair and open  process conducted by the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee,  Iowa, Nevada, New  Hampshire and  South  Carolina were selected for the  “pre-window.”  The calendar was  approved by the full DNC over a year ago.   We are in agreement that the states chosen by our party reflect the  energy and diversity of our great country and our party.

 

 

 

Recent actions by a few states could  dismantle this thoughtful and deliberate effort by the DNC. Presidential  campaigns, county chairs, elected officials, activists and the media have  reached out and asked for our help in bringing this uncertainty (and potential  chaos) to an end. Campaigns need to make major spending decisions.  County Chairs need to find precinct locations and  precinct chairs.  Elected officials  need to finalize election logistics.   As a party we owe it to these organizations and individuals to conduct a  sensible and timely nominating process.

 

 

 

For the good of our party and our  candidates, it is our desire to bring finality, predictability and common sense  to the nominating calendar.  We ask  you to accept the attached four state pledge, steeped in established DNC rules,  by signing and sending the pledge form by Thursday,  September 6,  2007, via email to South Carolina  Chairwoman Carol Fowler at [email redacted].  Please also mail a hard copy to Chairwoman Fowler at SCDP, [address redacted].

 

 

 

We appreciate your consideration of  this pledge which brings order to the presidential nominating calendar.  We look forward to focusing on electing  a President, rather than selecting dates.   If you or your staff has any questions, please contact any of the four  State Party Chairs or Executive Directors.

 

 

 

Thank you,

 

 

 

                                                                                    

 

 

 

Senator Tom Harkin                    Governor Chet Culver                   Chair Scott Brennan, Iowa Dem. Party

 

 

 

                    

 

Senator Harry Reid                      Chair Jill Derby, Nevada State Democratic  Party

 

 

 

         

 

Chair Ray  Buckley, New  Hampshire Dem. Party

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

Congressman Jim Clyburn           Chair Carol Fowler, South  Carolina Dem. Party

 

 

 

 

 

Four State Pledge Letter  2008

 

Iowa,  New Hampshire,  Nevada,  South Carolina

 

August 31,  2007

 

 

 

WHEREAS,  Over a year ago, the Democratic National  Committee established a 2008 nominating calendar;

 

 

 

WHEREAS, this calendar honors the  racial, ethnic, economic and geographic diversity of our party and our  country;

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the DNC also honored the  traditional role of retail politics early in the nominating process, to insure  that money alone will not determine our presidential  nominee;

 

 

 

WHEREAS, it is the desire of  Presidential campaigns, the DNC, the states and the American people to bring  finality, predictability and common sense to the nominating  calendar.

 

 

 

THEREFORE, I _______________, Democratic Candidate  for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which  schedules a presidential election primary or caucus  before Feb. 5,  2008, except for the states  of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as “campaigning” is defined  by rules and regulations of the DNC.  

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________                                    __________

 

John/Jane Doe, Doe for President                          DATE