So When Will Iowa Democrats Caucus?

Yesteday, Iowa Republicans decided on January 3rd as the date of the Republican caucuses in Iowa. Iowa Democrats have yet to decide if they will be changing the date from January 14th.

"the Democrats could decide to hold their contest on Jan. 5, forcing political observers to split their attention for the first time. Democrats yesterday were still holding out that option, with party spokeswoman Carrie Giddens saying only that the state Democrats are 'planning for a January caucus.

Personally, I don't like the idea of Democrats and Republicans having separate caucus dates, though it would provide an interesting aspect strategy wise for field organizers. John Deeth interviewed Iowa Political Science professor, Dave Redlawsk, who said...

"Never mind the possibilities of mischief as some Republicans go to the Democratic caucuses and vice versa, there is likely to be confusion among Iowans, and ridicule from the press, who really won't like the need to gear up twice in Des Moines for results," he said. From a more partisan outlook, Redlawsk noted, "if the Democrats go second, the Republicans steal the thunder."

Political Wire is also reporting that New Hampshire might be moving their primary to December. Marc Ambinder provides some analysis, which isn't very positive for New Hampshire...

If Bill Gardner decides to schedule the New Hampshire primary for December, he risks not only the wrath of the entire two-party establishment (which isn't that scary), New Hampshire could very well be meaningless for one of the parties. Republicans, in particular, might cede the state to Mitt Romney. Democrats probably won't, but the style and pace of campaigning for the primary will feel more like a caucus: lots of trench warfare, confusing, muddled messages, appeals to secondary candidates, and dirty tricks. New Hampshire independents, in particular, will not have a candidate to revolt against. Rank and file Democrats won't have a candidate's victory to be influenced by.

But wait: maybe the three weeks between New Hampshire and Iowa and the relatively paltry amount of delegates awarded by the state will render the state entirely irrelevant. If you're putting all your resources into Iowa, it's probably a safer bet, at this point, to ignore New Hampshire entirely and hope that the New Hampshire winner's momentum attenuates over the long holiday period.