Dems look to add to Primary states

Other than the fact that there are no real "small" states in the west or the south, I like the idea of those regions playing a role in the initial primaries for President.

My first thoughts are South Carolina and Arizona.

But while I like the idea, I'm not sure how much of a difference it's going to have in the overall scheme of things. Unless these primaries are held on the same day, there won't be much change in the way news stories are generated and the momentum winner is crowned.

Remember Kerry trailed in polls up to (and even after, if memory serves) Iowa, and because he was crowned the "safe choice" for Democrats by a media establishment in need of a reason why, he went on to win the votes necessary to become the candidate. Democrats were compelled to chose the guy they were told was best suited to defeat George Bush rather than the guy who would have been the best leader for America.

Unless there is an effort to change the media's role in the primary process, (something that will prove difficult to do in the 24 hour news cycle) I'm not sure what can be done to change the process as it unfolded in 2004 short of a more secretive process or a nationwide vote. And both of those would prove quite difficult to do.

I would also advocate a more spread out primary time, one that allows momentum to slow and force voters to spend more time thinking about candidates rather than the news spin. But I don't see this being enforced much at this point, either.

So for now, we're stuck with the system we have, and the leaders of the Democratic Party will be forced to return to the drawing board to come up with the right answer. But it is encouraging to see them thinking.