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January 29, 2008
Delegates to national party conventions are selected through direct primary
elections, state caucuses, and state conventions. The process continues through
June, but in previous cycles, the Democratic and Republican candidates were
effectively chosen by the March primaries. This is due to winning candidates
collecting a majority of committed delegates to win their party's nomination.
Most third parties select delegates to their national conventions through state
conventions.
February 5, 2008, looks set to be a decisive date, one month before the
traditional Super Tuesday, as up to twenty states with half of the United
States' population are moving to hold their primaries on what is being called
National Presidential Primary Day or Giga Tuesday.
Democratic candidates in the 2008 U.S. presidential election will campaign for
the nomination from their party in a series of primary elections and caucus
events. They will take place in three phases.
Phase One: Under party rules, no state may hold their primaries or caucuses
before February 5 with the following exceptions: Iowa (caucus),
Nevada (caucus), New Hampshire (primary), and South Carolina
(primary). Florida and Michigan are considering moving their primaries to
January 29, which violates current party rules.
The South Carolina Democratic Primary is the fourth among these with its Primary
to be held January 29, 2008. |
