It could be argued that by moving its presidential primary up from April to Feb. 19, Wisconsin played a larger role in the outcome of the presidential election this year.
Barack Obama's Badger state victory over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary was one of his most important wins during a February streak that propelled him to the nomination, and eventually the presidency.
But Wisconsin also would have been an important state in the process had its primary not been moved up. An April 1 primary - in conjunction with the state's spring general elections as used to be customary - would have put our battleground state in a national spotlight by itself before the Pennsylvania primary and while Clinton was trying to make a comeback. The concerns that Wisconsin would not be a factor because its primary fell after the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday votes ended up being unfounded.
Wisconsin, of course, was far from alone in moving up the calendar to jockey for better primary position. Many states did so, which is why the votes started as early as Jan. 3 in Iowa this year. In the end, the benefit to Wisconsin voters and taxpayers from the change was debatable at best.
Which is why a proposal from state Sen. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, should receive some careful consideration. Kessler last week proposed returning the date of Wisconsin's presidential primary to its traditional position, which coincides with the spring general election.
"With states across the map jockeying to be among the first few who cast ballots in the nomination of the parties' presidential candidates, we have seen the length of our presidential elections grow to nearly an entire year," Kessler said. "Wisconsin should make a statement against frontloading and reclaim our conventional date."
Whether a push back of Wisconsin's primary would be a statement with any impact on the national trend is questionable. Moving from February back to April likely would have no effect by itself on the length of the national primary calendar.
But there's another, better reason for returning the presidential primary to April. Holding the presidential primary in conjunction with municipal, county and school elections in the spring would save money for local governments, Kessler pointed out. Only one election would need to be conducted rather than two.
Rejoining the presidential primary and the spring elections also would draw more voters to local elections. Turnout statewide for spring elections have lowered substantially since the presidential primary was moved up before the 2004 election.
Less money spent and more voters to the polls for the very important local races should be reason enough for Wisconsin lawmakers to consider returning the presidential primary to its rightful place - in April.
Barack Obama's Badger state victory over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary was one of his most important wins during a February streak that propelled him to the nomination, and eventually the presidency.
But Wisconsin also would have been an important state in the process had its primary not been moved up. An April 1 primary - in conjunction with the state's spring general elections as used to be customary - would have put our battleground state in a national spotlight by itself before the Pennsylvania primary and while Clinton was trying to make a comeback. The concerns that Wisconsin would not be a factor because its primary fell after the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday votes ended up being unfounded.
Wisconsin, of course, was far from alone in moving up the calendar to jockey for better primary position. Many states did so, which is why the votes started as early as Jan. 3 in Iowa this year. In the end, the benefit to Wisconsin voters and taxpayers from the change was debatable at best.
Which is why a proposal from state Sen. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, should receive some careful consideration. Kessler last week proposed returning the date of Wisconsin's presidential primary to its traditional position, which coincides with the spring general election.
"With states across the map jockeying to be among the first few who cast ballots in the nomination of the parties' presidential candidates, we have seen the length of our presidential elections grow to nearly an entire year," Kessler said. "Wisconsin should make a statement against frontloading and reclaim our conventional date."
Whether a push back of Wisconsin's primary would be a statement with any impact on the national trend is questionable. Moving from February back to April likely would have no effect by itself on the length of the national primary calendar.
But there's another, better reason for returning the presidential primary to April. Holding the presidential primary in conjunction with municipal, county and school elections in the spring would save money for local governments, Kessler pointed out. Only one election would need to be conducted rather than two.
Rejoining the presidential primary and the spring elections also would draw more voters to local elections. Turnout statewide for spring elections have lowered substantially since the presidential primary was moved up before the 2004 election.
Less money spent and more voters to the polls for the very important local races should be reason enough for Wisconsin lawmakers to consider returning the presidential primary to its rightful place - in April.
