FL GOP Should Support Early Primary

Florida was a rare bright spot for the GOP this election year. It should be an obvious place for Republican presidential hopefuls to stake their claim on the nomination. It also makes sense for Florida to move its presidential primary to a date that will put it in play.

Florida Republicans have earned the right to help determine which candidate will head the national ticket. Gov. Crist should get on board and actively support an earlier primary.

See The Miami Herald: Florida may get early primary

The Herald tells us that Speaker Rubio is in favor of this move:

House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami says a state as big and diverse as Florida should have its say immediately afterward.

''From immigration to agriculture to Israel, virtually every issue the next leader of the free world is going to be asked about will be asked in Florida,'' Rubio said. ``Florida is the largest and most relevant state that has no voice in the electoral
process.''

In a related story, the SP Times is reporting that Gov. Crist has not yet expressed his support for the GOP straw poll. They are also reporting Crist's support for the early primary.

Though party officials have been working on the "Presidency IV" convention for months, Crist last week was noncommittal. "I haven't really thought about it," said Crist, who does support moving Florida's 2008 primary earlier in the calendar to increase the state's influence in the primary.

An early primary can only help the position of Florida Republicans nationwide.