Marc Ambinder reports that some Republicans are already talking about redesigning the primary calendar based on how things have gone since January 3rd:
In April, when Republican state chairs meet, the party will consider three different proposals to change the calendar itself. (Those plans will be informally presented today.)
The Michigan plan, written by state chair Saul Anuzis, would see a series of six rotating regional primaries with states chosen by lottery. The two others, one offered by Texas and one by Ohio, would also group states into small bunches and rotate primaries among them.
In late August, the rules committee will submit its proposed schedule and enforcement plan to the full Republican National Committee, which will mark it up and amend it. And then the delegates to the Republican National Convention get to decide.
The committee is also considering how to punish a state that violates calendar rules:
The RNC’s rules committee meets today to consider, among other items, how the party will punish calendar violators in 2012.
One proposal would take away all delegates but two from a state.
Which proposal ultimately survives may depend on whether the members of the RNC rules committee are happy with the identity of their nominee… or the identity of the person they assume will be the nominee.
If the Republican race is uncertain after Florida, then you can rest assured that they’ll try something to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
