Editorial: 'Super Tuesdays' need rationality

Western states no longer want to play second fiddle when deciding who gets the presidential nomination of the Republican and Democratic parties.

Currently many Western states hold their presidential primaries and caucuses at the tail end of the primary season. But the existing nominating process results in a candidate having his party's nomination virtually locked up by the South's "Super Tuesday" regional primary in March -- well before the Western states even hold a vote. Those Western states that do hold their primaries early, because they are small with few delegates at stake, don't get much attention from presidential hopefuls.

In an effort to turn this tide, many of the Western states are banding together to hold their primaries and caucuses on the same day, and earlier in the year, for the 2000 election. They believe this will give Western states and issues, which often go ignored in Washington, the recognition they deserve.

But unlike other Western states, Nevada gets quite a bit of attention from presidential candidates. The drawing card in Nevada is Las Vegas, namely the casinos and all the cash they dole out to congressional and presidential candidates. Las Vegas also hosts major conventions, luring both presidential aspirants and presidents as their speakers. So a regional primary is unlikely to change Nevada's favored status, although admittedly it would help most other Western states.

Because there seems to be a growing appetite for regional primaries, all states in every region of the nation should get together and come up with a reasonable plan on when they take place. Otherwise, every year states will seek to move their primary up to the front of the pack. Before you know it chaos will result from these one-upmanship bids to hold the first regional "Super Tuesday."

The New York Times reports that a common sense idea was advanced at a recent national meeting of secretaries of state. Under the plan discussed by the states' chief election officers, there would be five regional primaries, each taking place one month apart. And to make sure no region has a permanent advantage in being first, the order of each region's primary would be rotated every presidential election to preserve fairness. In addition, the proposal would exempt the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, honoring the tradition of their launching the presidential season.

The states should reach an agreement endorsing this plan, restoring rationality as to when presidential caucuses and primaries are held. Nobody wants to be last in the presidential nomination process and this proposal is eminently fair, giving all regions an equal chance to be heard.

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