Des Moines Register political reporter David Yepsen said New Hampshire politicos have every right to feel Democratic leaders of his state have let them down in trying to protect the first primary. Republican and Democratic governors from both states in the past have fought off many like threats as this one.
They signed pledges to protect their contests and even formed a jointcommission in 1996 to preserve the tradition. Yepsen said the politicalreality is that every Democratic National Committee plan slapped on thetable kept Iowa’s caucus first. Voters in Iowa lack the history andpassion about the interstate rivalries that people in New Hampshirehave, he said.