Apr 03 2008
South Carolina Will Retain Role As First in the South Primary
Though there was some dissent, Bennett said he accepted the special early voting status for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.Under rules to be finalized at the party convention this summer, Iowa and New Hampshire could hold the earliest contests, starting Feb. 1. South Carolina and Nevada could go next, followed by a group of 20 small states and finally, groups of larger states.
The GOP penalized some states that held early primaries this year, but it did not affect the outcome of the Republican race, as Sen. John McCain clinched the nomination March 4.
