A Nominating Timetable in Crisis

The two political parties and their intrepid hucksters in the states are making a farce out of our presidential testing ground.

The candidates will now be spending most of the holiday season in Iowa and New Hampshire, with some added time in South Carolina and Florida.

Will voters be listening or watching? Chances are they will be more focus on Santa Claus, New Year's Eve party preparations, and college football bowl games.

The caucuses in Iowa are now set for January 3, earlier than ever, to beat the competition. The turnout on a cold winter night may be low despite the repeated trips to the state by hopefuls in both parties.

Bill Gardner, the secretary of state in New Hampshire, is ready to call his state's primary earlier than usual if any other state dares to compete with his. Be assured he will do so in a Granite State-minute if any other state tries to hog the spotlight.

Democrats in Florida are challenging the national party's set calendar even if doing so risks losing seats at the national convention in Denver. The Floridians are even suing the national committee to have their way.

Michigan is also flirting with a plan to move up its voting date to give voters there more atttention. They, too, are apparently willing to thumb their nose at the national committee.

It never ends.

At this pace, voters could be called on to get serious about their choice before Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, the political ads on TV are already blurring eyes in Iowa.

Most voters will probably yawn over this struggle by the states to get attention. They will write it off as a case of politicians being overly political. And they will be right.