From Atlanta, Georgia
With new primary and caucus rules in place from Republicans for the next race for the White House, elections officials in the south are already talking about putting together their own regional primary for 2016 as a way to enhance their influence in that Presidential election year.
"The date that we want to have the primary on is March 1," said Secretary of State Brian Kemp of Georgia (R), who made clear on Wednesday that he not only will set his own state's primary for that date - but also wants other southern states to hold primaries on what would be the first date available for states that aren't named Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.
"I believe that will give us an opportunity to have a say in the Presidential race," said Kemp, who volunteered that he has already spoken with his election colleagues in other southern states about joining forces in 2016.
"I've had great conversations with folks in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana," Kemp said in a live interview on WSB Radio in Atlanta.
As of now, both Tennessee and Georgia are aiming at primaries on March 1, 2016 - the other southern states are still TBD - but Kemp, a graduate of the University of Georgia, knows what he wants to see in 2016 from the south.
"We're also proposing calling this an 'SEC Primary' if you will," Kemp said, referring to the college football conference that has been at the top of that sport in recent years.
Under the GOP rules for the 2016 race, any state that holds a primary or caucus between March 1-March 15 must award delegates on a proportional basis; after March 15, winner-take-all is then allowed.
"We're growing in the south; we've been gaining electoral votes," Kemp said. "There's a reason for us to be at the forefront of the electoral picking process, if you will."
It is conceivable that Florida's primary could land on March 1, 2016 as well, though that remains unclear at this point.
It is also possible that Texas could end up on March 1; those two states would quickly become the biggest primary prizes of any 'SEC Primary' contest.
"I think if somebody were to come to our regional primary in the south and do well, they could be well on their way to securing the nomination," Kemp said.
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