Let the boycotts begin

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum cancelled his event today in Las Vegas. He has officially joined Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman in boycotting the Nevada caucus. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gringrich has also said he would be boycotting Nevada. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Rep. Ron Paul all came out against the Nevada boycott. Rep. Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain have not committed one way or the other.
Why all the boycotts? As I mentioned yesterday, it all stems from the shake-up of the primary calendar. Those candidates that are boycotting are suggesting that Nevada’s move is upsetting calendar and they are trying to upstage the New Hampshire primary, traditionally first in the nation. I find it very hard to believe that this in Nevada’s fault. The Republican National Committee set rules for the 2012 election allowing New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada the only states that could hold their contests before March of 2012. That all changed when Florida and Arizona threw the calendar on its head by moving up their primary. How come Nevada is the only state facing boycotts? Nevada did not start the calendar jumping, they only jumped ahead to preserve their early voting status that was given to them by the National Committee. Nevada didn’t start the shake-up but is the only state being boycotted by Presidential candidates. Where is the boycott of Florida or Arizona? After all, they started the calendar jumping. What about South Carolina? They jumped ahead of New Hampshire but no boycotts for South Carolina either.
I will be watching the debate tomorrow, it is in Las Vegas and I’m curious about who will be there. I’m expecting to see Rep. Paul, Gov. Perry and Fmr. Gov. Romney on the stage; it won’t surprise me to see Herman Cain up there either. What I don’t expect to see is Santorum, Huntsman, Gringrich or Bachmann on stage for the debate. If they are really going to boycott the Nevada Caucus, I don’t think they should participate in a debate that is held within that state. I also feel it shows a total lack of respect to the citizens of the great state of Nevada to simply dismiss our caucus for the only reason that Nevada was protecting its right as an early voting state. I would also urge all Nevadans to only vote for a candidate that actively campaigns in Nevada, not one that boycotts our state. It shows a total lack of respect to the voters of Nevada and says that our caucus in not important in the nominating process.