Florida GOP backs down in standoff over 2012 primary date

The head of the Florida GOP encouraged state lawmakers late Thursday to accede to the Republican National Committee's demand for a later 2012 presidential primary date.

The move came after GOP leaders in both Iowa and South Carolina threatened to launch an effort to move the 2012 Republican National Convention out of Florida unless the state came into compliance with the RNC's new rules.

"There are many reasons why Florida should have an early and significant role in selecting the Republican presidential nominee, yet I understand the Republican National Committee is looking to maintain an orderly primary calendar," Florida GOP Chairman Dave Bitner said in a statement late Thursday.

Florida's presidential primary is currently set for late January of next year, placing it before Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. New rules passed by the RNC last year prohibit other states from jumping ahead of the three traditional early states and Nevada, which will hold a caucus in February. 

Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn said Thursday he would join the chairwoman of South Carolina's Republican Party, Karen Floyd, in an effort to reopen the process to select the 2012 convention site, which is slated to be held in Tampa.

In his statement, Bitner insisted that Republican leaders do not want to jump ahead in the process. He said Florida Gov. Rick Scott, along with Republican leaders in the state legislature "have expressed a willingness to work with the RNC to find a primary date that both respects that calendar while preserving Florida's role in the process."

"We all agree that moving the primary into late February, making Florida fifth on the calendar, would sufficiently meet both criteria," Bitner said, "I remain optimistic and committed to continuing to work with the Legislature and the RNC to resolve this issue."
 
Ultimately, it's state lawmakers who will make the final decision on the primary date, though.

Rep. Dan Webster (R-Fla.), a former member of the state legislature who voted in favor of the January primary date when he was serving in the state Senate, predicted Thursday that members won't take kindly to threats from other state parties.

"That's not going to happen," Webster said of the threat to possibly remove the 2012 convention from Florida. "I voted for the early date when I was there because I thought it was a good idea. A lot of others do, too."

—Michael O'Brien contributed.