Report: Florida plans January primary

Florida is planning to move its presidential primary to the end of January in 2012, according to a CNN report, a move expected to upset the campaign calendar as early states shift their dates forward to maintain their status.

Florida state House Speaker Dean Cannon, who helped put together the commission evaluating new dates, told CNN the commission would likely choose Jan. 31 as its date for voters to pick their preferred candidate.

The commission will meet Friday to pick a date, Cannon said.

A January primary for Florida would violate national party rules that allow only Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to hold contests before March 6. Those four states are likely to jockey to keep their position on the calendar by moving up their own dates if Florida goes through with a January date.

States that violate the rules risk losing half their delegates to the nominating convention.

Arizona has already decided to hold its primary on Feb. 28, hoping to increase its influence over the nominating process, and state lawmakers in Michigan have voted to hold their primary the same day.

---