Mahoney "Cautiously Optimistic" RNC Will Not Adapt Primary Rules

New Hampshire's Republican National Committeeman Sean Mahoney says he is "cautiously optimistic" that the Republican Party will not adapt rules that could damage the New Hampshire primary.

Meeting in Washington D.C. recently, the Republican National Committee rules committee heard presentations of five plans that would attempt to restore order to the presidential primary system. Just two of the five plans would preserve New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary status.

"We will continue to describe New Hampshire's benefits and argue forcefully for keeping New Hampshire first," Mahoney said in an interview.

"I am cautiously optimistic that the RNC will not change the rules for 2012," he said.

All of the plans would establish grouped primaries, either according geographic location or population.

The Delaware plan organizes states according to population and would allow less-populated states to vote first. The Ohio plan would also allow small-population states to vote first but subsequent states would vote according to geographic location. Both plans would preserve New Hampshire's primary position.

The Dingell-Anuzis plan, the Texas plan and a modified version of the National Association of Secretaries of State plan would divide states in relation to their geographic position. All three plans would eliminate the Granite State's traditional voting status.

According to RNC rules, the plans first need to be passed by the rules committee then approved by a delegate rules committee at the Republican National Convention in early September, before finally being passed by the entire Republican Convention.

Yet, these plans might not matter because Mahoney points out that "New Hampshire has a long-standing law that preserves the primary."

When asked to comment on the RNC meeting, New Hampshire's RNC Committeewoman Phyllis Woods said "I could only give you guesses on these questions and I think Sean would have a much better handle on this subject."

The RNC rules committee will next meet in early April to discuss the plans.