After much delay and thumbsucking, New Hampshire's secretary of state is finally announcing that the state would hold its primary on January 8 2008 - five days after the Iowa caucus on January 3 and a week before Michigan's probable rebel primary on January 15. (The Republicans of Wyoming have scheduled a weird caucus of their own for January 5.)
All of which was predicted here previously, that suggests Nevada may yet move its caucus up to January 12, and South Carolina its primary to January 19. That leaves the shape of primary season pretty much as the Democratic National Committee hoped, and allows them to slap Florida on the wrist and still hold its primary before February 5 - the big date in the calender.
For what it's worth, the longer gap between "Iowampshire" and the February 5 quasi-national primary means any candidate who does well in the first polls can build traction. It also means weaker candidates are more likely to drop out, making February 5 more significant.
Confused? It'll all be over soon. Ish.
