Western primary sought. Dems: Regional issues would gain.

By Pat Flannery
The Arizona Republic
Sundaym, Dec. 4, 2005



Lobbying by Western Democrats could spur the party to embrace a proposal for an eight-state Western regional presidential primary in 2008, a move that many say would elevate regional issues onto the national agenda during the next presidential campaign.

Proponents circulated petitions for the regional primary and talked it up among the more than 300 party activists attending the three-day Democratic National Committee meetings in Phoenix. Party strategist Michael Stratton of Colorado said there was a "good likelihood" it would emerge in recommendations due next weekend from a party commission examining presidential primary issues.

The Phoenix DNC meetings ended Saturday with fiery rhetoric from national Democratic Chairman Howard Dean. In his closing speech, Dean received several standing ovations as he attacked Republicans and President Bush for what he characterized as divisive immigration proposals and failed domestic and foreign policies.

Dean accused Bush of dishonesty about the U.S. role in Iraq and urged him to "stop making our troops a target."


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