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Race For The Presidency
Winning the 2008 Nomination
By Rhodes Cook |
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Over the years Massachusetts voters have favored the presidential ambitions of Bay State Democrats, from John Kennedy to John Kerry. But in 2008, they will have a chance to boost a local Republican in the form of former governor Mitt Romney.
The good news for Romney is that GOP delegates are awarded on a winner-take-all basis.
The bad news is that Massachusetts holds a comparatively late primary date, March 4, which could come too late to have much impact.
(The state subsequently chose to join nearly two dozen others in the Super-Duper
Tuesday vote on February 5.)
Voting in the primary is open to each party's registered voters, plus unenrolled voters who can take a ballot of either party. As of October 2006, there were 3,990,505 registered voters in Massachusetts—1,472,707 Democrats, 498,962 Republicans, 1,987,053 independents (or "unenrolled" in Massachusetts parlance), and 31,783 other voters.
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DEMOCRATS |
REPUBLICANS |
| THE CALENDAR |
Primary Date
(polling hours) |
Feb. 5
(open by 7 a.m., close at 8 p.m.) |
Feb. 5
(open by 7 a.m., close at 8 p.m.) |
| Filing Deadline |
Dec. 21, 2007 |
Dec. 21, 2007 |
| Filing Procedure |
By Jan. 4, the secretary of state and each state party chairman designate names to be placed on the ballot. Other candidates must file petitions signed by 2,500 registered voters of their party or unenrolled voters with local registrars by Dec. 21. Petitions must reach the secretary of state by Jan. 4. |
| THE DELEGATES |
| Number (% of national total) |
121 (2.7%) |
43 (1.8%) |
| Distribution: |
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By district |
61 (from 5 to 7 per district) |
30 (3 per district) |
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At-Large |
20 |
10 |
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Pledged PEOs |
12 |
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RNC members |
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3 |
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Superdelegates |
28 |
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| Method of Allocation |
Proportional—15% of vote needed to win a share of statewide or district delegates. |
Winner-take-all—statewide winner takes all the at-large and district delegates. |
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