Breaking: Iowa Democratic State Central Committee Adopts Jan. 3 Caucus Date

The conference call just ended. This is the quick results post, which I’ve crossposted from Iowa Independent:

The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee has finished its conference call and voted to accept Chair Scott Brennan’s recommendation of a January 3, 2008, date for its precinct caucuses, sources tell Iowa Independent.
“This date maintains the important common-sense principle of beginning the delegate selection process in the same calendar year as the election for which we are selecting delegates,” said state party chair Scott Brennan in a statement. “But the overarching principle is to retain the importance of the caucuses. Holding the caucuses on the same day as the Republican Party of Iowa shows solidarity and unity in working to protect Iowa’s First-in-the-Nation status, an important argument in the years to come.”

Although the Democratic National Committee has not officially granted Iowa Democrats a waiver allowing for January 3 Caucuses without any penalty on the number of delegates Iowa is assigned at the national convention, it is expected to do so next month.

The January 3 date was chosen in consultation with DNC Chair Howard Dean along with officials in New Hampshire, sources tell Iowa Independent. New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is expected to set his state’s primary date as January 8, preserving the traditional order of primary states for the 2008 election.