In what's becoming a day of linking to other people's work (I'm putting together a filing-week database of many, many, many local candidates), here's another good story: The Olympian's Brad Shannon's enterprising preview
of a presidential primary-date meeting Monday.

As I reported in March, a state panel at the time deadlocked on an earlier date for Washington's presidential primary, which is becoming laughingly late as more and more states try to become players with ever-earlier primaries. As I wrote at the time:

Five Republicans, including Secretary of State Sam Reed, held out for Feb. 5 or maybe 12. Four Democrats, thought March 18 made more sense. And since approval required six votes, nothing was decided.

The 12th or 19th now look likely, according to the Olympian. Locals on the panel include Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, and Rep. David Buri, R-Colfax.

Now, Shannon reports, Reed thinks that one or more of the Democrats may have changed his or her mind.

Reed said he’s talked to a couple of Democrats who might be willing to move to a February election date. He declined to identify them.

State Democratic Party chairman Dwight Pelz did not return a telephone call seeking comment Monday, but Rep. Hunt said he thinks House Speaker Frank Chopp, who also could not be reached to comment, has been open to an earlier date.

“Frank was wavering back and forth. I told Frank we ought to stay with March. He has not told me specifically what he’s going to do,” Hunt said.

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