Colorado pushing for earlier primary

WASHINGTON – Colorado made a last-minute push to become one of the early voting states in the presidential primaries as Democrats moved toward giving more diverse states a greater say.

Under the plan, Iowa would still go first, but a Western state – possibly Nevada or Arizona – would be wedged in before the New Hampshire primary. On Friday, the United Steel Workers and the Sierra Club endorsed Colorado for the Western state slot.

A Southern state – possibly Alabama or South Carolina – would follow New Hampshire.

The Democratic National Committee rules and bylaws panel plans to meet this weekend to decide on the primary calendar.

Critical Democratic constituencies such as blacks and Hispanics have clamored for a major role in early primary voting.

Iowa’s white population is 95 percent, New Hampshire’s is 96.2 percent, according to the latest census numbers. Hispanics make up more than 20 percent of the population in Nevada and Arizona, and about 19 percent in Colorado. In Alabama and South Carolina, blacks make up nearly 30 percent.