It is being reported that a deal is being brokered in Albany to move New York State's 2008 presidential primary from March up a month to February 5th.  Apparently both the Republican and Democratic leaders are in accord with the idea because they each have candidates (Guiliani, Hillary) running who would benefit.

I think the primary may as well be moved up, as if it stays in March, the likelihood is that the race will be over by then and the whole expensive election process will be a formality.  I was among many who worked long and hard petitioning for Howard Dean's New York primary effort in 2004 and saw all that work come to little or nothing because he was out before our primary ever took place.  New York voters want their primary to count and their votes to mean as much to deciding the nominees as these early state voters in Iowa and New Hampshire.  But on the other hand, if New York and all these other big states like California and New Jersey move their primaries up, the whole calendar is going to be horribly frontloaded and that will only benefit whichever candidate(s) have the most money.

Moving up the New York primary would have the benefit of also moving back the petitioning period  so it isn't taking place during the holidays and the coldest time of the year.  Also maybe we'll actually get some real campaigning going on here. I think its a worthwhile idea to consider.