SACRAMENTO — Having already forced many campaigns to rethink their strategies, California made it official Thursday: The state's presidential primary will advance to Feb. 5.
The shift, signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, vaults California ahead of most other states in the national scramble to choose candidates. It has sent ripples across the country, pushing other states to follow and setting up Feb. 5 as a de facto national primary.
But many analysts say that won't diminish the importance of the two traditional proving grounds, Iowa and New Hampshire. In fact, the experts say, the need to build early momentum could make the two leadoff states more important than ever.
Still, there was a celebratory air here surrounding California's move, intended to increase the state's clout in the nominating process now that it will no longer be nearly the last to vote. "We're shaking things up," said Democratic strategist Darry Sragow, "and we'll see what happens."
Schwarzenegger said the new primary date, four months earlier than the old one, already has raised California's status among presidential hopefuls. He noted that many candidates have visited in recent weeks to troll for endorsements and learn about the state's concerns.
"Holding our presidential primaries in June used to mean nominees were locked before we ever had a chance to vote," the governor said. "I'm happy to say these days are over....We will get the respect California deserves."
Schwarzenegger signed the measure in the courtyard of a former governors' mansion a block from the Capitol. The restored structure was the site of an 1880 visit by Rutherford B. Hayes, the first sitting president to come to California.
The new law changes only the presidential primary election. Voters will still choose among legislative, congressional and lo-cal candidates on June 3, 2008.
California has moved its presidential primary before, to March, but other states jumped ahead. Lawmakers called the move a failure and complained that it depressed voter turnout. In 2004, Schwarzenegger signed a bill returning both the statewide and presidential primary elections to June.
The full effect of the latest shift will not be clear for several months. The national Democratic and Republican parties will take at least that long to set their nominating calendars, and campaign strategists cannot make final decisions about deploying their money and manpower until then.
