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Debating Presidential Primary Position For NC In 2016

snow at the General Assembly building, Raleigh
Dave DeWitt
snow at the General Assembly building, Raleigh

Some Republicans are calling on leaders at the General Assembly to again change when the state will hold its presidential primary.  Two years ago lawmakers decided to make the primary earlier - on the first Tuesday after South Carolina's, next February. State GOP Chairman Claude Pope now wants the primary moved to March 1st. He says the national Republican Party is threatening to take away delegates from North Carolina for the earlier primary. Republican state Senator Andrew Brock disagrees.

"The nominee is already selected. You don't have a convention process where you pick the nominee. So when you look at who's going to be the nominee - I think North Carolina Citizens should have a say in the future of our country by being one of the first state's to have a presidential primary," said Brock, who contends those delegates are mainly symbolic.

Republicans are divided about whether to keep an earlier primary or adjust to March 1st. Brock said the primary system is dated and that states like Iowa and New Hampshire have too much influence. He expects that one day there will be a regional system of primaries that rotate, geographically, every four years.

Jeff Tiberii is the co-host of WUNC's "Due South." Jeff joined WUNC in 2011. During his 20 years in public radio, he was Morning Edition Host at WFDD and WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief and later, the Capitol Bureau Chief. Jeff has covered state and federal politics, produced the radio documentary “Right Turn,” launched a podcast, and was named North Carolina Radio Reporter of the Year four times.
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