Schwarzenegger signs law to move up primary

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - Seeking to give Californians a voice in choosing the next U.S. presidential candidates, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law on Thursday a bill to move the presidential primary election in the nation's most populous state to February 2008.

"Moving up the primary from June to February gives California the influence it deserves in choosing the next presidential candidates," Schwarzenegger said at a news conference to commemorate the bill's signing.

In recent years, California has had little impact in choosing presidential nominees for the Republican and Democratic parties because they have selected early in the primary process and there is no race left by June.

This year, many U.S. states are considering moving their primaries to February 5, 2008, including other big states such as New Jersey, Florida, Missouri, Michigan and Texas.
Schwarzenegger signs law to move up primary | Politics | Reuters