RNC threatens NH and four other states

The Republican National Committee repeated their threat to take away half of New Hampshire's delegates to the national convention next summer unless the state holds it's presidential primary after Feb. 5, something that is not expected to happen.

RNC Chair Mike Duncan said he has sent a letter to state parties in New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, Florida and Wyoming reminding them if they plan to hold primaries before Feb. 5 when the "window" opens up under party rules they would be punished.

For a small state like New Hampshire the penalty would mean only 12 of the state's 24 slated delegates would get to attend -- and vote -- in the convention. But half of delegates for a state like Michigan or Florida is a much more severe of a penalty because they would be losing a significant amount of delegates.

The date for the New Hampshire Primary has not been set. The person in charge of setting that date, Secretary of State Bill Gardner, has indicated he will set the date next month and that it will not occur any later than Jan. 8th.

New Hampshire Republican Chair Fergus Cullen said there wasn't a lot of news in the letter and he is not in a position to do anything about the primary date.

"We at the party have no say when the date will be set." Cullen said. "There is nothing we can do to resolve the conflict between the state law and Republican committee's rules."

Cullen went on to say that he is more concerned with keeping New Hampshire's first in the nation primary than going to Minnesota for the national convention.

"If this is the price New Hampshire Republicans have to pay then so be it," he said.