Gardner: Primary date pick likely early next month

Amid speculation about a first-ever December primary for New Hampshire, the man who holds all the cards, Secretary of State Bill Gardner, said today that it was possible, but that a January date remains his preference.

Gardner said a lot depends on what dates the parties in Michigan settle on. He said he plans to wait until after Nov. 2 -- the last day for candidates to file for the primary -- to pick a date. But he also said he would likely decide before Nov. 14, the last day Michigan could move. That means all eyes will be on Gardner between Nov. 2 and Nov. 14. "There are so many twists and turns in this process, I just sort of want to stand still a little bit," Gardner said.

The more he stands still, though, the harder it is for the candidates to plan for primary season. All the campaigns (not to mention political journalists) are eager to get a firm New Hampshire date so they can move on with their lives.