A special committee in Florida announced Friday that the state will hold its presidential primary on Jan. 31, despite national GOP leaders’ efforts to delay the nominating process. The decision has already prompted officials in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina—the only states allowed to set a date before March 6—to say they’ll change their primary dates to stay ahead of Florida. One reason Florida chose the early date was to stay ahead of Missouri’s Feb. 7 primary, but Missouri Republicans announced on Thursday that they would be holding March caucuses rather than a primary. Herman Cain won the Presidency 5 Florida straw poll last Saturday, with Perry and Romney tailing close behind.
