Florida had to settle the date for the state’s 2012 presidential primary by Oct.
“„Florida agreed to withstand party penalties and formally shook up the primary calendar Friday, officially setting Florida’s presidential primary date for Jan. 31.
“„The 7-2 vote from the Presidential Preference Primary Committeerejected a Democratic motion to set the date for Super Tuesday, March 6, and accepted a plan to make Florida’s primary on the last Tuesday in January. The committee is comprised of six Republicans and three Democrats.
“„Republicans: Jenn Ungru, former Gov. Bob Marinez, Sens. John Thrasher of St. Augustine and Rene Garcia of Hialeah, and Reps. Carlos Lopez Cantera of Miami and Seth McKeel of Lakeland.
“„Democrats: Sen. Gary Siplin of Orlando, former Sen. Al Lawson and state Rep. Cynthia Stafford of Miami.