Compromise primary date in the works?

Florida and national Republican Party leaders appear to be seeking a compromise over the state's 2012 presidential primary date, with a primary sometime in the first five days of March.

That could prevent having Florida Republican National Convention delegates shunted to out-of-town hotels and nosebleed-section seats during the convention they're hosting in Tampa next year -- or having half of them banned from the convention.

But it doesn't solve the question of other states considering moving up their dates, including Arizona, Michigan and others.

Florida GOP Chairman Dave Bitner said Thursday he's optimistic about an agreement on Florida, but, "I think the RNC is going to have a bunch of states to deal with."

At the Republican National Committee meeting being held in Tampa this week, RNC officials have made a show of insisting they'll strictly enforce party rules that prohibit primary dates any earlier than March 6, the first Tuesday of the month.

But Thursday, members of a committee that deals with the primary schedule, including Paul Senft of Haines City, sought an interpretation of those rules that would provide wiggle room for a date of Feb. 28 or later. Their proposal was that a state's delegation might lose delegates but wouldn't suffer other penalties on hotel placement, seating and VIP passes.

A primary on Feb. 28 or later, Senft said, would technically violate the rules but wouldn't interfere with the plans by both national parties to have Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina hold the nation's first primaries and caucuses during February.

Officials of those states say they'll move their dates as early as necessary to maintain their spots among the first four. Elected Florida Republicans, including Gov. Rick Scott, want to go fifth.

South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly and New Hampshire Chairman Jack Kimball told reporters Thursday they have no objection to a Florida primary held in the first week of March.

The RNC's rules committee rejected the proposal, but the Florida Republicans say they'll keep trying.

Meanwhile, however, Arizona is expected to make a decision soon on whether to move its primary to Jan. 31. Michigan RNC member Saul Anuzis said Republicans in his state will set a date next week, probably for Feb. 28.