ES MOINES - Governor Tom Vilsack says he is now open to a new date for Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses, conceding his early hard-line stance was a bargaining ploy.
Vilsack's announcement is yet another signal that Republicans and Democrats are likely to switch the date of their leadoff precinct caucuses to Jan. 24.
Those caucuses had been set for Jan. 31, but plans were rocked when New Hampshire officials surprised everyone by scheduling that state's leadoff primary for Feb. 1.
Last week, Vilsack insisted the state should hold fast and pressure New Hampshire to set its primary where most expected it, on Feb. 8.
''The parties were requesting me to take a hard line because they were in the process of discussions with their counterparts in New Hampshire,'' Vilsack said Monday.
''The governor essentially wanted me to take that line in terms of her ability to talk to a Legislature,'' he said, speaking of New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen. ''I'm a team player.''
But Pamela Walsh, spokeswoman for Shaheen, said no request ever was made.
Shaheen and legislative leaders had hoped to overturn Secretary of State Bill Gardner's decision on New Hampshire's primary date, but didn't get enough support from rank-and-file lawmakers.
Vilsack said it doesn't matter to him when the caucuses are held, as long as both parties put in place the sort of logistical base allowing them to run smoothly.
''They just need to be sensitive to making sure Iowa puts its best foot forward,'' said Vilsack. ''If it can do that on Jan. 31, fine. If it can do that on Jan. 24, fine, whatever they decide.''
Vilsack said the decision on when the caucuses will be held ultimately is up to the central committees which run the state's Republican and Democratic parties.
Tom Rath, a Republican National Committee member from New Hampshire, said he is concerned how New Hampshire will be perceived for refusing to change its date.
''I'm not worried about being the first primary this time,'' he said. ''What I'm most worried about is the long-term prognosis.''
In New Hampshire, Gardner said he would wait to see what the Iowa Democratic and Republican parties do before he comments on the dispute.
''Whatever the party chairs and party central committees believe is in the best interests as they see it, I'm obviously going to have to go along with that,'' Vilsack said. ''If they believe that it's necessary to change the date, that's certainly something we'd be supportive of.''
There is a host of logistical issues to be resolved, ranging from hotel rooms to facilities for the two parties to tabulate results. While party officials complain about the hurdles, it's likely that they will eventually find a way to overcome them.
Vilsack said there is a huge spotlight on the state. ''We want to make sure that if the date is changed, that Iowa can put its best foot forward in terms of the national media and in terms of making sure the accommodations are appropriate,'' he said. ''What we don't want to do is create negative press out of it because of the way in which the accommodations are handled.''
