What's more ridiculous than politicians announcing their presidential candidacies - make that "exploratory committees" - nearly two years before the election?

Answer: Proposals to move up the primaries in Illinois and other states.

The "problem" isn't Illinois' date being too late. The problem is other states being too early.

If anything, the caucuses and primaries should take place later. Many voters are sick of the pre-election hype already. Others aren't paying attention.

Political-beat reporters don't help with their constant badgering, asking potential candidates when they will declare their intentions like a bunch of kids on a family vacation asking, "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, wants to move Illinois' 2008 primary election from March 18 to Feb. 5 - in part, to boost the chances of state Sen. Barack Obama.

The primary date shouldn't be changed to help - or hurt - a person.

And it shouldn't be changed because Illinois is jealous of other states getting more attention, including Iowa with its caucuses and New Hampshire with its early primary.

If Iowa and New Hampshire have too much "clout," it's only because we let them have it by giving too much weight to results in those states.

A poor showing in one small state shouldn't spell doom for a candidate. Yet, too often, campaign contributions dry up for anyone tagged as a "loser."

Having Illinois and other large states jump into the process sooner won't solve the problem. It will only increase the influence of big money in politics.

Candidates will need to court large donors to pay for ads in multiple media markets and fly around large states, rather than building grassroots campaigns and refining their messages before smaller groups in smaller states.

Illinois still has more electoral votes than all but four states: California, Texas, New York and Florida.

Regardless of when Illinois has its primary, it will still play an important role as candidates court supporters and their money.

- The Bloomington Pantagraph