Iowa defends caucus lead status

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Republicans in the US state of Iowa have moved forward their presidential nominating caucus to 3 January 2008.

Democrats in the state have yet to confirm the date for their caucus, traditionally held on the same day.

Iowa Republicans made the move from 14 January after Florida and Michigan also brought their votes forward.

The move means Iowa is once again the caucus lead-off state - making it an influential "weather-vane" in the long race to find a presidential candidate.

New Hampshire, which by its own law has to hold the nation's first primary election, has yet to settle on a date.

CURRENT KEY DATES 3 Jan: Iowa caucus (Rep)15 Jan: Michigan primary19 Jan: South Carolina primary (Rep)22 Jan: New Hampshire primary29 Jan: Florida primary; South Carolina primary (Dem)5 Feb: some 20 states including California, New York, New Jersey <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6297545.stm">Quick guide: US election</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6944686.stm">Primary and caucus dates</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7049207.stm">Q&A: Primaries</a>

Voters come together in caucuses to begin the process of choosing delegates to their party's national presidential nominating convention.

Primaries and caucuses are both methods of selecting candidates for election.

A primary is a vote held to nominate a candidate, whereas a caucus is a meeting where members of a political party choose a candidate through discussion.

Primary jostle

Iowa Republican Party executive director Chuck Laudner said the decision was "a huge help to our counties and county chairs to get the ball rolling and start organising".

Iowa's Democratic Party issued a statement after the announcement, saying it would decide the date of its caucus "based ultimately on what is best for the people of Iowa and the Democratic Party".

Michigan is holding multi-party primaries on 15 January.

Florida has chosen 29 January.

Both dates break Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules, which say only four states are allowed to hold contests before 5 February.

In retaliation, the DNC has threatened to punish Florida Democrats by stripping them of delegates at the national convention, where the party's presidential nominee will be formally chosen.

Florida lawmakers filed a lawsuit last week, calling the proposed convention ban unconstitutional.

Democratic candidates have also vowed not to campaign in Michigan.