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Florida Republicans will likely go to the polls on January 31st to pick their Presidential nominee. The date won’t be official until Friday, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida’s powerful House Speaker telegraphed the intent earlier today.

January 31st is the fifth Tuesday of the new year.

By sending a message that the 31st is Florida’s intended day, it telegraphs to the four authorized early states, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, that they need to pick one of the first four Tuesdays in the new year.  House Speaker Dean Cannon has been adamant about where Florida belongs in the pecking order.

“Florida should go no later than fifth, and that we should have our own date,” Cannon said.

The Florida GOP says it can live with the early date.

“We respect that the committee members are taking seriously the idea that Florida deserves a prominent date,” Florida Republican Party Spokesman Brian Hughes said.

Governor Rick Scott, who had an execution on his mind, did not stop for reporters when he flew into the Capital City. Attorney General Pam Bondi says she is staying neutral in the race but she says an early date could be good for Florida.

“I think being early gives Florida a chance to really come out front and play a major role in the presidenc,” Bondi said.

Republicans could lose half their delegates by going early. Democrats have little to lose but say the GOP is breaking the agreed upon rules.

“Which were meant to give voters, election officials the certainty that they need to hold these elections,” Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux said.

Four years ago, Florida jumped to January 29th, costing Democrats half their delegates in a hotly contested primary battle, a battle that could have ended differently had all of Florida’s delegates counted.