Associated Press
COLUMBUS -- Three Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill Friday that would move Ohio's presidential primary from March 4 to Jan. 29, saying it would draw the candidates' campaigns to Ohio and enable the state to have a greater impact in picking a nominee.
"I believe it is critical that Ohioans have a voice in who the presidential nominees are before it is a foregone conclusion," said Sen. Eric Kearney of Cincinnati of legislation he introducted along with Tom Roberts of Dayton and Shriley Smith of Cleveland.
The primary in Ohio has been held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March in the past two presidential elections.
In 2000, Al Gore had all but sewn up the Democratic nomination by then and Republican George Bush carried unstoppable momentum into Ohio's primaries. In 2004, Bush was the incumbent and Democrat John Kerry had drubbed John Edwards in most of the primaries before Ohio's.
Thus far, at least 18 states have set Feb. 5 for presidential primaries or caucuses.
The Ohio Democratic Party supports the March 4 primary date.