The Hill offers this report, which begins: “Republicans in a number of states are considering moving their presidential contests to before Feb. 5, 2008, setting up a standoff with a Republican National Committee (RNC) that is already faced with punishing historically early states Iowa and New Hampshire. Nevada became the latest state threatening to break the Feb. 5 barrier when members of the state Republican Party’s executive committee moved last Friday to join Nevada Democrats by holding their caucus on Jan. 19. Democrats have the blessing of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to go before Feb. 5. But Republicans –whether in Nevada or any other state –do not, as far as the RNC is concerned. Iowa and New Hampshire are also technically in breach of this rule, which was adopted in 2000 but not enforced in 2004.”