Democratic Party adopts changes to 2012 presidential primary calendar, nominating rules

Dems approve 2012 changes

ST. LOUIS — The Democratic National Committee has approved a 2012 presidential primary nominating calendar that pushes back the start of the voting by one month.

Democrats will hold the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 6, 2012, and the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 14. Nevada caucuses will be Feb. 18 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 28. Other states will go on March 6 or later.

States holding their contests later will get anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent more delegates to the convention.

The party also is reducing the number of independent superdelegates from 20 percent of the total number of delegates to 15 percent.

Obama is the likely nominee but Democrats wanted to change the process anyway after the 2008 protracted primary fight.