South Carolina Sets Primary for January 21

The dominos are toppling from Florida’s decision to hold its primary on Jan. 31. South Carolina will today announce that it’s holding its vote on Jan. 21, in an effort to put some distance between itself and Florida, a pair of GOP sources tell CNN. “Last Friday, a nine-person committee brought chaos to the 2012 calendar,” South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly said, referring to Florida. “Today, South Carolina is making things right."

The move is all but certain to push Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada’s dates even earlier. And as if there weren’t enough drama already circling the schedule, Nevada this weekend voted to hold its caucuses five days after New Hampshire’s primary—which, the Las Vegas Sun notes, violates a New Hampshire law stipulating that its primary must be held at least seven days before any other contest. (More GOP primary stories.)