SC, Florida GOP try to broker primary date deal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A deal on coordinating presidential primary schedules so far has eluded South Carolina and Florida Republicans as a deadline looms to set the contest calendar.

South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly said Friday he’s been trying to work out a deal that keeps his state first and has Florida’s contest so close that no other state can squeeze between the two.

A spokesman for Florida Gov. Rick Scott says party leader discussions have been going on to avoid a calendar fight no one wants.

Connelly says no deals have been worked out so far. He chooses South Carolina’s date.

A Florida commission setting a primary date met Friday but delayed action until a day before the Republican National Committee’s Oct. 1 deadline for picking dates.