Missouri appears ready to hold its presidential primary in February - a move that trigger more confusion in the 2012 election calendar and prompt other states to elbow to the front of the campaign line.
Rules set by the Republican and Democratic parties dictate that only Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada should hold contests in February; all other states are supposed to wait until March or later. National party leaders have threatened to reduce the national convention delegates for any states that jump the line.
Missouri's lawmakers were from Feb. 7 to March 6 to comply. But the legislation is hung up in a special legislative session . Now, other states may jockey to move their elections even earlier.