CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- Jewish leaders want to change the date of the proposed western presidential primary because it falls on the Sabbath and would prevent many Jews from voting.
B'nai B'rith International President Richard D. Heideman wrote to organizers of the primary, asking for a date other than March 11, 2000.Representatives of eight western states signed a resolution last month supporting the primary date because it follows California's primary election, which is held the first Tuesday in March.
The western primary is designed to attract more attention from national candidates to western concerns.
Spokesmen for Gov. Jim Geringer and Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, said the governors are aware of the Jewish community's concerns and consider the date tentative. At a meeting last week of Western governors, several discussed a spreading the primary over three days.